From: Toshiaki Tanigawa INT RDC RICOH CO JP> Date: 30 jul 1996 Subject: Re: Playing Shogi in Japan Hi, David-san. My name is Toshiaki Tanigawa, 6-dan, working for Ricoh. >>>>> On Mon, 29 Jul 1996 21:40:22 -0400, David Keeble JIFFY VISION MCGILL CA> said: >> Hi, >> I will be moving to Japan in October for 1-2 years, and I would like to ask >> the list's advice on playing Shogi there. At present I am only about 8-10 >> kyu, owing to the lack of opportunities to play go in Montreal. I will be >> living in Atsugi, a city of some size about 45 km South-West of Tokyo. Does You are very lucky! Because I am also living in Atsugi City. Please contact me if you have some problems. >> anyone have any contact addresses for clubs in Atsugi? I have heard that There is one famous club in Atsugi, called Atsugi Osho, very close to Atsugi(Hon-atsugi) station. The owner of the club is my good friend. I think your NTT lab is about 20 minutes by bus to the club, also to my home. >> there are Shogi classes for English-speaking foreigners in Tokyo itself on >> Saturdays, and I hope to go to some of those. Yes. I am not sure the exact date, but it is by Harue Tanikawa(female professional). And also, our ISPS(International Shogi Popularization Society) has some plan to have Shogi tournament? every several months. Anyway, we are very pleased to contact you. >> In general, I am wondering about how to get anything close to even games. I >> presume that most people who actually go to shogi clubs will be quite I think some of them are kyu players. >> strong, so I would have to play high-handicap games. Is asking some >> co-workers or aquaintences who aren't especially strong a good stragety? >> I am fortunate in that I will be working at NTT Labs in Atsugi, where there >> is some research into psychology and AI concerning Go, (which I also play, >> at dan level) and Shogi. Perhaps they will be able to point me in the right >> direction. I would be interested in hearing about foreigners' first >> impressions of playing Shogi in Japan, though. >> Cheers, Hope see you in October in Atsugi ! Cheers, Toshiaki Tanigawa A member of ISPS(International Shogi Popularization Society) (E-Mail:tanigawa int rdc ricoh co jp) (Tel:045-590-1648)(dial-in)(Fax:045-590-1899) (WWW:)