During Japan's Warring States period (late 15th to late 16th centuries), Japan's most famous warlords fell in love with the game. Notable among them was Oda Nobunaga, who conferred the title meijin (" master of Go ") on the young Sansa, who would later go on to found the Honinbo school.
日本戰國時代的知名武將更個個熱愛圍棋，例如織田信長曾授與後來創辦「本因坊」一門的算砂「名人」稱號；豐臣秀吉則設立「碁所」。