Shuho's Exile: The Rock Bottom
The Gambler
When Shuho stormed out of the Honinbo house in 1863, he imagined a grand tour—wandering Japan’s mountains and rivers, free from the politics of Edo’s Go world.
Reality was less poetic.
The country was in chaos. Bandits roamed the roads. Shuho, once a rising star of the Honinbo, soon found himself ragged and penniless. Desperate, he recalled a rumor: Sugiyama Chiwa, an old mentor, was thriving in Kyoto.
The Gambler’s Survival
When Shuho arrived, Chiwa was away. Starving, Shuho did the unthinkable—he became a gambler.
Disguising himself, he haunted Kyoto’s teahouses, hustling amateur players for cash. A 7-dan pro against backroom dabblers was like a swordsman fighting children. Shuho could have crushed them all, but he showed mercy—taking just enough to survive.
For a Honinbo disciple, this was shameful. But hunger cares little for pride.
Chiwa’s Return
A month later, Chiwa—scholar, politician, and former 5-dan—finally returned. The reunion was joyous. Over sake, Shuho confessed his gambling exploits.
Chiwa laughed. "Let me tell you about Governor Sekiguchi."
The Tale of the Arrogant Governor
Sekiguchi, a Kyoto official, fancied himself a Go genius. When Chiwa humored him with a game, the governor demanded no handicap.
"If I take Black," Chiwa said dryly, "you’ll need nine stones."
Furious, Sekiguchi insisted on even terms—and was annihilated. Only then did he learn Chiwa was a 5-dan professional. Humiliated, he became Chiwa’s friend.
"Did you make any ‘friends’ while gambling?" Chiwa teased.
Shuho smirked. "One merchant demanded five stones—betting ten coins per point. I slaughtered him so thoroughly, he never touched a stone again."
The Fools Who Didn’t Know the Rules
Chiwa shared another story: Ito Hirobumi (future Prime Minister of Japan) .
He understood only "surround to capture"—but when a ko fight arose, he kept retaking the same stone endlessly.
"No wonder pros take days to finish!" he exclaimed.
"At this rate," Hirobumi groaned, "we’ll be here a century."
They quit in confusion, asking bystanders for help—to uproarious laughter.
The Band of Outcasts
To lift Shuho’s spirits, Chiwa introduced him to four rogue talents:
Kobayashi Tetsujiro – A 4-dan prodigy who could challenge Inoue’s head, Matsumoto Insho, at even terms. Sharp-minded and pragmatic.
Takasaki Taisaku – A child prodigy who once split games with a Honinbo 5-dan at nine stones. Relentlessly hardworking.
Mizutani Hoji – A self-taught genius who refused Shusaku’s offer to train in Edo—yet still reached near-professional strength.
Izumi Kojiro – A street-smart Osaka player, brilliant but stuck in low ranks for lack of a teacher.
These men—disillusioned, unaffiliated, hungry—would later become Shuho’s inner circle.
The Turning Point
For four years, Shuho stayed in Kyoto, playing, scheming, and biding his time.
But in 1870, he returned to Edo—not as a Honinbo heir, but as a revolutionary.
The stage was set. The old order was crumbling. And Shuho?
He was done waiting for permission.
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》)
