Honinbo Shusaku

Hon'inbō Shusaku (Japanese本因坊 秀 策; native桑 原 虎 次郎, Kuwabara Torajirō; born May 5, 1829 Innoshima, Bingo Province (now Innoshima - Tonoura, Onomichi, Hiroshima prefecture), Japan, † August 10 1862 in Edo ( today: Tokyo ) was a Japanese Go player.

Invented by him (and named after him ) Shusaku opening was played until the 20th century.

In his time Hon'inbō was known as a genius in the game of Go. He won 19 times in a row at the annual O- shiro -go ( Go- a ceremony in the presence of the Shogun ). That was one of the main reasons why he was called " The Invincible ". The latter, among other reasons, because he lost almost never with black ( however there were times Hon'inbōs the Komi - control yet, by the white at the end of the game 6.5 points (also 5.5 or even 7 not exceed 5 ) to count among his points ). So he could often hold the advantage of the first train with black to match end.

Hon'inbō Shusaku died in 1862 at the age of 33 years, of cholera as an epidemic had broken out.

Even today - 150 years after his death - many of its games are replayed by professional Go players and amateurs to learn from them.

In the manga Hikaru no Go Hon'inbō will be deemed as a kind of rebirth of Fujiwara no Sai Gospielers.