From: Richard Sams parkcity ne jp> Date: 4 mar 2005 Subject: Re: Habu Talks about Chess --Apple-Mail-6-598967531 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Christian Poetry Contest! FREE Entry for a chance to Win $50,000=20 in Cash Prizes & get Published! http://click.topica.com/= caadeMra2i6YsbnuqMaa/Christian Poetry ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello All, A little while ago, Hiroe Nakai, former women's Meijin, published her=20 autobiography. Among other things, it contains a conversation about=20 chess with Yoshiharu Habu, who currently holds four of the seven major=20 shogi titles. I have translated this conversation for shogi fans=20 overseas. It is given as the main text below and as an attached file. All the Best, Richard Sams CHESS and SHOGI Nakai: Actually, I don't even know the rules of chess very well. How=20 come you took it up? Habu: Well, I kind of knew the rules already, but I really got=20 interested when I heard that Murooka-san (Katsuhiko Murooka 7-dan)=20 often went overseas to watch chess tournaments. Nakai: Because he knew the rules very well? Habu: (laughing) No, it wasn't that. Then I got to know this Frenchman,=20 who taught me how to play, and I started playing quite often. Nakai: I suppose it's relatively easy because the rules of shogi are=20 similar. Habu: Yes, a shogi player can pick up the rules of chess immediately,=20 well, in about 10 minutes. Nakai: I still haven't fully grasped them, so what would you call me? Habu: You could pick it up straight away with a just little=20 concentration. It's really easy. Nakai: That may be true of the rules, but I hear the game itself=20 requires quite a different kind of thinking to shogi. Is that so? Habu: I suppose it is. It's easy to learn, but it really is quite=20 different. Nakai: I get the feeling that playing both shogi and chess would be=20 quite tiring. Habu: (Laughing) Yes, it's really exhausting. Nakai: So why chess? Habu: This isn't a very refined way of putting it, but shogi is like=20 two boxers punching each other directly in the head, while chess is=20 like an exchange of body blows, and these blows gradually take effect.=20 So although they're both tiring, they affect you in different ways.=20 We're talking about chess and shogi, but it's also very interesting to=20 compare the various kinds of chess. Nakai: You mean like Indian or Chinese chess? Habu: Yes. In Asia, they play Chinese chess in China, Korean chess in=20 Korea, and Thai chess in Thailand. Each country has its own kind of=20 chess and it's quite interesting to compare them. The history,=20 thinking, and customs of each country or region are reflected in these=20 different types of chess. MC: I suppose some shogi professionals find these other kinds of chess=20 interesting and others don't ... Habu: Yes, there are those who are mainly interested in shogi=20 technique, while others like to think about the roots of the game. I=20 think it's natural to get curious about that if you play shogi for many=20 years - you wonder where the game came from and start looking into it=20 more deeply. Nakai: You seem to be the type who gets into things deeply, but why=20 chess in particular? Are you aspiring to be one of the world's top=20 chess players? Habu: It's like the world of music. If you want to become a=20 professional pianist, you have to have a special teacher before the age=20 of ten and practice eight to ten hours a day. In the former Soviet=20 Union, nurturing musicians and chess players was like a national=20 project, so it really is a completely different world. Nakai: But you've been playing shogi for more than 20 years now and it=20 has quite a few things in common with chess, so I think you'd have made=20 progress much faster than someone who hadn't done anything of that=20 kind. Habu: Perhaps, but then if you took