Mizutani

The heads of the House of Mizutani (yyyy-yyyy):

01. Mizutani Takugen?  3-Dan  yyyy-yyyy
02. Mizutani Takuju?   ?-Dan  yyyy-yyyy
03. Mizutani Takuren?  6-Dan  yyyy-yyyy

Robert Pauli: (first I had)

01. Mizutani Nuiji  6-Dan  1846-1884

Source was GoBase.

John F. The source is wrong. Nuiji had nothing to do with the Mizutani school. The Mizutani family was linked to the Honinbo family, starting with Takugen, at the end of the 18th century. He was a 6d in the Honinbo school. His son Takujun studied with Genjo and reached 6d. He adopted Takahashi Junei and named him Takuren but he died early. He then adopted Jowa’s son Dowa but Dowa succeeded in the Inoue family (as 12 Setsuzan) so Mizutani had no successor. However, some people believe the Mizutani Yotsuya, who was a member of Hoensha under Honinbo Shuho, may have been related.

Nuiji didn't even have a go teacher until he was 34. He was an elementary school teacher who played gambling go until he was able to join Hoensha late in life.

Robert Pauli: Thanks a lot, John, but who was the head then?

John F. Sorry, but you've lost me. Those I call a head (iemoto) are already listed above: Takugen, Takuju, Takuren (the clue's in the Taku-). All the Four Families except Hayashi had associate houses like this. They were used as feeders for the main families when prospective heirs died young (the Hayashis used the cast-offs of the other main families instead), and since the cream was thus lopped off these families could barely flourish for long. Other examples are Hattori (Inshuku; associated with Inoue), Sakaguchi (Sentoku I, Senju, Sentoku II; Yasui), Suzuki (Junsei, Chisei and Josei; Yasuis). The clues here are Sen- and -sei. The Yasuis did well because they were richest family under O-Senchi.

Robert Pauli: OK, got it.

Bob McGuigan: Is this the Mizutani Nuiji who played some model handicap games with Shusaku? (They can be found in Invincible) If so, Shusaku considered him to have a lot of talent, apparently.

Robert Pauli: Seems yes, compare with game.

John F. Yes, Bob. Indeed, he was the strongest player behind Shuho. Shuho wanted to promote him to 7d as he was the only player to get as near as -BBW- handicap to him. All Hoensha members agreed except Takahashi, who insisted on a 10-game match. Mizutani won the match 6-4 giving BBW, but stonewalling by Takahashi delayed the promotion, and 10 days after the match Mizutani died of tuberculosis. He was awarded his 7d posthumously.

Bill: John, was Dowa also known as Mizutani Junsaku at some point? Thanks.

John F. He had lots of names Ultimately he was Inoue Setsuzan Inseki, but he began as Umetaro, son of Honinbo Jowa and brother of Nakagawa Kamesaburo and Hanako (the wife of Honinbo Shusaku). He took the name Dowa when he became a go player but when Josaku succeeded to the Honinbo title he changed it to Kadono Chuzaemon (or, as now accepted, more likely Kuzuno). In 1843 he was adopted by Mizutani Takujun, taking the name Mizutani Junsaku. Adopted and appointed as heir by Inoue XI in 1845/6, he took the name Inoue Shutetsu. But too many names are bad for you, it seems - split personality. When mentally disturbed, he killed a pupil, Shimazaki Renzaburo. Mortified, he retired under the name Inoue Setsuzan Inseki.

Some scant detail... http://ps.waltheri.net/database/player/Mizutani%20Takugen/ lists him as 3p http://ps.waltheri.net/database/player/Mizutani%20Takuren/ lists him as 6p