From: Toshiya Kawakami <GHE01101 <at> NIFTYSERVE <dot> OR <dot> JP>
Date: 15 oct 1995
Subject: Re: Japanese or English names

(original subject was: Notation of position and score?)

Sam Sloan wrote:
>I have observed that when Japanese chess players talk about chess in the
>Japanese language, they use the same terms as are used in shogi.

When a Japanese chess player explains the movement of pieces to
beginners, shogi terms are offen used necessarily.

Teacher:    "This is Rook.  If you are familiar to shogi, you
           can regard this as a Hisya with a few exceptions.
Student A:  "Oh, I understand."
Student B:  "I don't know shogi well."
Teacher:    "Okay, ....."

And perhaps, even after the beginners get experienced, they
sometimes use these terms.
But, I think most authorities and experts in Japan endorse
chess terms for chess game.


>I suggest that you get in touch with Mr. Matsumoto and the Japan Chess
>Association in Shibuya. I can assure you that they do use KAKU for bishop.
>What do you think they call it? A "bishop"? What is the dictionary word for
>"bishop" in Japanese?

I've known him for some time.
Though "bishop" is translated to "KAKU" by most E-J dictionaries,
I believe they, JCA preciders, rarely use shogi words for chess
(never between experts, sometimes for beginners).

In addition, most small E-J dics don't include even "castling",
"ending", or "gambit" in them!    Amazingly, one of the dics
explains "gambit: the first move at chess game"!!!
How much time I spend to consult E-E dictionaries (ordinary dics
for English speakers) in order to understand chess books!

Regards,
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Toshiya Kawakami
E-mail: GHE01101 <at> niftyserve <dot> or <dot> jp
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