up chess, you'd probably reach a=20 certain level quite quickly too. Until you reach that level, the=20 ability to analyze, positional sense and intuition you've acquired from=20 shogi would be an advantage, but when you get past that level, they=20 could actually put you at a disadvantage. Nakai: Really? Habu: Yes, if you give away too many pieces, you can lose pretty=20 quickly at chess! Nakai: Yes, I suppose you would... Habu: It's very different from shogi, but it has quite a lot in common=20 with other types of chess. For instance, there are some top players who=20 are very strong at Chinese chess. Nakai: Top chess players? Habu: Yes, because the two games are so similar. You can apply the=20 skills you've learned in one to the other. This applies to other types=20 of chess - only shogi is different. Nakai: So players of other types of chess would have a big advantage if=20 they took up western chess. Habu: Yes, that's true. With the exception of shogi, you could put them=20 all in the same category. Nakai: But you're already a very strong chess player and you're going=20 to get even stronger. As you get more chances to play top players,=20 aren't your ambitions likely to expand? Perhaps "ambition" is not a=20 good word, but don't you have the desire to achieve in chess something=20 of what you've done in shogi? Habu: (Laughing) But the system in chess is different, so if you attain=20 a certain strength you already have opportunities to play games against=20 the top players. Naku: Really? Habu: Yes, in the first chess tournament I played in, my opponent in=20 the second round was the US Champion! Nakai: You're kidding! Habu: In the chess world they make no clear distinction between=20 professionals and amateurs. So if you entered a tournament, and you=20 were lucky in the draw, you might get to play someone like that in the=20 first round. Nakai: (Laughs) Habu: It's true, no kidding! Nakai: But I don't even know the rules properly. Habu: All you have to do is enter and take part. There are no barriers,=20 and with a bit of luck you might be paired against a really strong=20 player. Nakai: But still, don't you feel like breaking out from shogi and=20 taking on the rest of the world at chess? Habu: Mmm, but ... Nakai: After all, Japan is such a small country. Surely a man's dreams=20 and ambitions spur him to greater things. Don't you have any such=20 aspirations? Habu: Chess is certainly an amazing world. The competition is really=20 much fiercer. Nakai: Yes, I suppose it would be. The news goes all over the world. Habu: Yes, they don't do things by halves. Things happen that you just=20 couldn't imagine in the shogi world. Recently teenage stars have been=20 emerging, kids of twelve or thirteen who are incredibly strong. Nakai; Amazing. Habu: Wearing short trousers ... Nakai: Really? Habu: (Laughing) They may look cute, but they're terrifically strong=20 players. Nakai: I suppose they get special training. Habu: Yes, but I don't think it's just that. MC: I hear that there has been great interest in chess in China ever=20 since Xie Jun became women's world chess champion (in 1991). Habu: That's right. At the moment China's number one player is a woman. Nakai: And there are those three sisters from Hungary. Habu: I suppose China's huge population accounts for its strength in=20 depth. Nakai: Yes it must. Habu: With one-fifth of the world's population, you'd expect them to=20 have some strong chess players. I suppose it won't be long before=20 something similar happens in the shogi world. Nakai: I think so too. Habu: When a suitable environment has been established. MC: But you still haven't answered the question Nakai-san asked a=20 moment ago about your chess ambitions. (They laugh) Habu: For me it's interesting enough just to take part in chess=20 tournaments every so often. Nakai: Yes, but ... Habu: I don't quite know how to explain. It's something I didn't=20 understand either before I took part. Take the World Open, for example.