From: Doug Dysart KASPAROVCHESS COM> Date: 28 may 2000 Subject: Re: SV Re: SV: Re: A World Shogi Federation and a real Hi fellow shoglims, ---- Begin Original Message ---- >Subject: Re: SV Re: SV: Re: A World Shogi Federation and a real > WorldChampionship The Nihon Shogi Renmei is more "real" than a World Shogi Federation could ever hope to be currently. Many reasons have already been cited, like the fact that they have all the pros, all the fanatical players, and all the clout and money needed to popularize shogi the world around. So I think a FIDS (Federacion Internacional De Shogi) can wait for now. I know Japanese culture is not like American or European cultures, but they're not Nazis or Communists, last time I checked! >they are afraid that we (the gaijin, the westerners etc) will change >the game and violate its traditions. They are afraid that we will >introduce Swiss pairing systems, I don't think they are *afraid* of Swiss pairings, they just don't appreciate them. But, once they understand the Dutch system, they may yield a little bit. >new names or symbols of the pieces, I might have assumed this too, except that I have learned over the past few years that the Japanese are the biggest *promoters* of such things! They put out more international sets than anyone, I believe. Also, they have expressed to me that they think westerners have a hard time with kanji and so western sets should be used, with pictures on them similar to those in chess diagrams. Such a view was expressed to me at the tournament by Mark Ono, right in front of my European friend, Marc Theeuwen. As far as names are concerned, most Japanese players understand "Gold," "Silver," "Bishop," etc. What if we always had to say "Kin," "Gin," and "Kaku" instead? That would be very tough for chess players, but it doesn't work like that, fortunately. Doug Dysart Ohio Shogi Club founder Great chess, great e-mail: http://www.KasparovChess.com