go players and bird keepers are idiots
A rare proverb implying that both playing go and keeping birds are time-consuming obsessions that turn people into fools. The phrase is a fixed expression and not used in everyday conversation.
There is a proverb 'go players and bird keepers are idiots,' but it is hardly used nowadays.
Full form of the proverb; rarely used in modern Japanese.
Variant spelling without okurigana on 碁打; equally rare.
The exact origin is uncertain; it is a traditional Japanese proverb reflecting the view that go and bird-keeping demand excessive time and dedication.