⚫️ How much does a go player make in Japan?
U.S. Go pros have no published yearly-pay totals. In 2025, Bill Lin won $10,000 at one North American pro event—not a yearly total; typical full-time pay is unreported.
Wins and title prizes swing widely, and many players also earn money by teaching or doing other work instead of relying on Go matches.
Japan Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Most pros (rough estimate of game fees only) | $13,333 | 2025 personal-blog estimate; game fees only |
| Top Japanese pro in 2025 | $836,212 | Nihon Ki-in official prize-and-match-fee ranking |
Per month and per day
| Who | Per month | Per day (÷365) |
|---|---|---|
| Most pros (rough estimate of game fees only) | $1,111 | $37 |
| Top Japanese pro in 2025 | $69,684 | $2,291 |
Where does the money come from?
- Match fees and prizes: The main tournament income is match fees and prizes; the Nihon Ki-in ranking combines both. Source
- Teaching Go: Some Go classes are taught directly by professionals and charge students a fee. Source
- Other work: Some professionals also take other jobs because match fees and prizes alone may not support them. Source
What famous go players make
| Who | Amount |
|---|---|
| ⚫️ Yuta Iyama Professional Go player | $292,244 (2025 · prize money) In 2025, Go player Yuta Iyama earned about ¥43.84 million in prize money; in his peak year 2018, he earned about ¥146.96 million. |
| Ryo Ichiriki | $836,212 (2025) Estimate 2025 prize money and match fees (Source) |
| Toramaru Shibano | $325,932 (2025) Estimate 2025 prize money and match fees (Source) |
How do you become a go player?
In Japan, many aspiring players first learn Go and seek a recommendation to enter a Nihon Ki-in or Kansai Ki-in insei program. They train and play in an insei league, then aim to pass a professional selection exam or earn selection through their results.
- Learn Go and build strong skills.
- Ask a professional or Go teacher about a recommendation.
- Apply to become an insei and take the screening and Go test.
- Train and play games in the insei league.
- Compete in the professional selection process.
Qualifications and exams
On the Nihon Ki-in insei route, applicants normally apply by the school year they turn 14 and need about 6-dan strength by age 14. Kansai Ki-in has no entry-age limit; both use screening and selection.
A day as a go player
On a match day, a Go pro focuses on each move and reviews the game record afterward. On other days, some study with fellow players, teach classes, or share Go through game commentary and videos.
Common questions
What is the Kisei tournament's winner prize?
The Nihon Ki-in lists the Kisei tournament winner's prize as JPY 43 million. Source
Do Go pros get paid if they lose a match?
A 2025 report says a match fee is paid when a game is played, whether the player wins or loses. The exact fees are not public. Source
Can pros live on match fees and title prizes alone?
A 2025 report says about one in ten professionals can live on match fees and title prizes alone. Source
Can Go pros earn by teaching classes?
Yes. The Nihon Ki-in lists Go classes taught directly by professional players. The listed classes charge fees, but the player's share is not stated. Source
Do some Go pros have a second job?
Yes. A 2025 JBpress article describes cases of Go professionals who also have other jobs. Source
This section summarizes public sources. We only show numbers that have a source.
In the US
US Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| North American pro championship winner (one event, not annual U.S. pay) Bill Lin ($10,000 one-event prize in 2025) | $10,000 | 2025 North American championship prize; not annual earnings |
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Data table and sources
- www.nihonkiin.or.jp/news/release/2025_2.html
- jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/86742
- oshihaku.jp/kenkyu/shoukai/14557459
- www.usgo.org/content.aspx?page_id=5&club_id=454497&item_id=114234
- nagofed.org/
- www.nihonkiin.or.jp/player/insei/
- kansaikiin.jp/subpage/insei.html
- www.nihonkiin.or.jp/player/rank.html
- www.nihonkiin.or.jp/match/kisei/050.html
- www.nihonkiin.or.jp/etc/go_weekly/tsururin077.html
This job is not covered directly by government wage statistics, so the figures come from leagues, associations, surveys and the press.