| Origin | Name | DOB–DOD | Peak rank* | Notes |
 | Honinbo Sansa (本因坊算砂) | 1559–1623 | Meijin, 9 dan | Founder and first head of the house Honinbo. |
 | Nakamura Doseki (中村道碩) | 1582–1630 | Meijin, 9 dan | Retrospectively seen as founder of the house Inoue. |
 | Hayashi Monnyusai (林門入斉) | 1583–1667 | 7 or 8 dan | Founder and first head of the house Hayashi. |
 | Yasui Santetsu (安井算哲) | 1589–1652 | 8 dan | Founder and first head of the house Yasui. |
 | Inoue Genkaku (井上玄覚) | 1605–1673 | 7 dan | First head of the Inoue house on the unrevised numbering (not counting Nakamura Doseki). |
 | Honinbo Sanetsu (本因坊道悦) | 1611–1658 | 8 dan | Second head of the house Honinbo, Jun-Meijin. |
 | Yasui Sanchi (安井算知) | 1617–1703 | Meijin, 9 dan | Second head of the house Yasui. |
 | Honinbo Doetsu (本因坊道悦) | 1636–1727 | 7 dan | Third head of the house Honinbo. |
 | Honinbo Dosaku (本因坊道策) | 1645–1702 | Meijin, 9 dan | Fourth head of the house Honinbo. One of the greatest players of all time, and the first Kisei (go saint); an important influence on go theory. |
 | Honinbo Doteki (本因坊道的) | 1669–1690 | 7 dan | Heir to the house Honinbo. Was considered an extremely talented Go prodigy.[4] |
 | Hayashi Monnyu (林門入) | 1678–1719 | 6 dan | Second head of the Hayashi house. |
 | Honinbo Dochi (本因坊道知) | 1690–1727 | Meijin, 9 dan | Fifth head of the house Honinbo. |
 | Honinbo Chihaku (本因坊知伯) | 1710–1733 | 6 dan | Sixth Honinbo. |
 | Honinbo Shuhaku (本因坊秀伯) | 1716–1741 | 6 dan | Seventh head of the house Honinbo. |
 | Honinbo Satsugen (本因坊察元) | 1733–1788 | Meijin, 9 dan | Ninth head of the house Honinbo. |
 | Honinbo Genjo (本因坊元丈) | 1775–1832 | 8 dan | Eleventh head of the house Honinbo. |
 | Honinbo Jowa (本因坊丈和) | 1787–1847 | 8 dan | Was dubbed Kisei (go sage), played the famous "Blood Vomiting Game" with Akaboshi Intetsu. |
 | Ota Yuzo (太田雄蔵) | 1807–1856 | 7 dan | was a close friend of Honinbo Shusaku and once played a famous sanjubango (30 game match) with him. |
 | Intetsu Akaboshi | 1810–1835 | 7 dan | |
 | Honinbo Shusaku (本因坊秀策) | 1829–1862 | 7 dan | One of the greatest players ever, he died young. He was posthumously awarded the title of Kisei (go sage). |
 | Honinbo Shuho (本因坊秀甫) | 1838–1886 | 8 dan | Was the founder of Hoensha and the man who taught Go to Oskar Korschelt. |
 | Honinbo Shuei (本因坊秀栄) | 1854–1907 | 9 dan | was the 17th and again 19th head of the Honinbo house. Very active and innovative in the 1890s. |
 | Honinbo Shusai (本因坊秀哉) | 1874–1940 | 9 dan | was the last inheritor of "Honinbo" title, and founder of the Nihon Ki-in. |
| Origin | Name | DOB–DOD | Peak rank | Notes |
 | Kensaku Segoe (瀬越憲作) | 1889–1972 | 9 dan | was famous for bringing and teaching Go Seigen and Cho Hunhyun in Japan. |
 | Utaro Hashimoto (橋本宇太郎) | 1907–1994 | 9 dan | was the founder of the Kansai Ki-in. |
 | Minoru Kitani (木谷実) | 1909–1975 | 9 dan | was a great friend and rival to Go Seigen. Go and Kitani were the vanguard of the Shin-fuseki or "New Opening", a great advance in go theory. Most prolific teacher ever. Pupils include Masao Kato, Yoshio Ishida, Hideo Otake, Kim In, Cho Chikun, Masaki Takemiya and Koichi Kobayashi. |
 | Toshihiro Shimamura (島村俊廣) | 1912–1991 | 9 dan | |
 | Hidehiro Miyashita (宫下秀洋) | 1913–1976 | 9 dan | |
 | Dogen Handa (半田道玄) | 1914–1974 | 9 dan | |
 | Go Seigen (呉清源) | 1914– | 9 dan | Wu Qingyuan in Chinese. is considered by many the greatest player of the 20th century, perhaps the greatest of all time. He had a superb match play record, before the current era dominated by annual titles. |
 | Kaku Takagawa (高川格) | 1915–1986 | 9 dan | The first of only four players to receive the Honorary Honinbo title. |
 | Hosai Fujisawa (藤沢朋斎) | 1919–1993 | 9 dan | one of the greatest players of the '60s. |
 | Eio Sakata (坂田栄男) | 1920– | 9 dan | his nicknames include "Razor Sakata", the "Master of myoushu" (brilliant move). He was the former longtime holder of most championship titles with 64. |
 | Shuchi Kubouchi (窪内秀知) | 1920– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in. |
 | Toshio Sakai (酒井淑夫) | 1920–1983 | 6 dan | |
 | Masao Sugiuchi (杉内雅男) | 1920– | 9 dan | nicknamed "the God of Go" for his serious attitude towards Go. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Takeo Kajiwara (梶原武雄) | 1923– | 9 dan | one of the "three crows". |
 | Sunao Sato (佐藤 直男) | 1924–2004 | 9 dan | |
 | Hideyuki Fujisawa (藤沢秀行) | 1925– | 9 dan | is Honorary Kisei after winning the Kisei 6 times in a row. |
 | Toshiro Yamabe (山部俊郎) | 1926–2000 | 9 dan | one of the "three crows". |
