From: tn PANIX COM> Date: 15 oct 1995 Subject: Re: Japanese or English names Samuel H. Sloan wrote: > I can see that you do not know much about shogi, since you do not > know the name of the organization which rules it. > ... and so on ... in a manner that attracts heated discussion. I'm not sure if I should take this straight, but I've got a few minutes to spare... > If you have any contrary information, please let me know. Ok, let me post some facts here. I went to a Japanese bookstore here in New York City and found two introductory books about chess in Japanese. Neither says anything about shogi terms when they introduce the chess pieces. Both books use the English chess terms with Japanized pronunciation, written in katakana (a set of Japanese characters reserved for loan/foreign words). Very similar to the way Americans say Toyota, sushi, karaoke, etc. with Americanized accent. The two books are: Francois Le Linnais, 1974, "Le Jeu D'echecs" Translation by Kyoji Nariai, 1977, ISBN 4-560-05603-X Miyoko Watai, 1994, "Zukai Hayawakari Chesu" Editorial supervision by Yasuji Matsumoto, ISBN 4-528-00494-1 Note the editorial supervision of the second book by Mr. Matsumoto, who is the president of the Japan Chess Association. The book contains absolutely no reference to shogi even when it explains the legal moves of chess pieces. To summarize the situation (terms used by the majority) to the best of my knowledge, ----------------------------------------------------------- Chess in Chess in Shogi in Shogi in English Japanese Japanese English ----------------------------------------------------------- King KINGU OU or GYOKU King Queen KUI-N Bishop BISHOPPU KAKU Bishop UMA Promoted Bishop Knight NAITO KEI Knight NARIKEI Promoted Knight Rook RU-KU HISHA Rook RYUU Promoted Rook Pawn PO-N FU Pawn TOKIN Promoted Pawn KIN Gold GIN Silver NARIGIN Promoted Silver KYOU Lance NARIKYOU Promoted Lance ----------------------------------------------------------- I listed only the simplified names for Japanese shogi pieces, which are used colloquially among Japanese. Alternatives are: OU = OUSHOU GYOKU = GYOKUSHOU KAKU = KAKUGYOU, KAKKOU UMA = RYUUME, RYUUMA, NARIKAKU KEI = KEIMA FU = FUHYOU KIN = KINSHOU GIN = GINSHOU KYOU = KYOUSHA RYUU = RYUUOU, NARIBISHA ----------------------------------------------------------- As I understand from the posts in the SHOGI-L, there are some exceptions in the Japanese terms for chess pieces, especially among those who play both chess and shogi. However, judging from my personal experience as well as the books cited above, I tend to think the real life situation in Japan is well represented by what I summarized above. I'd like to hear any contrary information from those who speak the language to some proficiency. -Taki Naruto panix com> P.S. While I was at the bookstore, I got the latest (October) issues of KINDAI SHOGI and SHOGI SEKAI. If anybody wants, I could post something from these magazines (within what's allowed by the copyright law).