=20 It's a tournament that anyone can play in, and there are about 1,500=20 participants. The highest placed finishers are usually ranked in the=20 world's top ten and the players at the bottom may be around beginner=20 level, but they all play in the same tournament. Nakai: That's amazing. Habu: So you get the chance to play very strong players in these=20 tournaments, and that's what's interesting about it for me. It's true=20 of anything, including shogi of course, that you don't know how strong=20 someone is until you actually play them. Then you find out how high the=20 level is. So I think anyone who understood that wouldn't ask that kind=20 of question! Nakai: Point taken. Habu: Well, it stands to reason. Nakai: If only you'd substituted shogi for chess from the beginning, I=20 would have understood immediately! (Habu laughs) But shogi=20 professionals are only active in Japan - I think the reason why=20 everyone is interested in your chess activities is that you're playing=20 against people from all over the world. Habu: Yes, I understand that. But if the shogi world were to become=20 like the chess world, it would be difficult for Japanese players to=20 stay at the top. Even though we don't officially exclude players from=20 overseas, they don't take part. But if that did happen, as it has in=20 sumo and judo, foreign players could rise to the top quite quickly. Nakai: There's no reason why not. Habu: All fields are the same in that respect, so I think shogi will go=20 the same way one day. In sumo, if all the yokozunas were foreigners,=20 Japanese people might feel quite resentful, but that really can't be=20 helped. They would just have to accept that their efforts weren't=20 sufficient. Nakai: It seems like I took up shogi at a good time. Habu: But there are many strong women chess players, so there's=20 absolutely no reason why women shouldn't be good at shogi. Since chess=20 is a sport, women and men tend to play in different tournaments, but=20 one of the three Polgar sisters you mentioned just now is so strong=20 that she plays in men's tournaments, and she's ranked among the world's=20 top ten or so players. Nakai: A woman can get into the world's top ten? Habu: Yes. It's not a question of gender but of environment and an=20 individual's own efforts and ability. If all of those conditions are=20 there, you will naturally rise to the top. We can expect the same thing=20 to happen in shogi. Nakai: I think so too. Habu: You should never think such a thing is impossible. For example,=20 if not a single person could reach the level of 4 dan for decades, we=20 might incorrectly assume it's no longer possible. We should never make=20 the assumption that certain people are inferior in some way or other. Nakai: That kind of prejudice never produces good results. Habu: Believing absolutely that you will succeed and feeling somehow=20 that you probably won't lead to completely different results. So I hope=20 you will bring up the next generation of strong women players. Nakai: Me? Habu: Yes, we're counting on you. (Nakai laughs) I don't think you're=20 necessarily in a class of your own, but just at the moment I don't see=20 much sign of younger players who are determined to defeat you and=20 become the top woman player themselves. So I think it should be all=20 right for the time being. Nakai: What should be? Habu: I mean, the "age of Nakai" Nakai: (Laughing) Don't bet on it! (Translated by Richard Sams) Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Need a Laptop? Get a Sony Vaio Laptop Free! http://click.topica.com/= caadeMja2i6YsbnuqMaf/ProductTestPanel ------------------------------------------------------------------- --^---------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to: = shogi-l shogi net EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a2i6Ys.