 | Keizo Suzuki (鈴木圭三) | 1927–1945 | 3 dan | one of the "three crows". |
 | Yasuro Kikuchi (加藤朋子) | 1929– | 8 dan | is the most famous amateur go player in Japan. |
 | Shuzo Ohira (大平修三) | 1930–1998 | 9 dan | |
 | Naoki Miyamoto (宮本直毅) | 1934– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in. |
 | Shoji Hashimoto (僑本昌二) | 1935– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-In. |
 | Yasuo Koyama (小山靖男) | 1937–2000 | 9 dan | |
 | Takeo Ando (安藤武夫) | 1938– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Hiroaki Tōno (东野弘昭) | 1939– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in. |
 | Norio Kudo (工藤紀夫) | 1940– | 9 dan | current President for the International Go Federation. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Kunio Ishii (石井邦生) | 1941– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Rin Kaiho (林海峰) | 1942– | 9 dan | was one of Go Seigen's students. Known for winning many titles at a young age. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Yasumasa Hane (羽根泰正) | 1944– | 9 dan | father of Hane Naoki. |
 | Manfred Wimmer (マンフレッド・ウィマー) | 1944–1995 | 2 dan | Born in Austria, became the first western Go professional in 1978, doing so with the Kansai Ki-in. Reached 2p the same year, and later brought Go to Kenya and Madagascar. |
 | Kunihisa Honda (本田邦久) | 1945– | 9 dan | |
 | Masao Kato (加藤正夫) | 1947–2004 | 9 dan | was the master of the attacking style, who died on December 30, 2004. |
 | Yoshio Ishida (石田芳夫) | 1948– | 9 dan | is the youngest ever Honinbo winner and one of the strongest players of the 1970s. TV commentator. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Shigeru Baba (馬場滋) | 1949– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Goro Miyazawa (宮沢吾朗) | 1949– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Shuzo Awaji (淡路修三) | 1949– | 9 dan | famous for his Go school. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Akira Ishida (石田章) | 1949– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Masaki Takemiya (武宮正樹) | 1951– | 9 dan | is famous for his 'cosmic style', aiming for territory in the center of the board rather than the sides. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Koichi Kobayashi (小林光一) | 1952– | 9 dan | has the third most titles in Japan with 57. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Cho Chikun (조치훈 ; 趙治勳) | 1956– | 9 dan | Cho Chihun in Korean, is among the best players of the late 20th century - passed Sakata in late 2002 for most titles in Japan with 66. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | O Rissei (王立誠) | 1958– | 9 dan | one of the first Taiwanese Go players to become a professional in Japan. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Hiroshi Yamashiro (山城宏) | 1958– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Satoshi Kataoka (片岡聡) | 1958– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Satoru Kobayashi (小林覚) | 1959– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | O Meien (王銘琬) | 1961– | 9 dan | famous for his "Meien-isms", a special way of opening a game. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Michael Redmond (マイケル・レドモンド) | 1963– | 9 dan | is the only (as of February 2008[update]) non-Asian (American) to attain rank of 9-dan. TV commentator for the Japanese network NHK. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Shinichi Aoki (青木紳一) | 1965– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Norimoto Yoda (依田紀基) | 1966– | 9 dan | Has one of the best track records in international tournaments for Japan. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Toshiya Imamura (今村俊也) | 1966– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in. |
 | Hideki Komatsu (小松英樹) | 1967– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Kikuyo Aoki (青木喜久代) | 1968– | 8 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Hans Reinhard Pietsch (ハンス・ピーチ) | 1968–2003 | 6 dan | Known for spreading Go around the world. |
 | Tomoyasu Mimura (三村智保) | 1969– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Michihiro Morita (森田道博) | 1970– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Cho Sonjin (조선진, 趙善津) | 1970– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Ryu Shikun (류시훈, 柳時熏) | 1971– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Kimio Yamada (山田規三生) | 1972– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Satoshi Yuki (結城聡) | 1972– | 9 dan | The third youngest player to become a professional, and second youngest professional for the Kansai Ki-in. Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-In. |
