From: Sunny SANO NIFTYSERVE OR JP> Date: 7 dec 1995 Subject: My stand point -2- DATE: 06-12-95 I have asked it in Japanese Shogi Federation. Their answer was; "We know that western people use such description system, but it's not authorized by us. We don't know even we are in a position to authorize it . . . " Surely ! Then, who has the authority to determine it ? Possible answer is "those who use it", yeah, I agree with you. In the occident, there exist thousands people who are accustomed to use such system and actually they are enjoying it. I respect them. As I have said before, my stand point is that to respect our own culture is to respect your culture. Therefore, naturally I respect the chess culture in the occident and even the chess like description in enjoying the Shogi. It's already a custom I have to respect! But at the same time I was thinking like this: "If a god of Shogi existed, how would he think if he ever saw that his men are called by chess men's name ? Would'nt he feel sorrow, or get angry ?" As you might know, Japanese have a tradition to believe in a lot of gods exsist in every item; it's not an unique and sole God in western religion. On the other hand I thought like this; "Then, what would he think, if ever existed the god of chess ? Yes, he is very nice! He has allowed quite a long time that the oriental boeard game pieces borrow his men's name. He was so generous that he has admitted it. But, would'nt he want to say to his brother god of Shogi that his men should present themselves by their own name ? Isn't he bored that an asian board game call itself something like western name ? . . . as he was so generous to share his terminology, he will be always generous that his brother god become independant and renew its name to the original one ? (cont'd) K. Sunny SANO