The Broken Dream of Honinbo Shuwa
Shuwa’s Ascent
After his legendary three-match sweep over Genan Inseki, Honinbo Shuwa's reputation skyrocketed. He was still in his twenties, but already held the rare title of 8-dan jun meijin—effectively placing him just one step below Meijin. His mentor, Honinbo Jousaku, was proud beyond words. A learned scholar more than a fighter, Jousaku gladly left the political battles to his brilliant disciple and focused on his books. His health, however, was never strong. In 1847, at only forty-five, Jousaku passed away. Three days later, the retired Honinbo Jouwa also died.
With both men gone, Shuwa inherited the headship of the Honinbo house. At just twenty-seven, he was already a towering figure in the Go world—and the only player qualified for the vacant Meijin title. By all appearances, his path to the top was clear.
But months passed. Then years. Shuwa never made his move.
A Lingering Rival
After Genan Inseki's retirement, the Inoue house declined, but a new threat emerged. The Yasui house, led by its ninth head, Yasui Sanchi, surged back into power. Sanchi, the son of the old Yasui Chitoku, had once been seen as unremarkable. He had talent, but little ambition. In his youth, he famously faced Jouwa in a two-stone handicap game—and lost by a single point, despite holding a lead into the endgame. His father scolded him mercilessly, calling him a “cowardly fool.”
The insult lit a fire in him. He worked harder. Grew sharper. And when he finally took over as head of the Yasui house, he did so with iron focus. Under his leadership, the Yasui house flourished. He brought in two generals—Sakaguchi Sentoku and Oota Yuuzou—and formed a fearsome group later known as the “Four Heavenly Kings of Yasui”: Onizuka Genji, Narabayashi Soukichi, Nakamura Shouhei, and Ebizawa Kenzou. Together, they transformed the Yasui house into a true rival to the Honinbo.
And of all the threats, Sanchi was the most direct. He had Shuwa’s number. In nine castle games between them, Sanchi won eight, five of those with black.
Shuwa, for all his brilliance, stayed silent.
A Sudden Shift
In 1858, Yasui Sanchi died while traveling in Kansai with Ebizawa Kenzou. The cause was officially reported as illness, though many whispered it was poison. Nothing was ever proven. The next year, Genan Inseki also passed away.
With both of his greatest rivals gone, Shuwa had a clear path. That same year, he turned forty.
The Meijin seat had been empty for decades. Shuwa finally made his move.
Opposition from the Shadows
Shuwa calculated the moment perfectly. The Hayashi house was led by Hayashi Hakuei, his close friend and in-law. The Inoue house was weak, with its head, Matsumoto Inseki, holding only a 5-dan rank. The Yasui house had just appointed a new head, Yasui Sanei, barely thirteen years old.
Shuwa was confident no one could stop him. He called on Hakuei to lobby the Inoue house while he confronted the young Sanei. Using persuasion and threat, he forced Sanei to stamp his endorsement on the Meijin recommendation. The boy, frightened and unprepared, agreed. But back at home, he confessed to his retainers what had happened. Fury erupted. They couldn’t undo the stamp—but they could fight back.
Sakaguchi Sentoku, ever the strategist, rushed to the Inoue house to rally support. Matsumoto Inseki had heard whispers of what was happening. He was unsure—his position was weak, and he didn’t want to challenge Shuwa. But Sakaguchi promised him full support, including taking the board himself if it came to a challenge match.
Relieved, Matsumoto agreed.
The Deception Collapses
Shuwa, unaware of the storm brewing, believed everything was under control. He had Hakuei’s promise, Sanei’s stamp, and presumed Matsumoto would fall in line. But the Inoue house stood firm. They issued a statement: if Shuwa insisted on becoming Meijin, a challenge match would follow, and Sakaguchi Sentoku would take the board.
The precedent was clear. Years earlier, when Genan Inseki challenged for the title, it was Shuwa himself who had fought on behalf of his house. Now, the roles were reversed.
Shuwa was enraged. Sakaguchi wasn’t some unknown—he was a 7-dan powerhouse, and one of the few with the nerve to stand up to the Honinbo. But Shuwa pressed forward. He filed the official petition to the Go elders.
And that’s when everything fell apart.
The Elder's Veto
The recommendation landed in the hands of Kuze Yamatonokami, one of the Go elders and an old friend of Genan Inseki. He had personally witnessed Genan's bloody match against Shuwa. He had not forgotten. Kuze refused to approve or reject the petition. He simply shelved it.
Months passed. No answer came. Shuwa grew frantic. He tried to pull strings to work back channels, but it was too late.
History Turns Elsewhere
In 1853, as Shuwa struggled in the shadows of the Go world, history caught fire. Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Japan with a fleet of black ships, forcing the country to sign the Kanagawa Treaty and open its ports. The isolationist Tokugawa shogunate began to crumble under the pressure of foreign demands and domestic unrest.
Calls for revolution echoed across the country.
The Go world was no exception. With the shogunate fighting for survival, the Go elders abandoned their usual duties. There was no time, no interest, no patience for titles or tradition.
Shuwa, still in his prime, with qualifications beyond dispute, never got another chance.
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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》)
