The Splintering of Hoensha
Iwasaki’s Hollow Triumph
Iwasaki Kenzo’s infamous three-day sit-down match against Tamura Yasuhisa left the Go world stunned. Though many criticized the victory as underhanded, the psychological effect was profound. Outsiders steered clear of challenging him, and even his top lieutenants submitted to his will. Empowered by this fearsome reputation, Iwasaki’s authority grew unchecked.
But brute control seldom breeds true loyalty. Beneath the surface, resentment brewed. And within a few years, Hoensha would begin to crack.
Decline and Deaths Amid War
In 1903, as war broke out between Japan and Russia, the Go world entered a slump. Public interest waned. On January 27 of that year, Yasui Sanei, the 10th head of the Yasui house, collapsed during a teaching game after 56 moves. He died two days later of a cerebral hemorrhage.
With his successor unqualified and war consuming the nation’s attention, the once-proud Yasui house faded into oblivion. Of the traditional four Go houses, only two remained.
Shortly afterward, Nakagawa Kamesaburou—Iwasaki’s predecessor—also passed away. Though he had three sons, two had been adopted into other families, and the eldest had died young. On his deathbed, he asked Ishii Senji to become his heir. Out of gratitude, Ishii adopted the Nakagawa name.
Shuei's Ascent and Iwasaki’s Isolation
By 1905, as Japan celebrated victory over Russia, the Go world reawakened. Honinbo Shuei had become nearly untouchable—so dominant that he gave top players two-stone handicaps. Only Tamura Yasuhisa could still challenge him with no stones given.
With Iwasaki’s Hoensha increasingly fragmented and the Honinbo house united under Shuei’s brilliance, calls arose to crown him as the next Meijin. Even within Hoensha, younger talents murmured in support.
Iwasaki, once revered, now found himself politically isolated. He planned to retaliate—but failed to see that a new threat was rising from within.
The Meteoric Rise of Karigane Junichi
Born in 1879, Karigane Junichi was a prodigy. At five, he was already fascinated by the click of stones from his father's games. Even while playing with friends, the sound of a match would draw him running.
His first game, against his father, ended in a draw. By age ten, he had surpassed amateurs. Though his father resisted letting him study Go full-time, Karigane secretly memorized famous game records from Kokugi Kankou.
At 13, his family plunged into poverty due to his father’s illness. A benefactor named Ono Meishin sponsored his studies, sending him to the Hoensha. Within six months, he was ranked.
Later, Itō Hirobumi, Japan’s first prime minister, took him in as a game companion. After three years, Karigane returned home to care for his father and scraped by giving lessons.
By 1896, he re-entered the Hoensha as a formal student. His diligence and humility won the affection of Nakagawa Kamesaburou, who later adopted him as a disciple.
Clashing with Iwasaki
By 1902, Karigane had reached 4-dan. He had once played a ten-game match against Shuei at two stones and nearly brought it to even. Though he lost six games, the feat boosted his reputation. In a national invitational hosted by Jiji Shinpō, he secured a silver cup after multiple four-win streaks, beating names like Ishii Senji and Hirose Heijirō.
But Iwasaki resented him. Karigane’s blunt honesty and growing reputation clashed with the president’s autocratic style. Worse, his ties to the Nakagawa lineage and friendship with Ishii made him a perceived political threat.
One day, after a game, Karigane asked Iwasaki to analyze a difficult move. The elder gave a confident, half-hour explanation, calling it a brilliant technique. Karigane later shared this move with Iwasa Kei, Iwasaki’s own disciple.
During a game, Iwasa proudly used it—and lost badly.
When asked to review the game, Iwasaki snapped, “That move is a blunder!”
“But Karigane said you praised it,” Iwasa replied.
“Idiot,” Iwasaki retorted. “I was tricking him.”
Karigane was furious. Remembering Shuei’s generous, open teaching at the Four Symbols Society, he saw Iwasaki’s pettiness in sharp relief. From that day, he never spoke to him again.
The Final Break
Within Hoensha, discontent was everywhere. Senji felt powerless. Hirose Heijirō, despite immense contributions, held no official role and endured Iwasaki’s scolding. Even Iwasa Kei had become disillusioned.
Among the four, only Karigane urged open defection. The others hesitated. Out of loyalty to Nakagawa’s memory, Karigane held back until Iwasaki began attacking Shuei publicly.
That was the last straw. Karigane resolved to leave.
Iwasaki rushed to Karigane’s home to beg him to stay. Karigane remained silent.
Realizing he could not stop the defection, Iwasaki struck first: he published a notice in the national papers declaring Karigane Junichi expelled from Hoensha, branding him a “treacherous ingrate.”
The next day, the Go world exploded.
A Hero’s Welcome
Karigane fled to the Honinbo estate. Shuei welcomed him with open arms, granting him a rare 5-dan promotion on entry—an honor rarely bestowed.
Privately, Shuei had long admired Karigane. “His Go is unlike any other,” he once said. “Though his strength rises quickly, he deepens like water. Among the next generation, he alone holds the seed of a Meijin.”
Now, that seed had joined the Honinbo house.
Their alliance would change the course of Japanese Go—and eventually split it into two.
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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》)
