From: DANERUD MARTIN <martin.danerud <at> TELIA <dot> COM>
Date: 16 mar 2001
Subject: Re: About the name of the pieces

Dear all,

> Cant you just use Japanese names only?  It may be a bit hard in the
> beginning for non-Japanese, but it will be easier without any confusion for
> the rest of your life!
>
> I dont call a Queen in Chess as Jyou Ou!

You are raising an interesting question, Ito-san! You are right to some extent. We, the western shogi players, can
"just" use the Japanese names. It will be easier for the rest of OUR lives. That is correct. However, the one and
only question which is important regarding shogi in the west is the popularisation of shogi. Who is champion, who is
a dan player, who has a certain ELO number today, all that will soon be forgotten. The only way that our names even
have a futile chance of being remembered by future shogi players in the west is that we succeed to popularize
shogi. We will need to do that if we want to have any shogi players whatsoever in the west in the future.
We have chosen to use the Japanese characters on the pieces. That is good. But characters, rules, and the
absence of a World shogi organisation and a real World Champion are enough obstacles for the popularisation of
shogi in a dominant chess culture. The beginners will learn the Japanese names of the pieces after some time. That
is no problem. We just do not have to introduce more thresholds from the beginning!
I have a lot of experience of popularising shogi in Sweden. It is possible. We need western shogi players who are
willing to do the job and we need some assistance from Japanese organisations with shogi sets etc. The key to the
west is the schools. Young people are willing to learn new things, start new activities, and they are also less blinded
by prejudices. Young people from the ages seven to twenty should be our main target group. I know that it means a
lot of job. I know that some of you may resign on this task. I know that some of you may prepare to make ironic
remarks about this, since it is such a big task. But I tell you the truth. There is no other way. Without popularising
shogi in the schools, shogi in the west will remain a small sect in the best case.

                         Sincerely yours,

                         Dr. Martin Danerud

                         President of the Swedish Shogi Federation