Tosatsu: 23-Year-Old Upsets Master Gonzo Sawatari — A Hint of Generational Change at the Shiomibashi Monthly Tournament
The Shiomibashi shopping-street Tosatsu association announced on the 9th that master Gonzo Sawatari, 77, lost the final of its monthly tournament to newcomer Daichi Okonogi, 23, a second-generation rabbit-lineage Drifter, by a score of 3 tiles/2 squares to 4 tiles/3 squares. It is, as far as this paper could confirm, Sawatari's first loss in an association-run tournament in at least three years. A quiet stir reportedly ran through the hall.
The final of the Shiomibashi shopping-street Tosatsu association's monthly tournament, held on the 9th, pitted master Gonzo Sawatari, 77, against Daichi Okonogi, 23, who joined the association this year. The result: Sawatari scored 3 tiles and 2 squares, Okonogi 4 tiles and 3 squares. According to association records, it is, as far as this paper could confirm, Sawatari's first tournament loss in at least three years.
Afterward, Sawatari offered his usual dry wit: "It's not a sport where I can blame the tide for being fast, so I've got no excuse." He added, "That boy's wrist bends more than mine did at his age. That's really all there is to it," showing no sign of discouragement.
Okonogi, a second-generation rabbit-lineage Drifter just shy of 24, first picked up the wooden-tile game at a Shiomibashi tavern this past spring and reached a monthly tournament win within six months. He credits his keen hearing for reading the target's numbered squares. "I didn't think I could beat the master," he said. "It felt like my hands just remembered what to do."
An official with the Shiomibashi association commented, "It's a little sad to see the master's streak end, but it's also proof of how much the sport has grown." Sawatari, laughing, said, "Losing doesn't mean retiring. I'll take it back next month."
