The Saint's Undefeated Era
The Rise of a Legend
By 1848, at just twenty years old, Shusaku had risen to sixth dan—an astonishing feat. His teacher, Honinbo Shuwa, could no longer even give him a one-stone handicap. The following year, he entered the Castle Games (Oshirogo), the most prestigious tournament of the era, marking the beginning of his thirteen-year undefeated reign.
What followed was a record nineteen consecutive victories against the strongest players of his time—a feat so staggering that even today, it seems almost mythical.
To put it into perspective:
Even if these games had been handicap matches, maintaining such a flawless record would have been near impossible. But Shusaku faced every opponent as equals, and still, not a single loss.
The Narrowest Escape: Shusaku vs. Ito Matsukaze
Not all victories came easily.
His fourth Castle Game in 1850 against Ito Matsukaze, a disciple of Honinbo Genjo, nearly ended his streak.
Matsukaze was a brilliant, unorthodox player—a man who drank heavily before matches yet played with sharper clarity when intoxicated. His most famous exploit involved winning a seven-stone handicap game against a swordsman, wagering his clothes against a priceless blade—and walking away victorious.
When he faced Shusaku, disaster struck early.
Shusaku’s Black 35 was a rare misstep, allowing Matsukaze to seize control. The game became a desperate struggle, with Shusaku’s position crumbling under relentless pressure.
Yet, in true "Saint of Go" fashion, he refused to surrender.
Instead of defending weakly, he ignored the center entirely, sacrificing large groups to claw back territory elsewhere. Move by move, he outmaneuvered Matsukaze, surviving by a mere three points in the end.
It was the closest Shusaku ever came to defeat—and proof that even in crisis, his genius never wavered.
The Invincible Black Stones
Shusaku’s style was impenetrable. When he held Black, victory seemed inevitable—so much so that players dubbed his opening strategy "Shusaku’s 1-3-5", a formation so dominant it remained standard for over a century.
But what truly set him apart was his fighting spirit. Most players with his defensive mastery would avoid risky battles—yet Shusaku thrived in chaos. His game against Matsukaze proved that even when outplayed, he could outthink anyone.
The Warrior Who Challenged a Saint
In 1851, Shusaku received an invitation from Sekiyama Sendayu, a living legend in his own right.
Sendayu was a samurai-turned-Go master—a man who abandoned the game in his youth after being mocked for neglecting swordsmanship, only to return years later as both a master warrior and a near-professional player.
Their twenty-game match became a spectacle.
At seventy years old, Sendayu fought Shusaku day and night, using his signature "corner-star" opening in every game. Shusaku, in turn, never repeated a strategy, dismantling Sendayu’s attacks with surgical precision.
The final tally: Shusaku 13, Sendayu 7.
When they parted, Sendayu—a man who once refused an official rank out of pride—pressed twenty gold pieces into Shusaku’s hands, declaring:
"This is but a fraction of what your teachings are worth."
The Legacy of the Undefeated
Shusaku’s nineteen Castle Game victories remain unmatched.
No player before or since has dominated an era so completely.
And yet—
He never became Meijin.
He never led the Honinbo house.
He died at thirty-three, his potential unfulfilled.
But in those thirteen undefeated years, he proved something greater:
That perfection, however fleeting, was possible.
And that alone cements his place as—
The Saint of Go.
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》)