= bnuqMa.= c2hvZ2kt Or send an email to: shogi-unsubscribe topica com For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit: http://www.topica.com/?p=3DTEXFOOTER --^---------------------------------------------------------------- --Apple-Mail-6-598967531 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: application/rtf; x-mac-type=54455854; x-unix-mode=0644; x-mac-creator=4D535744; name="H-N.txt" Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=H-N.txt Chess=20and=20Shogi=0D=0DNakai:=20Actually,=20I=20don't=20even=20know=20= the=20rules=20of=20chess=20very=20well.=20How=20come=20you=20took=20it=20= up?=0D=0DHabu:=20Well,=20I=20kind=20of=20knew=20the=20rules=20already,=20= but=20I=20really=20got=20interested=20when=20I=20heard=20that=20= Murooka-san=20(Katsuhiko=20Murooka=207-dan)=20often=20went=20overseas=20= to=20watch=20chess=20tournaments.=0D=0DNakai:=20Because=20he=20knew=20= the=20rules=20very=20well?=0D=0DHabu:=20(laughing)=20No,=20it=20wasn't=20= that.=20Then=20I=20got=20to=20know=20this=20Frenchman,=20who=20taught=20= me=20how=20to=20play,=20and=20I=20started=20playing=20quite=20often.=0D=0D= Nakai:=20I=20suppose=20it's=20relatively=20easy=20because=20the=20rules=20= of=20shogi=20are=20similar.=0D=0DHabu:=20Yes,=20a=20shogi=20player=20can=20= pick=20up=20the=20rules=20of=20chess=20immediately,=20well,=20in=20about=20= 10=20minutes.=0D=0DNakai:=20I=20still=20haven't=20fully=20grasped=20= them,=20so=20what=20would=20you=20call=20me?=0D=0DHabu:=20You=20could=20= pick=20it=20up=20straight=20away=20with=20a=20just=20little=20= concentration.=20It's=20really=20easy.=0D=0DNakai:=20That=20may=20be=20= true=20of=20the=20rules,=20but=20I=20hear=20the=20game=20itself=20= requires=20quite=20a=20different=20kind=20of=20thinking=20to=20shogi.=20= Is=20that=20so?=0D=0DHabu:=20I=20suppose=20it=20is.=20It's=20easy=20to=20= learn,=20but=20it=20really=20is=20quite=20different.=0D=0DNakai:=20I=20= get=20the=20feeling=20that=20playing=20both=20shogi=20and=20chess=20= would=20be=20quite=20tiring.=0D=0DHabu:=20(Laughing)=20Yes,=20it's=20= really=20exhausting.=0D=0DNakai:=20So=20why=20chess?=0D=0DHabu:=20This=20= isn't=20a=20very=20refined=20way=20of=20putting=20it,=20but=20shogi=20is=20= like=20two=20boxers=20punching=20each=20other=20directly=20in=20the=20= head,=20while=20chess=20is=20like=20an=20exchange=20of=20body=20blows,=20= and=20these=20blows=20gradually=20take=20effect.=20So=20although=20= they're=20both=20tiring,=20they=20affect=20you=20in=20different=20ways.=20= We're=20talking=20about=20chess=20and=20shogi,=20but=20it's=20also=20= very=20interesting=20to=20compare=20the=20various=20kinds=20of=20chess.=0D= =0DNakai:=20You=20mean=20like=20Indian=20or=20Chinese=20chess?=0D=0D= Habu:=20Yes.=20In=20Asia,=20they=20play=20Chinese=20chess=20in=20China,=20= Korean=20chess=20in=20Korea,=20and=20Thai=20chess=20in=20Thailand.=20= Each=20country=20has=20its=20own=20kind=20of=20chess=20and=20it's=20= quite=20interesting=20to=20compare=20them.=20The=20history,=20thinking,=20= and=20customs=20of=20each=20country=20or=20region=20are=20reflected=20in=20= these=20different=20types=20of=20chess.=0D=0DMC:=20I=20suppose=20some=20= shogi=20professionals=20find=20these=20other=20kinds=20of=20chess=20= interesting=20and=20others=20don't=20...=0D=0DHabu:=20Yes,=20there=20are=20= those=20who=20are=20mainly=20interested=20in=20shogi=20technique,=20= while=20others=20like=20to=20think=20about=20the=20roots=20of=20the=20= game.=20I=20think=20it's=20natural=20to=20get=20curious=20about=20that=20= if=20you=20play=20shogi=20for=20many=20years=20-=20you=20wonder=20where=20= the=20game=20came=20from=20and=20start=20looking=20into=20it=20more=20= deeply.