By Gunnar Dickfeld
English-speaking Go players now have the opportunity to learn from one of Japan’s most exciting professionals. Play Like the Hammer Princess, the latest book by Ueno Asami 6P, has recently been published by BOARD N’STONES.
Known for her fearless fighting style, Ueno has earned the nickname “Hammer Princess.” Her games are full of sharp attacks, complicated fights and creative ideas. She has long been one of my favorite professionals to follow, and whenever one of her games appears online, it is usually among the first I replay.
When the original Japanese edition was announced at the end of 2025, I immediately wanted to read it. After only a few chapters, I knew I wanted to bring it to English-speaking readers.
What makes Play Like the Hammer Princess stand out is its personal approach. Every example comes from Ueno’s own tournament games, allowing readers to follow her thought process during real competitive play rather than through artificial teaching positions. She explains not only what she played, but also why she chose a particular strategy, what she was aiming for and how she evaluated critical moments over the board.
The book also includes a number of personal essays covering topics such as tournament 
preparation, tsumego training and studying with AI. One observation particularly resonated with me: Despite making extensive use of AI, Ueno writes that discussing positions with other players often teaches her more than hours of solitary computer analysis. It is a thoughtful reminder that, even in the AI era, Go remains a game of human understanding.
The English edition features the beautiful cover artwork of Sho Ishinoshita, whose illustrations are well known throughout the Go community.
A particularly memorable moment came during my recent visit to Japan, when I had the opportunity to present Ueno Asami with a copy of the English edition in Tokyo. Seeing the original Japanese edition and the English translation side by side was a fitting conclusion to many months of translation, editing and production. During the same trip, I also had the pleasure of meeting Sho Ishinoshita in Kyoto, making the project feel complete in a very personal way.
I hope Play Like the Hammer Princess will encourage many players to explore Ueno’s unique approach to fighting Go. Beyond its practical lessons, the book offers something we rarely see: an open and thoughtful look into the working methods and mindset of one of Japan’s leading professionals.
—photo: (r) Gunnar Dickfeld, BOARD N’STONES, with Ueno Asami 6P.