From: Colin Paul Adams <colin <at> COLINA <dot> DEMON <dot> CO <dot> UK>
Date: 1 feb 1999
Subject: Re: Taikyoku Shogi

>>>>> "Michael" == Michael Vanier <mvanier <at> BBB <dot> CALTECH <dot> EDU> writes:

    Patrick> Yes, the book has five pages on Tenjiku shogi.  Not much
    Patrick> to translate, but I thought the rules were pretty much
    Patrick> established...

    Michael> There's the controversy about the move of the Lion Hawk
    Michael> described in The Book of Tenjiku.  Also the rule inferred

I should make it clear that George and I don't argue about what the
historical move was, merely what it OUGHT to be.

    >> none of the rules for the bigger games are really well
    >> established - John Fairbairn has told me the only variant he
    >> will play is Tori. Because for all the others, even Chu, he is
    >> not certain of the historical rules.

    Michael> Hmm... I figured the Chu rules were pretty well hammered
    Michael> out, give or take some very fine points.

So did I. I was most surprised when he said this. I said something
like:

"Isn't the game still played in Japan, to some extent? And what about
Oyama playing?"

His answers were:

1) People in Japan have been influenced by George.
2) Oyama tended to keep quiet about the rules.

Or something to that effect.

It's a pity we couldn't get John on this list, but I'm afraid he just
isn't interested in Shogi, these days, and never was interested in the variants.
--
Colin Paul Adams
Preston Lancashire