Shuutetsu Gone Insane
The Fall of Inoue Shuutetsu
In the late years of Genan Inseki’s life, while he and Mikami Gouzan wandered the country in search of peace and purpose, a shocking scandal erupted from the very house Genan once led. The twelfth head of the Inoue house, Inoue Shuutetsu, suffered a breakdown and murdered his own disciple, Kamasaburou.
It was a story so explosive that it shook the entire Go world.
A Life of Isolation
Shuutetsu was the eldest son of Honinbo Jouwa, but he never found favor with his father. In his youth, he was sent to the Inoue house as a political hostage when relations between the Honinbo and Inoue families were bitter and combative. He was treated with suspicion and kept at arm’s length. Meanwhile, players from the Honinbo house regarded him as a traitor for living under Inoue’s roof.
It left him emotionally isolated.
And yet, his talent was undeniable. Shuutetsu and Shuwa rose to 4-dan in the same year. But misfortune followed—Shuutetsu developed an eye condition and had to step away from Go for years. By the time he returned, Shuwa had surged ahead, while his own path was blocked. When Jouwa retired and named Jousaku as head of the Honinbo house and Shuwa as heir, Shuutetsu knew he would never return home.
He wandered, directionless, until Genan Inseki gave him purpose, appointing him as the head of the Inoue house.
The Cracks Begin to Show
At first, Shuutetsu performed well. He played three matches in the castle games—defeating Yasui Sanchi by three points with Black, losing narrowly to Sakaguchi Sentoku, and again to Sanchi with White. His most remarkable moment came in 1846, when he defeated Shusaku—Shuwa’s most prized student.
Shusaku’s play in the early part of the match was poor. With Shuutetsu leading, Shusaku attempted complex invasions and attacks, but Shuutetsu remained steady. The result was a clear eight-point win—Shusaku’s only loss as black.
For a moment, it looked like Shuutetsu might redeem himself.
Then everything unraveled.
The Killing at Hasuike
As time went on, Shuutetsu’s behavior became erratic. He would talk to himself, stare at nothing, or drift into silence. His students and family grew concerned.
One day, accompanied by his student Kamasaburou, he visited a temple garden. Without warning, Shuutetsu seized Kamasaburou’s short sword and slashed at him. The blade struck true. Kamasaburou fled, screaming for help, while Shuutetsu gave chase, wild-eyed and blood-soaked.
He caught up to his student by the edge of the lotus pond. Kamasaburou, in desperation, leaped into the water. He escaped the second blow, but his injuries were too grave. He died the next day.
A Scandal Averted
Panic swept the Inoue household. Shuutetsu was locked away. Emissaries were sent to Kamasaburou’s family and to the authorities. Political allies were called in. Everyone feared disaster.
Kamasaburou came from the powerful Hosokawa clan. His father was a senior retainer, and his two brothers were already drawing their swords, preparing to demand vengeance.
But then the father intervened.
“The Inoue house saved us long ago,” he said. “Let us return that favor now. We will not seek blood for blood.”
Their message to the Inoue family was simple: bury the dead with dignity. There would be no revenge.
It was unprecedented. In samurai culture, vengeance was sacred. But in this case, compassion-or perhaps shame—prevailed.
Whispers Behind the Curtain
Rumors, however, did not die. Some claimed Kamasaburou was more than a student. Handsome and clever, he had allegedly grown too close to Shuutetsu’s wife. The suggestion was scandalous—an affair under the master’s roof.
Though Shuutetsu’s mind had frayed, it hadn’t dulled completely. Perhaps he had seen too much, for too long. On that day at the temple, something must have snapped.
Perhaps that’s why Kamasaburou’s family accepted the outcome. Maybe they believed he had crossed a line too far.
A New Head, a Lost Era
With the house in disarray and no clear successor, the Inoue elders called a meeting. Hattori Shoutetsu, a 7-dan student of great promise, would have been the ideal choice. But he was away on a journey and could not be reached.
Time was short. The position could not remain vacant.
They turned to Matsumoto Kinshirou, a 4-dan from the Hayashi family. Though inexperienced, he was well-connected and politically safe. He was adopted into the Inoue house and named the thirteenth head: Matsumoto Inseki.
When Hattori returned and learned what had happened, it was too late.
Genan, far from the capital, heard the news and wept. A 4-dan was now leading the Inoue house. The legacy he fought for, that he bled for, was slipping away.
He could only bow his head and mourn what had been lost.
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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》)