 | Catalin Taranu (タラヌ・カタリン) | 1973– | 5 dan | One of Romania's best players and a pro in Japan. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Yukari Yoshihara (梅澤由香里) | 1973– | 5 dan | The Go player who supervised the production of the manga Hikaru no Go. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Hideyuki Sakai (坂井秀至) | 1973– | 8 dan | Won the World Amateur Go Championship in 2000. Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in. |
 | Shinya Nakamura (仲邑信也) | 1973– | 8 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Atsushi Kato (加藤充志) | 1974– | 8 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Kaori Chinen (知念かおり) | 1974– | 4 dan | Honorary Women's Kisei. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Shinji Takao (高尾紳路) | 1976– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Naoki Hane (羽根直樹) | 1976– | 9 dan | In 2002, Hane broke the record for fastest promotion to 9 dan in Nihon Ki-in history. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Han Zenki (潘善琪) | 1977– | 7 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Tomochika Mizokami (溝上知親) | 1977– | 7 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Keigo Yamashita (山下敬吾) | 1978– | 9 dan | Has an innovative style harking back to shinfuseki. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Kim Shushun (김수준, 金秀俊) | 1979– | 7 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | So Yokoku (蘇耀国) | 1979– | 8 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Cho U (張栩) | 1980– | 9 dan | In 2003, Cho U broke the record for fastest promotion to 9 dan in Nihon Ki-in history. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Takehisa Matsumoto (松本武久) | 1980– | 6 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Rin Kono (河野臨) | 1981– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Ko Reibun (孔令文) | 1981– | 5 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Atsushi Tsuruyama (鶴山淳志) | 1981– | 6 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Kana Mannami (万波佳奈) | 1983– | 3 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Taiki Seto (瀬戸大樹) | 1984– | 6 dan | Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in. |
 | Nobuaki Anzai (安斎伸彰) | 1985– | 4 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in. |
 | Ko Iso (黄翊祖) | 1987– | 7 dan | Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Yuta Iyama (井山裕太) | 1988– | 9 dan | Became the youngest title holder ever in 2005 after winning the Agon Cup. 34th Meijin. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In. |
 | Daisuke Murakawa (村川大介) | 1990– | 3 dan | The youngest Kansai Ki-in pro ever. Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in. |
| Origin | Name | DoB–DoD | Peak rank | Notes |
 | Chen Zude (陈祖德) | 1944– | 9 dan | was the chairman of Zhongguo Qiyuan from 1992–2003 and is also the current president of the association. Famous for popularizing the Chinese fuseki. |
 | Nie Weiping (聂卫平) | 1952– | 9 dan | Challenged for many top international titles in the late 1980s. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Liu Xiaoguang (刘小光) | 1960– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Cao Dayuan (曹大元) | 1962– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Ma Xiaochun (马晓春) | 1962– | 9 dan | A top player in China during the 1990s. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Feng Yun (丰云) | 1966– | 9 dan | Second woman ever attain rank of 9-dan. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Qian Yuping (錢宇平) | 1966– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Yu Bin (俞斌) | 1967– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Shao Weigang (邵煒剛) | 1973– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Chang Hao (常昊) | 1976– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Zhou Heyang (周鹤洋) | 1976– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Luo Xihe (罗洗河) | 1977– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Wang Lei (王磊) | 1978– | 8 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Ding Wei (丁偉) | 1979– | 8 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Huang Yizhong (黄奕中) | 1981– | 6 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Kong Jie (孔杰) | 1982– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Qiu Jun (邱峻) | 1982– | 8 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Tang Li (唐莉) | 1982– | 1 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Hu Yaoyu (胡耀宇) | 1982– | 8 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Gu Li (古力) | 1983– | 9 dan | Six World championship titles; Widely considered current world No. 1 because of exceptional records in the past 3 years. