From: James Harnett <mharnett <at> USWEST <dot> NET>
Date: 6 mar 2000
Subject: Re: The number of potential shogi players

>The problem have getting from this to 30 million players is that it requires
>one of you, one of us if you like, carefully guiding someone through for a
>few hours at least to make them into a shogi player.  Few of them will in
>turn become recruiters.
>...
>How many die hard shogi players have you coined this way?
>Andy

If, in one month, I teach two people to play Shogi in 3 hours, then spend
one night/day of 2 or 3 hours each, a week, for 1 to 3 months, playing
Shogi, they will convert to or at least become Shogi players.  During the
second two months, I bring in three more people, each month, and follow the
same format.  I will then have eight new Shogi people by the end of the
first quarter, playing in a small tournament setting.  The logistics of
additional enticements and motivations are not important at this juncture,
but note that I have set in motion the possibility of exponentially
expanding the number of players.

Now, I realize that this is not utopia, but also, know that it is not rocket
science.  If their is a commitment by each of those eight players and each
of the newer members, to bring in just one new player each quarter (not that
many), then by the end of the first year we would have 64 new Shogi players.

Ideally, by the end of the first year, I would have 64 new players and by
the end of the third year, 16,384 new players.  You can see that by the end
of the fourth year, 30K new players are possible.  This is, by far, a real
stretch of imagination and a rather optimistic view, but I feel that it is
possible.

Promoting something that you believe in and have the time and resources for,
is fun.

How many, you ask?  I taught my father (1960), one brother (1972), two
sisters (1965-8), friends, and continue to recruit more (oo and beyond).  In
the above manner?  No.  I have not taken the time to set that specific
setting up.  However, I have done similar, by creating tournaments and
leagues for other similar enjoyable life and time fulfilling pleasurable
undertakings (mental and physical).

What is a "die hard shogi player" in your mind?  I'm not sure that "die
hard" is what I am looking for.  What is your proposal for generating new
Shogi players or for converting or diversafying the Chess players ability?

By the way, there are many writings (old & new) about Shogi, written in
English.

James Harnett