Karigane Junichi - the gentle samurai

WHEN KARIGANE Junichi was born, on 30 July 1879, his family was in decline, like all samurai families left stranded by the fall of the Shogun. His father was Iwase Kyosaku - Karigane was his mother's maiden name - and they lived in Morikawa-cho, Hongo, in Tokyo, where Tokyo University is now located.

 Source: http://jerome.hubert1.perso.sfr.fr/Go/Parties/Lasker/Shusai-Karigane-1.htm

His father learned go in the prime of his life, but was passionate about it and used to have friends come at play at his house. His son was attracted by the sound of the stones. Even when playing outside, Junichi would run back to the house once he heard the stones. This was when he was around five. He simply watched. After a while watching did not satisfy him and he begged his father to play him. At first father did not believe he was serious, but the child persisted and so they began to play. The result was a tie. It seems the handicap was just five stones....read more: http://www.gogod.co.uk/NewInGo/Karigane.htm

The first benefactor

 Triumph in Korea

 Karigane's style

 Society to "abolish old practices"

 Go meets literature