Ito Sokan - Ito Sokan

A shogi player from the Edo period. The second son of the second Ito Soin. His childhood name was Inju. In 1724 (Kyoho 9), he played "Oshiro Shogi" under the name of the third Sokan. In 1727, he reached the rank of 8th dan, and the following year, at the age of 23, he became the 7th Meijin, the youngest in history. The diagram (checkmate shogi) "Shogi Diagram" that he presented in his sixth year as Meijin is a masterpiece and difficult to understand. Later generations famously called it "One hundred checkmate or not checkmate." His younger brother Kanju left behind "One hundred checkmate shogi diagrams" (commonly known as "Shogi Diagrams"), a masterpiece representative of the Kyoho period (1716-1736), and was posthumously awarded the Meijin title at the age of 42. His style of play, known as "Oni-Munekan," shows his correct overall view of the game, his light and dynamic midgame, his powerful adaptability, and his brilliant approach, all of which are shown in the records of actual games of Gojo Shogi. Many fans consider him to be the strongest of all the Meijin players.

[Harada Yasuo]

"Is it Checkmated or Not Checkmated?" by Ito Sokan and Kanshu (Heibonsha, Toyo Bunko)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸時代の将棋棋士。2代伊藤宗印の二男。幼名は印寿。1724年（享保9）3代宗看の名で「御城(おしろ)将棋」を務める。27年八段に昇り、翌28年、23歳という史上最年少で7世名人を襲位。名人襲位6年目に献上した図式（詰め将棋）の「象戯(しょうぎ)図式」は名作で難解。後代の人は「詰むや詰まざるや百番」と称して有名である。弟看寿は享保(きょうほう)時代（1716～36）を代表する傑作「象棋百番奇巧図式」（通称「将棋図巧」）を遺(のこ)し、42歳で没後名人を贈られた。「鬼宗看」といわれるその棋風の、正しい大局観、中盤は軽快かつ豪快、応変の力強さ、寄せの鮮やかさが御城将棋の実戦譜に示されている。歴代名人中、最強とみるファンが多い。

［原田泰夫］

『伊藤宗看・看寿著『詰むや詰まざるや』（平凡社・東洋文庫）』

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