=0D=0DNakai:=20You=20seem=20to=20be=20the=20type=20who=20gets=20= into=20things=20deeply,=20but=20why=20chess=20in=20particular?=20Are=20= you=20aspiring=20to=20be=20one=20of=20the=20world's=20top=20chess=20= players?=0D=0DHabu:=20It's=20like=20the=20world=20of=20music.=20If=20you=20= want=20to=20become=20a=20professional=20pianist,=20you=20have=20to=20= have=20a=20special=20teacher=20before=20the=20age=20of=20ten=20and=20= practice=20eight=20to=20ten=20hours=20a=20day.=20In=20the=20former=20= Soviet=20Union,=20nurturing=20musicians=20and=20chess=20players=20was=20= like=20a=20national=20project,=20so=20it=20really=20is=20a=20completely=20= different=20world.=0D=0DNakai:=20But=20you've=20been=20playing=20shogi=20= for=20more=20than=2020=20years=20now=20and=20it=20has=20quite=20a=20few=20= things=20in=20common=20with=20chess,=20so=20I=20think=20you'd=20have=20= made=20progress=20much=20faster=20than=20someone=20who=20hadn't=20done=20= anything=20of=20that=20kind.=0D=0DHabu:=20Perhaps,=20but=20then=20if=20= you=20took=20up=20chess,=20you'd=20probably=20reach=20a=20certain=20= level=20quite=20quickly=20too.=20Until=20you=20reach=20that=20level,=20= the=20ability=20to=20analyze,=20positional=20sense=20and=20intuition=20= you've=20acquired=20from=20shogi=20would=20be=20an=20advantage,=20but=20= when=20you=20get=20past=20that=20level,=20they=20could=20actually=20put=20= you=20at=20a=20disadvantage.=0D=0DNakai:=20Really?=0D=0DHabu:=20Yes,=20= if=20you=20give=20away=20too=20many=20pieces,=20you=20can=20lose=20= pretty=20quickly=20at=20chess!=0D=0DNakai:=20Yes,=20I=20suppose=20you=20= would...=0D=0DHabu:=20It's=20very=20different=20from=20shogi,=20but=20it=20= has=20quite=20a=20lot=20in=20common=20with=20other=20types=20of=20chess.=20= For=20instance,=20there=20are=20some=20top=20players=20who=20are=20very=20= strong=20at=20Chinese=20chess.=0D=0DNakai:=20Top=20chess=20players?=0D=0D= Habu:=20Yes,=20because=20the=20two=20games=20are=20so=20similar.=20You=20= can=20apply=20the=20skills=20you've=20learned=20in=20one=20to=20the=20= other.=20This=20applies=20to=20other=20types=20of=20chess=20-=20only=20= shogi=20is=20different.=0D=0DNakai:=20So=20players=20of=20other=20types=20= of=20chess=20would=20have=20a=20big=20advantage=20if=20they=20took=20up=20= western=20chess.=0D=0DHabu:=20Yes,=20that's=20true.=20With=20the=20= exception=20of=20shogi,=20you=20could=20put=20them=20all=20in=20the=20= same=20category.=0D=0DNakai:=20But=20you're=20already=20a=20very=20= strong=20chess=20player=20and=20you're=20going=20to=20get=20even=20= stronger.=20As=20you=20get=20more=20chances=20to=20play=20top=20players,=20= aren't=20your=20ambitions=20likely=20to=20expand?=20Perhaps=20"ambition"=20= is=20not=20a=20good=20word,=20but=20don't=20you=20have=20the=20desire=20= to=20achieve=20in=20chess=20something=20of=20what=20you've=20done=20in=20= shogi?=0D=0DHabu:=20(Laughing)=20But=20the=20system=20in=20chess=20is=20= different,=20so=20if=20you=20attain=20a=20certain=20strength=20you=20= already=20have=20opportunities=20to=20play=20games=20against=20the=20top=20= players.=0D=0DNaku:=20Really?=0D=0DHabu:=20Yes,=20in=20the=20first=20= chess=20tournament=20I=20played=20in,=20my=20opponent=20in=20the=20= second=20round=20was=20the=20US=20Champion!=20=0D=0DNakai:=20You're=20= kidding!=0D=0DHabu:=20In=20the=20chess=20world=20they=20make=20no=20= clear=20distinction=20between=20professionals=20and=20amateurs.=20So=20= if=20you=20entered=20a=20tournament,=20and=20you=20were=20lucky=20in=20= the=20draw,=20you=20might=20get=20to=20play=20someone=20like=20that=20in=20= the=20first=20round.=20=0D=0DNakai:=20(Laughs)=0D=0DHabu:=20It's=20true,=20= no=20kidding!=0D=0DNakai:=20But=20I=20don't=20even=20know=20the=20rules=20= properly.=0D=0DHabu:=20All=20you=20have=20to=20do=20is=20enter=20and=20= take=20part.=20There=20are=20no=20barriers,=20and=20with=20a=20bit=20of=20= luck=20you=20might=20be=20paired=20against=20a=20really=20strong=20= player.