[1][2] Kikuchi founded the prestigious Ryokusei Academy in 1975, which has become one of the most prolific Go schools in Japan.
[3] Some of the most famous players to come out of the academy include Kikuyo Aoki (current Women's Meijin),[4] Atsushi Kato, Jiro Akiyama, Tomochika Mizokami (winner of many youth titles), and Keigo Yamashita (four times Kisei).
[5] Kikuchi's other students include Shinichi Aoki, Ryuichi Muramatsu, Keiichi Tsurumaru, Yoshimichi Suzuki, Atsushi Katsura, Ko Reibun.
He still actively participated in professional Go competitions that allow amateurs to enter, such as the Meijin tournament where he won games in a preliminary round in 2001.
[7] In 2003, he beat Ryu Shikun by resignation in the Agon Cup at the age of 73.