In memoriam - Takeda Misao
Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 3:41 am
As a reminder that women's go has a very long tradition in Japan, here is a game by Takeda Misao who has just died at the age of 94.
She was the elder sister of Kajiwara Takeo, but also the wife of Takeda Hiroyoshi 6d, a pupil of Honinbo Shusai. She retired in 1972 as 3d at the age of 51, and as is customary was awarded 4d, but she returned in 1977 as 3d and then achieved 4d in play, retiring again in 1988. I have not seen a reason for this hiatus, but judging by dates I'd think a likely guess is that she first retired to look after her sick husband, who died in 1976.
The game itself is rather enjoyable. It begins with the once rather common double takamoku and the game stays unusually high after that. In the final position, there are very few stones not just on the first and second lines but even on the third line. Yet a play on the secon line wins it! For those obsessed only with modern play, there is an interesting 4-4 joseki, too.
She was the elder sister of Kajiwara Takeo, but also the wife of Takeda Hiroyoshi 6d, a pupil of Honinbo Shusai. She retired in 1972 as 3d at the age of 51, and as is customary was awarded 4d, but she returned in 1977 as 3d and then achieved 4d in play, retiring again in 1988. I have not seen a reason for this hiatus, but judging by dates I'd think a likely guess is that she first retired to look after her sick husband, who died in 1976.
The game itself is rather enjoyable. It begins with the once rather common double takamoku and the game stays unusually high after that. In the final position, there are very few stones not just on the first and second lines but even on the third line. Yet a play on the secon line wins it! For those obsessed only with modern play, there is an interesting 4-4 joseki, too.