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Xie He (谢赫) | 1984– | 5 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Liu Xing (刘星) | 1984– | 6 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Wang Xi (王檄) | 1984– | 6 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Piao Wenyao (朴文堯) | 1988– | 5 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Chen Yaoye (陳耀燁) | 1989– | 9 dan | Youngest professional 9 dan at 17 years of age. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Li Zhe (李喆) | 1989– | 4 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
 | Zhou Ruiyang (周睿羊) | 1991– | 5 dan | Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan. |
| Origin | Name | DOB–DOD | Peak rank | Notes |
 | Cho Namchul (조남철, 趙南哲) | 1923–2006 | 9 dan | Founder of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Kang Cheol-min (강철민, 姜哲民) | 1939–2002 | 8 dan | |
 | Kim In (김인, 金寅) | 1943– | 9 dan | Won several titles during the 60s and 70s. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Ha Chanseok (하찬석, 河燦錫) | 1948– | 8 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Jimmy Cha (차민수, 車敏洙) | 1951– | 4 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Cho Hunhyun (조훈현, 曺薰鉉) | 1953– | 9 dan | The strongest Go player in South Korea during the 1970s up to the period of domination from his student Lee Chang-ho. Holder of the most titles by a professional player. Also holder of the most consecutive title defense, winning the Paewang title 16 times in-a-row. |
 | Seo Bongsoo (서봉수, 徐奉洙) | 1953– | 9 dan | was Cho Hunhyun's biggest rival in the '80s. Known for his excessive list of runner up titles. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Zhujiu Jiang (江鑄久) | 1962– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Rui Naiwei (芮乃伟) | 1963– | 9 dan | First woman to attain rank of 9-dan. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Yoo Changhyuk (유창혁, 劉昌赫) | 1966– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Janice Kim | 1969– | 3 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Lee Chang-ho (이창호, 李昌鎬) | 1975– | 9 dan | The strongest players in the world between 1996-2004, he was crowned 17 times in world championships starting from 1993, the most ever. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Choi Myung-Hoon (최명훈, 崔明勳) | 1975– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | An Choyoung (안조영, 安祚永) | 1979– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Mok Jin-seok (목진석, 睦鎭碩) | 1980– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Alexandre Dinerchtein | 1980– | 3 dan | The first Russian professional Go player. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Cho Hanseung (조한승, 趙漢乘) | 1982– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Lee Sedol (이세돌; 李世乭) | 1983– | 9 dan | Considered the strongest player in the world after Lee Chang-ho's reign and before the devastating LG cup final loss this year(2009) to Gu Li, he obtained 10 world championship titles mostly in the 2000s. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Diana Koszegi | 1983– | 1 dan | The first Hungarian professional Go player. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Park Jungsang (박정상, 朴正祥) | 1984– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Hong Minpyo (홍민표, 洪旼杓) | 1984– | 5 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Park Seunghyun (박승현, 朴昇賢) | 1984– | 4 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Choi Cheol-han (최철한, 崔哲澣) | 1985– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Pak Yeong-hun (박영훈, 朴永訓) | 1985– | 9 dan | A young and established Korean go professional. He reached 9 dan after 5 years, making him the youngest Korean 9 dan professional ever. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Kim Dong Hee (김동희, 金東熙) | 1985– | 2 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Won Seong-jin (원성진, 元晟溱) | 1985– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Song Tae Kon (송태곤, 宋泰坤) | 1986– | 9 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Heo Young-ho (허영호, 許映皓) | 1986– | 5 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Ko Geuntae (고근태, 高根台) | 1987– | 5 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Yun Junsang (윤준상, 尹畯相) | 1987– | 6 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |
 | Kang Dongyun (강동윤, 姜東潤) | 1989– | 8 dan | Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon. |