The Saint of Go: Shusaku and the Ear-Red Game
The Battle of Legends
In the history of Japanese Go, four masters stand above the rest—Honinbo Genjo, Yasui Chitoku, Genan Inseki, and Honinbo Shuwa. Each had the skill to become Meijin, the highest rank in the Go world, yet none ever claimed the title. They are remembered as the Four Sages of Go—men of unparalleled talent, forever one step short of glory.
But there was one whose fate was even crueler.
A man whose brilliance eclipsed them all.
A prodigy who never even became the head of his house.
His name was Shusaku, the heir of Honinbo Shuwa—and the one they called the Saint of Go.
The Birth of a Prodigy
From the moment he first held a stone, Shusaku was different. His mind worked with terrifying precision, his instincts honed to near perfection. By seven, he was already dismantling grown men on the board. When his father took him to play against Sakaguchi Kozan, a respected player of the time, the old master could only stare in disbelief. Before the game ended, Kozan set down his fan and wrote a poem in praise of the boy:
"A scholar's mind, a warrior's skill—
Even in my old age, I am humbled by this child."
At ten, he entered the Honinbo school, studying under Shuwa. Within a year, he reached first dan. When the retired Honinbo Jowa, once the fiercest player of his era, reviewed Shusaku’s games, he made a prophecy:
"This boy is the greatest talent in a century and a half. The Honinbo house will rise to heights unseen."
Jowa was not wrong.
By 1846, at just eighteen, Shusaku was already a fourth dan—though his true strength far surpassed it. His teacher, Shuwa, was so proud that he granted him leave to return home, a rare honor for a disciple so young.
But fate had other plans.
The Meeting with a Fallen Titan
On his journey home, Shusaku stopped in Osaka (then called Naniwa). There, he learned that Genan Inseki, the legendary rival of his teacher, was staying in the city.
Genan, once a titan of the Go world, had retired years earlier, leaving behind the political battles of the Four Great Houses. He now traveled with his disciple Mikami Gozan, free from the weight of titles and rivalries. When an old friend, Watari Saburo, introduced Shusaku, Genan barely recognized him until he remembered a boy from years past.
"Ah! The child who spilled his cup at the castle game!"
Watari, eager to see a match, urged Genan to play a teaching game. The old master, assuming the boy was still a novice, allowed a two-stone handicap—a crushing advantage.
He regretted it within fifty moves.
Shusaku’s play was relentless. His stones flowed like water, surrounding Genan’s forces with terrifying efficiency. By move 102, Genan—once the most feared strategist in Japan—called for an adjournment.
The next day, he reduced the handicap to one stone.
The Ear-Reddening Game
What followed would become the most famous game of Shusaku’s life.
He opened with his signature "1-3-5" opening, a revolutionary strategy that would define an era. Genan, ever the tactician, countered with the "Taisha", a lethal formation by Honinbo Jowa himself.
At first, Genan dominated. By move 64, Shusaku’s early lead had nearly vanished. When they resumed days later at the home of Hara Saiichiro, the room was packed with spectators. Confident in his position, Genan struck deep into Shusaku’s territory with White 90, a move so bold it seemed to guarantee victory.
Then came Black 127.
A doctor in the crowd, a man who knew nothing of Go, suddenly spoke up:
"Black will win."
When asked how he could possibly know, he pointed at Genan.
"His ears turned red. That only happens when a man is shaken to his core."
The spectators laughed—until they saw Genan’s face.
Shusaku’s move 127 was a masterpiece, shifting the entire balance of the game. Genan fought desperately, but Shusaku’s endgame was flawless. After 325 moves, Shusaku won by three points.
The match would be remembered forever as the "Ear-Reddening Game"—a testament to the genius of a boy not yet twenty.
The Saint Who Never Ruled
Genan, though defeated, was not bitter. He played three more games with Shusaku—losing two and adjourning the third indefinitely. Before they parted, he clasped Shusaku’s hands and said:
"You are magnificent. The future of Go is yours."
But fate had other plans.
Shusaku never became Honinbo.
He never became Meijin.
At thirty-three, he died in a cholera epidemic, leaving behind only the ghost of what might have been.
The Four Sages were denied the highest title by circumstance.
But Shusaku—greater than them all—was denied even the chance to fight for it.
History remembers him as the Saint of Go—the genius who never ruled.
And yet, in the stones he left behind, his brilliance still burns.
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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》)
