The Rise of Iwasaki Kenzo
A Life Shaped by Go
In the quiet countryside of mid-19th-century Japan, a young boy named Nabe Kichi (later known as Iwasaki Kenzo) clung to the edges of a Go gathering, his bare feet coated in dust, his arms wrapped around a bucket of tofu that had long since spoiled. He had been sent to town for groceries, but the sight of Ota Yuzo and Tahara Tsunetaro—two of the era's strongest players—locked in battle was too much to resist. For four hours, he stood motionless, absorbing every move, knowing full well the beating that awaited him at home. When he finally returned, the tofu had turned sour, and his stepmother’s wrath left him bedridden for days.
Word of the boy’s sacrifice reached Honinbo Shuwa and Murase Shuho, who visited his home. Shuwa, moved by the child’s determination, played a nine-stone handicap game with him and lost by a single point. He offered to take the boy as a disciple, but Kenzo’s stepmother refused. Fate, however, was not done with him.
The Monk Who Played for Life
After his father’s death and his stepmother’s remarriage, Kenzo found himself alone. He sought refuge at Tofuku Temple, where the abbot, Jitsugan, became the first person to show him kindness. Jitsugan taught him Go alongside Buddhist scriptures, and for the first time, Kenzo knew something resembling peace. But when the abbot fell gravely ill, needing expensive medicine, Kenzo, now thirteen, took his meager savings and ventured into gambling dens, where he played for high stakes. Against all odds, he won enough to buy the medicine, only to be ambushed by bandits on his way back. "Take my clothes," he pleaded, "but not the silver—it’s for my master." The thieves, struck by his devotion, let him pass. Jitsugan died regardless, but Kenzo’s legend had begun.
The Transformation of Iwasaki Kenzo
After the death of Abbot Jitsugan, the young orphan Nabe Kichi turned to Yoshizawa, a Go-playing friend of his late mentor. Yoshizawa, though only an informal disciple of Yasui Santei, recognized the boy's potential. He gave him a new name—Kenzo—marking the beginning of his formal journey in Go. Later, Kenzo would adopt the surname "Iwasaki" from his hometown, completing his transformation into Iwasaki Kenzo.
Under Yoshizawa's care, Kenzo flourished. Two years later, Yoshizawa secured him a position as a Go apprentice in the Yasui household. Finally, Kenzo had found his calling. His progress was astonishing—reaching 1-dan at sixteen, 2-dan at seventeen, and 3-dan by eighteen.
The Monk's Discipline
Kenzo's monastic background shaped his unique approach to Go. While fellow students dismissed him as a "lazy bum" for sleeping late, they failed to realize he spent nights in meditation rather than sleep. He had mastered Zen sitting techniques, allowing him to remain perfectly alert for days—a skill that gave him an extraordinary edge in the marathon matches of the era.
At the time, many Go students believed in a peculiar superstition: that naked prayer before the deity Fudō Myōō could enhance one's skills. Most performed this ritual half-heartedly, but Kenzo, ever disciplined, would meditate in vigil all night. This endurance became legendary. In competition, he could outlast any opponent, maintaining razor-sharp focus for three straight days without rest. Even future masters like Honinbo Shuei would dread facing his relentless stamina.
The Miser Who Invested in Genius
Despite his talent, Kenzo was notoriously frugal. While others spent their earnings on drink and leisure, he saved every coin—earning him the nickname "miser." But his thrift had purpose.
One day, Kenzo astonished the Go world by offering his entire savings—five ryō(about 3 month salary)—to Honinbo Shusaku for lessons. Shusaku, moved by this unexpected gesture from the famed tightwad, initially refused payment. But Kenzo insisted: "If masters teach for free, how will professionals survive?" His logic prevailed, and Shusaku accepted. The investment paid off spectacularly—through their sessions, Kenzo improved 1 rank worth of strength just after a few sessions.
Kenzo's story embodies the paradoxes of his era: a monk's discipline applied to secular mastery, a miser's frugality yielding the richest returns, and an orphan's determination overcoming every obstacle. His legacy would endure long after his games faded from memory.
The Politician Who Never Left the Board
Kenzo's standing in the Yasui house reached its peak when Yasui Sanchi, the ninth head of the family, demonstrated extraordinary trust in him by entrusting the training of his son Sanei to Kenzo's care. This was no small gesture - Sanchi, recognizing Kenzo's exceptional skill and disciplined character, believed him to be the ideal mentor for the spoiled heir.
However, the young Sanei, coddled by his mother and accustomed to privilege, showed little respect for his tutor. The clash was inevitable. When Sanei repeatedly ignored his instruction, Kenzo, whose own harsh upbringing left him with no patience for spoiled behavior, delivered a stinging slap across Sanei's face.
The aftermath was swift and severe. Sanei's furious mother demanded Kenzo's immediate expulsion. Even Sanchi, despite his high regard for Kenzo, had no choice but to summon him for a stern reprimand. In that tense moment, Kenzo dropped to his knees, not merely in apology but to passionately defend his actions: "A strict teacher makes a strong student," he argued. Then, demonstrating remarkable insight, he suggested an unconventional solution - send Sanei to study under the strict discipline of the Honinbo school, away from familial indulgence.
The results proved Kenzo right. Under the Honinbo's rigorous training, Sanei's skills improved dramatically. While Sanchi came to appreciate Kenzo's wisdom even more deeply, the incident left scars that would ultimately push Kenzo toward new horizons.
From Prodigy to Government Official
When his friend Murase Shuho departed the Honinbo house, Kenzo saw his chance for a fresh start. Recognizing the precarious nature of a Go professional's livelihood, he turned his formidable intellect toward politics. Within a few short years, the former temple orphan had risen to become a court secretary - a remarkable achievement that spoke volumes about his adaptability and intelligence.
Yet the siren call of the Go board never faded. When Shuho established the Hoensha and extended an invitation, Kenzo faced a dilemma. His pride as a former Yasui instructor and current government official made him reluctant to accept anything less than the position of top player - a title currently held by the rising star Mizutani Hoji. There was only one honorable solution: challenge Hoji directly and prove his worth.
The Legendary 1883 Showdown
Though Kenzo had left professional Go, his study of the game never ceased. Officially ranked as a 5-dan but playing at a 6-dan strength, he faced Hoji in what would become one of the era's most memorable matches. The game showcased:
A magnificent opening (Black 1-10) that Shuho himself praised, and which became standard for decades
A brilliant midgame "ghost move" (White 130) that nearly destroyed Kenzo's position
A heartbreaking endgame oversight (Black 161) that allowed Hoji's killer move at 170
Despite the loss, Kenzo's performance earned widespread respect. Yet his pride couldn't accept defeat - he returned to government service, leaving competitive Go behind but taking the lessons of discipline and strategy from Go that would inform his political career.
In Kenzo's story, we see the essence of Meiji-era transformation - a man who brought monastic discipline to the Go board, a player's insight to politics, and whose legacy, though unorthodox, forever changed the game he loved.
Why Kenzo’s Story Matters
Kenzo’s life was a testament to the idea that genius could emerge from anywhere—a poor orphan, a monk, a gambler, and finally, a master. His battles against Shusaku, his endurance against Shuei, and his showdown with Hoji proved that Go was more than a game of clans; it was a contest of wills, where discipline and creativity could overcome even the deepest roots of tradition.
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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.
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》)
