Shuei's Second Reign
A Throne Left Empty
The morning after Honinbo Shuho's sudden death, the Honinbo estate reeked of incense and uncertainty. The 18th Honinbo lay in ceremonial repose, still seated before a scroll of unfinished words. A dynasty unmoored. A title unclaimed.
The 1886 agreement had made one stipulation: the next head of the Honinbo House would be "the strongest player." But "strength" had many interpretations.
Nakagawa Kamesaburou, head of the thriving Hoensha, saw himself as the heir. At 62, he was a walking joseki archive, but his fingers had grown stiff, his vision dulled. Still, his stature in the community seemed unshakable.
Shuei, the deposed 17th Honinbo, did not agree. At 45, still in his prime, he burned with both skill and resentment.
The Challenge That Shook Edo
It began at the Kanda Go Club. Shuei slapped a letter onto the notice board:
"Let Nakagawa face me in a ten-game showdown. If he refuses, the world will know why."
Gasps filled the room. Whispers of their 1879 match resurfaced, where Shuei had crushed Nakagawa in brutal fashion.
"The agreement never mandated a match," sputtered Kobayashi Tetsujirou.
"Then why fear one?" Shuei shot back, eyes aflame.
Though many respected Nakagawa, the tide turned. Shuei’s defiant gesture made an impression. Nakagawa, cautious and calculating, declined the match, claiming no interest in running the Honinbo House. The succession crisis faded into quiet resolution. In 1887, Shuei resumed his rightful position as the 19th Honinbo.
The Mystery of the Vanished Treasure
But when Shuei returned to the estate, a horror awaited him. The sacred "Driftwood Board" was gone.
This was no ordinary goban. Passed down since the era of Honinbo Sansa, this perfectly seasoned wood never warp. It survived the Great Meireki Fire of 1657 and was rescued by Shuei’s brother from a burning building during the 1863 blaze. Generations had guarded it like a relic.
Now, in its place: nothing.
Shuei was livid. He stormed into Nakagawa's office and leveled an accusation of theft. Nakagawa, hand over his father Jowa's game records, swore innocence.
Despite years of searching, interrogations, and public appeals, the “Driftwood Board” vanished without a trace.
To this day, its disappearance remains one of Go's greatest mysteries—a ghost haunting the Honinbo legacy.
The Reward Society Revolution
Freed from political chains, Shuei turned to education. In 1892, after a spirited game with Yasui Sanei, lost by just two points, Shuei offered public commentary. The audience was riveted.
Thus was born the "Reward Society," a monthly gathering where Shuei analyzed matches and mentored players from both Honinbo and Hoensha factions.
Veterans dueled in brilliant games. Kobayashi Tetsujirou played his final masterpiece—a one-point loss to Shuei. Youngsters learned by osmosis. Farmers and aristocrats crowded the halls. For 19 glorious months, the society pulsed with brilliance.
When funding dried up in 1894, the movement paused. But Shuei had planted a seed.
The Four Symbols Society: Go's Hidden Sanctuary
In 1895, that seed bloomed. Thanks to wealthy patron Takada Shinzou and his wife Tamiko, the "Four Symbols Society" was founded. Exclusive and elite, it welcomed only players of 4-dan or higher.
Meetings began before dawn. Inside, rituals unfolded with severe beauty. One weak move, and Shuei might smash the offending stone into the tatami.
For 102 months, they met. In a world drifting toward modernity, this brotherhood safeguarded the ancient craft of Go.
The Old Lion's Last Roar
By 1905, Shuei reigned supreme. His promotion to 8-dan loomed. But then, Iwasaki Kenzo—once feared for his marathon stare-downs—returned.
"I challenge the Meijin," he hissed.
Gasps echoed. Everyone remembered their earlier clash at Shintencho, where Iwasaki’s notorious “sitting power”—deliberate, time-consuming moves—had driven Shuei to fury. Now, history threatened to repeat itself.
But fate intervened. Shuei, now 55, was not the man of a decade ago. Years of exertion had taken their toll. His health was failing. The mere thought of enduring Iwasaki’s glacial pace sent visible shudders through him.
Though his disciple Tamura Yasuhichi, later known as Honinbo Shusai, offered to play in his stead, Iwasaki refused.
“I asked for the master, not his disciple.”
It took concerted pleas from friends, students, and even rivals to persuade Iwasaki to withdraw. Not out of fear, but out of compassion. Shuei’s strength as a player remained, but his body could no longer support the burden of prolonged matches.
Iwasaki finally relented, saying quietly:
“Even a lion must rest when his wounds run deep.”
Epilogue
In May 1906, Shuei was inaugurated Meijin—the first since Jowa in 1838. His triumph echoed across Japan.
After his elevation to Meijin, Shuei was poised for a new era of influence—his moment to reshape the Go world with authority and vision. But fate was unkind. Only eight months after his long-awaited ascension, death claimed him.
With Shuei’s passing, the Go world once again plunged into turmoil. What had been a unified Honinbo house—held together by his force of will—fractured overnight. Two rival factions emerged from within, each vying for control, each carrying the seeds of discord.
Thus began a bitter internal strife that would stain the Honinbo legacy. But that, as they say, is a story for another time.
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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》)
