From: Reijer Grimbergen NICI KUN NL> Date: 15 aug 1995 Subject: Re: Nihon Book List This book list is a very good idea. I'll try to give my humble opinion on the ones I have and correct some minor mistakes. > >In response, he sent a letter with several suggestions: "Shogi for Beginners" >is >the only book he knows of in English (although I've also aquired a copy of >"Shogi - Japan's Game of Strategy" by Trevor Leggett -- Charles E. Tuttle >Company Inc. of Rutland, Vermont and Toyko, 1990; ISBN 0-8048-0526-1); he also >suggests aquiring videotapes of shogi lectures and to study the styles and >stategies of shogi software. > >From the list I conclude that sadly the bilangual books by Aono are out of print. Especially "Better moves for better Shogi" is a classic for every beginner. Perhaps flooding Onogi with requests about this book might convince the Renmei of reprinting it. Ah... the hours I spent with the white Aono book, trying to understand the strategies and tactics of Shogi... >Persuant to his suggestions, he sent me some flyers and an order form from >the Renmei (all in Japanese, of course). One flyer is an advert for a >(children's) videotape set on the basics of shogi (tapes listed at 2980 and >2893 >yen). In my opinion, getting videos about Shogi is expensive and risky. Don't buy until you are absolutely sure you have a cracker. Shogi is made for books and not for video, or perhaps I am just a little old fashioned. > The second flyer is for two shogi computer programs, one of which I >recogize as being Kiwame. The programs are priced at 7900 yen and 14,900 yen. Shogi software is a good idea if you have no one to play with. Two warnings: Japanese DOS required and bad for your style if you are stronger than about 5-kyu. > >NIHON SHOGI RENMEI BOOK ORDER FORM (as of Aug, 1995) > >NISSHO BOOKS 670 yen each >5. Muteki Shiken Hisha: Shiken Hisha with no Enemy Sato, 9th Dan > (Shiken Hisha -- attack with hisha using 4th line) Small comment: -hisha should be -bisha. Thus shikenbisha and furibisha. >9. Shuban no Onite: Devilish Last Move Kumagami, 9th Dan Not completely sure about the Kanji translation here (have to check at home). Also called "Devilish moves in the endgame" (endgame is a more proper translation for shuuban). Rather old, but very nice little book. >10. Shogi Shuban no Sotesuji: Aptitude of Whole Sekine, 9th Dan > Final Movement of Shogi >11. Shogi, Hashizeme Zenshu: Shogi, Whole Collection Ohuchi, 9th Dan > of Invading the Edge Good book. Edge attack is one of the most important attacks in Shogi and it is very important to understand how this works. Remember the proverb: If you are stuck for moves, push the edge pawn! > >GEKITO SERIES 1854 yen each >23. Ibisha Anaguma tai Furihisha: Hisha Stay-Put with Shoseki Buhen > King Hiding-in-a-Corner vs. Hisha Attack Sideways Anaguma is normally translated by Bear-in-the-hole. I know this book has been written by Fukuzaki Bungo, a specialist. I am not sure if the author you give means that it is book written by an editor after comments of Fukuzaki. > >KOMAOCHI JOSEKI ZENSHU (Whole Collection of Standard Handicapped Play) 2884 yen >26. Shogi Daikan: Over-all View of Shogi Kimura, 14th Champion > This reads Shogi Taikan. It is a classic about handicap play. The josekis are not always up-to-date, but the general ideas of winning with handicap are almost all described in this book. >FUKYU NO MEICHO (Immortal Classic) 3000 yen >27. Gendai Shogi no Kyusho: Weak Points of Modern Shogi Yamada, 9th Dan > This is not a book for beginners. It is a classic, though. >SUPER SERIES 906 yen each >28. Yonenaga no: Super Advice Yonenaga, 9th Dan >29. Yakura de Tatakaou: Let's Fight in Yakura (#1) Nakahara, 9th Dan >30. Yakura de Tatakaou: (#2) " " Yakura should be Yagura. >35. Miracle Shuban Jutsu: Miraculous Final Movement Hagyu, Master > Very good book. Hagyu should of course be the one and only miracle man of Shogi: Habu Yoshiharu! >38. Hagyu no Zuno: Part 1: Brain of Hagyu Hagyu, Master > Part 2 > Part 3 > Part 4 > Part 5 > Part 6 > Part 7 > Part 8 > Part 9 > Part 10 Habu's view on openings. He has six major titles, so his views should not be discarded lightly. Still, I think these books are not good for beginners with a superficial knowledge of opening strategies. >41. Shogi Hissho Tesuji 100: 100 Ways to Sure Victory Ohuchi, 9th Dan Very good book. Every beginner should know these tesujis by heart. >51. Kosoku no Shubanjutsu: Fianl Moves, Lightening- Tanigawa, Master > Moves > Last but definitely not least!! In my opinion the best Shogi book of the nineties (and perhaps the best Shogi book ever). High class analysis of endgames in professional games. Might be a bit difficult for beginners. >MONTHLY PUBLICATIONS >Shogi Sekai (World of Shogi): 680 yen If you are interested in professional Shogi, getting stronger or both, get a subscription. Shogi Sekai has everything: analysis of professional games, tsume shogi, next move, you name it. I can say I reached dan-level by working through two years of Shogi Sekai. Drawback: it makes you want to learn Japanese to get even more out of the magazine. If you couldn't have guessed: learning Japanese is very time consuming. I hope nobody minds the minor errors I felt obliged to point out. I hope some native Japanese speakers could perfect the list for future use. Reijer