How the Honinbo Title Was Born
A Boy Monk in a Country at War
In the mid-1500s, Japan was a nation torn by war. Feudal lords battled for supremacy, cities burned, and chaos reigned. It was the Sengoku era, the “Warring States” period—violent, uncertain, and transformative.
In this age of turmoil, a young boy named Kano Saburo was born. Hoping to give him a better life, his family sent him to Jakko-ji Temple in Kyoto. At just eight years old, he donned the robes of a monk and took the name Nikkai.
It didn’t take long for the temple elders to notice—this boy wasn’t ordinary.
From Sutras to Stones
Within a year, Nikkai had mastered his religious studies. But something else drew his attention—the game of Go, played by older monks to pass the time.
He watched. Then played. Then began to win.
What started as curiosity turned into obsession. He absorbed every pattern, every tactic, every nuance of the game.
A Prodigy Challenges a Master
Word spread quickly of the child monk who could outplay grown men. Eventually, Nikkai began traveling to Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to challenge Japan’s best player at the time—a man named Senya.
Their matches became legend. Move after move, the boy tested the master. And over several years, the student began to outshine his teacher.
Even Senya had to bow his head in defeat.
A Meeting with Oda Nobunaga
As Nikkai’s reputation grew, it reached the ears of one of the most powerful men in Japan: Oda Nobunaga.
A brilliant military commander and reformer, Nobunaga was also a passionate Go player. Even on campaign, he would carve out time to play.
When he met Nikkai, the warlord expected a good match—but not what followed. Nikkai gave him a five-stone handicap, yet played with such precision and ease that Nobunaga was stunned.
“You are a true master,” he said, smiling.
“A Meijin.”
It was the first time the title Meijin—which means “Master of a Skill”—was bestowed on a Go player. From that moment, it became a title of great honor in the world of Japanese Go.
The Match That Ended in Flames
In 1582, during a military campaign against the Mori clan, Nobunaga stayed at Honno-ji Temple in Kyoto. One evening, he summoned Nikkai and another strong player, Rigen of Shiojiri, to play before him.
The match was exceptional—brilliant and chaotic. As the game unfolded, three simultaneous kos (cyclical captures in Go) appeared on the board, creating an endless loop.
It was a rare and ominous outcome. The game was declared a draw.
As the two players stepped out into the cool night, they heard the thundering march of soldiers.
Akechi Mitsuhide, Nobunaga’s trusted general, had betrayed him.
Within minutes, Honno-ji was engulfed in flames. Nobunaga died that night.
To this day, Go players in Japan whisper of the “curse of three kos”—a bad omen born from that very game.
A Loyal Monk in Treacherous Times
While others remained silent or shifted allegiance, Nikkai made a bold choice.
Even as Mitsuhide’s forces took control, he openly held a funeral rite for Nobunaga, reciting Buddhist prayers in honor of the man who had shown him respect.
For over a year afterward, he refused to play Go, retreating into mourning and prayer.
A New Patron: Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Soon after, Nobunaga’s successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, rose to power and crushed the rebellion. When he heard of Nikkai’s devotion, he was deeply moved.
Hideyoshi, too, loved Go and believed the game mirrored military strategy. But like Nobunaga, he couldn’t match Nikkai’s skill, even with a five-stone advantage.
Instead of competing, he chose to honor him.
He appointed Nikkai as the official “Minister of Go” (Go-dokoro)—a prestigious title with royal recognition and rice stipends. He also bestowed a new name upon him:
Honinbo Sansa.
*Although it is commonly believed—largely due to Wikipedia and similar sources—that Tokugawa Ieyasu appointed Nikkaias Go-dokoro, it was in fact Toyotomi Hideyoshi who helped to establish the Go-dokoro.
The Founding of the Honinbo School
With Hideyoshi’s support, Sansa expanded Jakko-ji Temple, naming a section “Honinbo” and establishing a legacy.
He decreed that the title “Honinbo” would pass from master to disciple, not by blood, but by merit. Thus, the Honinbo school was born.
It became the most powerful and prestigious Go institution in Japan, lasting for centuries. Its influence was so deep that today, Japan’s top Go championship is still called the “Honinbo Tournament,” and its winner is honored with the name “Honinbo.”
The Legacy of a Master
Honinbo Sansa wasn’t just the best player of his time. He was a trailblazer who transformed Go from a pastime into a profession, a symbol of intelligence, loyalty, and discipline.
He taught samurai, advised emperors, and built a system that outlasted warlords and dynasties.
His life stands as proof that a monk, with nothing but stones and strategy, could reshape a nation’s culture.
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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.
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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》)
