This put additional pressure on Sakata to win the title back for the Nihon Ki-in.

His opponent, Takagawa Kaku, had held the title for nine years straight.

Sakata's strongest year was 1964, when he won 30 games and lost only two and held seven major titles: Meijin, Honinbo, Nihon Ki-in Championship, Asahi Pro Best Ten, Oza, Nihon Kiin#1, and NHK Cup.

Sakata's challenger for the 1965 Meijin was Rin Kaiho, who at the time was just 23 years old.

Sakata wrote many books in Japanese; several have been translated into English, including Modern Joseki and Fuseki, The Middle Game of Go, Tesuji and Anti-Suji of Go and Killer of Go.