Honinbo Shuwa

Hon'inbō Shūwa (本因坊秀和, c. 1820–1873) was a Japanese professional Go player, and also the fourteenth head of the Hon'inbō house from 1847 to 1873.

Career Shūwa's most significant games were probably the three challenge games of 1840 and 1842 against Inoue Gennan Inseki. After Jowa's resignation of the post of Meijin godokoro in 1839, Gennan was making yet another run for the post of Meijin godokoro when the Honinbo house lodged a complaint with the government, leading to the first game between Shūwa and Gennan in 1840. Shuwa won this game by 4 points (on black), leaving Gennan so dismayed by his strength that he discontinued the series and withdrew his application. The subsequent games in 1842 were attempts by Gennan to show he could beat Shūwa taking white (even though he could take black every 3rd game, as befitted a difference of 1 dan rank), but he was beaten twice more, the second time by 6 points and the third time by 4 points. After these 3 losses Gennan resigned himself to retiring as an 8-dan, despite the fact that he was recognized by many (including his great rival Jōwa) as being equivalent to Meijin in strength.

Unfortunately, Shūwa's aspirations to be Meijin were undone by a variety of factors. The primary problem was the instability of the Tokugawa regime in its final decade, which gave very little thought to matters of Go in its final years. The family members for a while resumed the family name Tsuchiya.

While his reputation is somewhat overshadowed by that of his brilliant, pious and short-lived pupil Hon'inbō Shūsaku, it is undecided and to an extent imponderable who was the stronger, the typical playing conditions of the time meaning that they did not test this in matches played purely as competition. Shūsaku's games having been published soon after his death, they became a training manual, adding to the impression of the pupil's level. Shūsaku possessed an unusual modesty, and would always take black against out of respect for his teacher, even upon reaching 7-dan. Shūwa played a famous 17 game series with Shūsaku between 1846 and 1847, which contained some of the best Go of the classical era. Taking white in all games, Shūwa lost the series 4-13, and his overall results against Shusaku were 6-17-1, but in light of the handicaps and Shūsaku's natural brilliance at the Go board, it is virtually impossible to compare the two players.

Shūwa's style was unspectacular but thoroughly professional. His style with Black epitomized the values of classical Go – making one's groups safe and strong early on. He is greatly admired by modern professionals for his light, flexible play, as well as his refinement and mastery of "amashi" when playing with white.

Awards He was inducted into the Nihon Ki-in Hall of Fame in 2006.