From: "Samuel H. Sloan (my real name)" <VanUpp <at> AOL <dot> COM>
Date: 15 oct 1995
Subject: Re: Japanese or English names

I can see that you do not know much about shogi, since you do not know the
name of the organization which rules it.

The ruling organization of shogi is the Nihon Shogi Renmei. It is in
Sendagaya. Since you are in Japan, I will tell you that to get there you go
out of the Sendagaya JNR station, walk South, but after several blocks you
curve left. The building is a bit difficult to find since it is behind some
other buildings, but it is only five minutes walk from the Sendagaya Station,
once you know the way.

Regarding your statement that shogi terms would be used only to teach chess
to beginners, I can assure you that I am not a beginner. I played in the
Japan National Chess Championship in 1984 and finished seventh. (This was a
very bad result for me, especially since I was leading the tournament after
the first few rounds.) Also, I do not really speak Japanese but I understand
a few words. I just got back from my latest trip to Japan less than two weeks
ago.

I could observe that when players in the Japan National Chess Championship
spoke to each other about chess, they consistantly used the equivalent terms
from shogi, including the words for "bishop" and "rook" for example. I doubt
if this has changed in the past 11 years. I cannot even imagine a Japanese
person talking to another Japanese person and using a word like "rook" or
"bishop". How would you write that in Katagana or Hiragana?

If you have any contrary information, please let me know.

Sam Sloan