From: Larry Kaufman <lkaufman <at> COMCAST <dot> NET>
Date: 3 apr 2003
Subject: Re: US tour by top Japanese Amateur

----- Original Message -----
From: "bogin" <bogin <at> YAHOO <dot> CO <dot> JP>
To: <SHOGI-L <at> TECHUNIX <dot> TECHNION <dot> AC <dot> IL>
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 12:19 AM
Subject: Re: US tour by top Japanese Amateur


> This topic is a little old by I have a question about Mr. Shimizugami. I
> have know doubt that he is quite strong but you refer to him as the
> Japanese Amatuer "Grand Champion". I am not sure where you got that
> information. The current Amatuer Meijin is Mr. Seiwa(?) Hayasaki of Oita
> Prefecture. Mr. Hayasaki is the first person to win the Amatuer Meijin
> title 3 times and thus was awarded the rank of 7-dan in recognition of his
> accomplishment.  Mr. Shimizugami did play in the last Amatuer Meijin
> tournament representing Chiba Prefecture but he was eliminated in the 2nd
> round. Also, he is not on any list of former Amatuer Meijin winners. He
did
> complete in the 26th Annual Asahi Amatuer Meijin Tournament but once again
> was eliminated in the 2nd round although he did advance to the
challengers'
> final the year before. Unfortunately, he lost and thus did not advance to
> the title match. So, I was just curious where he got the title of "Grand
> Champion".
>
> Bill Gaudry
>
     He explained that the title of "Grand Champion" is exactly that; it is
a different tournament from "Amateur Meijin".  There are several top amateur
titles, just as there are seven top Pro titles.

     Larry Kaufman