The Battle for the Meijin
The Final Move of a Legend
For over two decades, Honinbo Sansa (本因坊算砂) held the highest title in the Go world: Meijin. He was the head of Japan's official Go hierarchy and the most respected player in the nation.
But in his final years, one thought haunted him:
Who will carry the Honinbo name?
His finest student, Nakamura Douseki (中村道碩), had gone on to found his own school. Another promising disciple had died young. Only one student remained: a bright but inexperienced 13-year-old named Honinbo Sanetsu (本因坊算悦).
Too young. Too fragile. Too soon.
And yet, Sansa had one final move to play.
He called Dōseki to his bedside, formally passed him the Meijin title, and then brought in Sanetsu to bow before them. With deep emotion, Sansa pleaded:
"Raise him. Protect the Honinbō name."
Dōseki, moved and bound by honor, agreed.
A New Rivalry Takes Root
Dōseki kept his promise. He helped Sanyetsu secure a rice stipend, trained him intensively, and watched him rise to 7-dan. But Dōseki died young, and with no official successor named, the Meijin title was left vacant.
It was a power vacuum, and Go, by now, was more than a game. Whoever held the title controlled:
● Who ranked up
● How much funding does each house receive
● And, crucially, who could attract the best students and more students
The Meijin wasn't just a title. It was a political stronghold.
So when Sanetsu appeared to be the natural successor, not everyone agreed.
The Challenge from Yasui
At a council meant to discuss the future, Yasui Santetsu (安井算哲), head of the Yasui house, stood up and declared:
"I am the eldest. I have served Go longer than anyone. I deserve the title."
The council was stunned.
This wasn't how things were done. Worse, Santetsu had played Sanetsu in a 10-game match just years earlier—and lost 8 of them. No one could support his claim.
Humiliated and angry, Santetsu stepped down. But before leaving, he passed the Yasui house to his student Yasui Sanchi (安井算知), with a final order:
"Win the Meijin. Defeat the Honinbo."
A Rivalry Becomes War
Sanchi trained relentlessly. Years later, he challenged Sanetsu to a formal match, offering him the first move.
Sanetsu won easily.
But Santetsu wasn’t deterred. He improved quickly, and when the Meijin title remained unclaimed for over a decade, the shogunate proposed a solution:
A 6-game series. Even starting positions. The winner becomes Meijin.
The stakes were enormous. Sanetsu had the legacy. Sanchi had the hunger.
And the series would last nine years.
The Rule That Tilted the Board
Here is why mere 6 games lasted 9 years.
There is a rule called 打ち掛け (uchikake), which allows a player to pause a match indefinitely. It gave time to analyze positions, sometimes with help from their family and students.
Sanetsu, proud and solitary, refused outside assistance.
Sanchi likely did not.
After nine years, the match ended in a 3–3 tie. No Meijin was named.
The Moment That Cost Everything
Sanetsu's pride became his undoing.
In one game, a powerful official watching the match casually remarked, "Looks like Honinbō will lose this one."
Sanetsu stood, calmly packed away his stones, and said:
"I give my life to this board. When I play, it is as if I walk into battle. No one may speak over my match. Not even you."
Then he bowed and walked out.
He returned later, but the damage was done.
Enemies had been made.
The End of One Dream, The Rise of Another
Sanetsu died at 48, never having reclaimed the Meijin title for the Honinbō house.
Ten years later, Yasui Sanchi, with help from court allies, finally claimed the title.
Two generations of ambition, fulfilled at last.
Want the next chapter of Go history?
🔸Subscribe to our email list to get occasional reminders to read new stories
🔸 Access high-quality lectures and Go equipment
🔸Join a growing community preserving the greatest drama Go has ever known
🡆 Because every legend begins with a move.
And every game tells a story.
Copyright Notice
This English adaptation is based on Japanese Go Stories (《日本围棋故事》, 2016) by Xue Zhicheng (薛至诚).
For non-commercial use only: Shared for educational purposes under fair use.
Rights retained: All copyrights belong to the original author and cited sources.
Modifications: Minor narrative adjustments were made for readability; all historical content remains accurate.
No affiliation or endorsement: This work is independent and unaffiliated with the original author or publishers.
Contact: For verification or takedown requests, please email help@zeejyan.com.
References
Adapted from:
Xue Zhicheng (薛至诚), Japanese Go Stories (《日本围棋故事》), 2016.
Cited in original work:
Watanabe Hideo (渡辺英夫), Shin Zaigin Dansō (《新坐隱談叢》)
Watanabe Yoshimichi (渡部義通), Kodai Igo no Sekai (《古代囲碁の世界》)
Lin Yu (林裕), Weiqi Encyclopedia (《围棋百科辞典》)
