From: "J. Andrew Lipscomb" <ewwa <at> CHATTANOOGA <dot> NET>
Date: 23 jan 1996
Subject: Re: Notation

A (At)  7:55 22.1.96 -0800, Randal J. Andrews ecrivait (wrote):
>>1. As you might be well aware of, almost all of matured Shogi fans
>>abroad prefer using original pieces with Kanji rather than to western
>>pieces with alphabetic notations and direction of moves.
>>   What do you think about it ?
>
>Yes, this is true.  For face to face play, I prefer to use  traditional
>Japanese pieces.  However, I have a computer program, Shogi Master,
>and I don't use the kanji, but rather the English letters.   To
>successfully promote shogi outside of Japan there must be a coordinated
>effort involving books, a magazine, playing software, database software
>and above all, play on the internet.   All software should have many
>options including kanji, letters (English and even a user-definable
>system  of letters).  Even chess pieces with colors!  For software, why
>not?  (New designs needed for Gold, Silver, and Lance to complement the
>Staunton chess designs).

Hmm... an arrow would be a good symbol for Lance (suggests both the
movement and the name).  For gold and silver, perhaps the alchemists'
symbols (circled dot for Gold, crescent for Silver).