Born in 1952 in Hokkaido. In 1965, he came to Tokyo and joined Kitani Minoru Kudan (IGO club). After 2 years, he got 1st dan level. In 1977, he won his first official game called Second Tengen competition. In 1979, Kudan(Title) Since 1977, when he won the first official game, he has been winning about 59 titles and he currently is 3rd most winning titles player. In 2005, he accomplished to win total of 1200 matches. He won the titles in a row in the following matches and established new records: Kisei Matches(8 times), Meijin Matches(7 times), Gosei Matches(6 times). Even he has more titles called "Meiyo Kisei", "Meiyo Meijin", and "Meiyo gosei". (All of them means he is honored IGO player). He has received many awards: Asahikawa citizen's honor award(1985), Hokkaido Honor Award(1986), Metropolitan culture's Honor Award(1993). He belongs to Nihon Ki-in, Japan GO Association in Tokyo and served the vice president in 2006-2007. Currently he is majorly involved with training IGO players and developing IGO itself. He has many famous professional IGO players such as Kouichi Oya Kudan, Nozomu Kouno Kudan, Maki Sakai Hachidan, Keiji Oki Nanadan, Hideo Kanazawa Nanadan, Youko Kuwabara Godan, Mayuzou Hozaka Sandan etc... Izumi KOnayashi Rokudan is his daughter. He also published many books such as "KObayashi-RYU, how to win"(Hissyou Okigo) and so on.