=0D=0DNakai:=20But=20still,=20don't=20you=20feel=20like=20= breaking=20out=20from=20shogi=20and=20taking=20on=20the=20rest=20of=20= the=20world=20at=20chess?=0D=0DHabu:=20Mmm,=20but=20...=0D=0DNakai:=20= After=20all,=20Japan=20is=20such=20a=20small=20country.=20Surely=20a=20= man's=20dreams=20and=20ambitions=20spur=20him=20to=20greater=20things.=20= Don't=20you=20have=20any=20such=20aspirations?=0D=0DHabu:=20Chess=20is=20= certainly=20an=20amazing=20world.=20The=20competition=20is=20really=20= much=20fiercer.=0D=0DNakai:=20Yes,=20I=20suppose=20it=20would=20be.=20= The=20news=20goes=20all=20over=20the=20world.=0D=0DHabu:=20Yes,=20they=20= don't=20do=20things=20by=20halves.=20Things=20happen=20that=20you=20just=20= couldn't=20imagine=20in=20the=20shogi=20world.=20Recently=20teenage=20= stars=20have=20been=20emerging,=20kids=20of=20twelve=20or=20thirteen=20= who=20are=20incredibly=20strong.=0D=0DNakai;=20Amazing.=0D=0DHabu:=20= Wearing=20short=20trousers=20...=0D=0DNakai:=20Really?=0D=0DHabu:=20= (Laughing)=20They=20may=20look=20cute,=20but=20they're=20terrifically=20= strong=20players.=0D=0DNakai:=20I=20suppose=20they=20get=20special=20= training.=20=0D=0DHabu:=20Yes,=20but=20I=20don't=20think=20it's=20just=20= that.=0D=0DMC:=20I=20hear=20that=20there=20has=20been=20great=20interest=20= in=20chess=20in=20China=20ever=20since=20Xie=20Jun=20became=20women's=20= world=20chess=20champion=20(in=201991).=0D=0DHabu:=20That's=20right.=20= At=20the=20moment=20China's=20number=20one=20player=20is=20a=20woman.=0D=0D= Nakai:=20And=20there=20are=20those=20three=20sisters=20from=20Hungary.=0D= =0DHabu:=20I=20suppose=20China's=20huge=20population=20accounts=20for=20= its=20strength=20in=20depth.=0D=0DNakai:=20Yes=20it=20must.=0D=0DHabu:=20= With=20one-fifth=20of=20the=20world's=20population,=20you'd=20expect=20= them=20to=20have=20some=20strong=20chess=20players.=20I=20suppose=20it=20= won't=20be=20long=20before=20something=20similar=20happens=20in=20the=20= shogi=20world.=0D=0DNakai:=20I=20think=20so=20too.=0D=0DHabu:=20When=20a=20= suitable=20environment=20has=20been=20established.=0D=0DMC:=20But=20you=20= still=20haven't=20answered=20the=20question=20Nakai-san=20asked=20a=20= moment=20ago=20about=20your=20chess=20ambitions.=20(They=20laugh)=0D=0D= Habu:=20For=20me=20it's=20interesting=20enough=20just=20to=20take=20part=20= in=20chess=20tournaments=20every=20so=20often.=0D=0DNakai:=20Yes,=20but=20= ...=0D=0DHabu:=20I=20don't=20quite=20know=20how=20to=20explain.=20It's=20= something=20I=20didn't=20understand=20either=20before=20I=20took=20part.=20= Take=20the=20World=20Open,=20for=20example.=20It's=20a=20tournament=20= that=20anyone=20can=20play=20in,=20and=20there=20are=20about=201,500=20= participants.=20The=20highest=20placed=20finishers=20are=20usually=20= ranked=20in=20the=20world's=20top=20ten=20and=20the=20players=20at=20the=20= bottom=20may=20be=20around=20beginner=20level,=20but=20they=20all=20play=20= in=20the=20same=20tournament.=0D=0DNakai:=20That's=20amazing.=0D=0DHabu:=20= So=20you=20get=20the=20chance=20to=20play=20very=20strong=20players=20in=20= these=20tournaments,=20and=20that's=20what's=20interesting=20about=20it=20= for=20me.=20It's=20true=20of=20anything,=20including=20shogi=20of=20= course,=20that=20you=20don't=20know=20how=20strong=20someone=20is=20= until=20you=20actually=20play=20them.=20Then=20you=20find=20out=20how=20= high=20the=20level=20is.=20So=20I=20think=20anyone=20who=20understood=20= that=20wouldn't=20ask=20that=20kind=20of=20question!=0D=0DNakai:=20Point=20= taken.=0D=0DHabu:=20Well,=20it=20stands=20to=20reason.=0D=0DNakai:=20If=20= only=20you'd=20substituted=20shogi=20for=20chess=20from=20the=20= beginning,=20I=20would=20have=20understood=20immediately!=20(Habu=20= laughs)=20But=20shogi=20professionals=20are=20only=20active=20in=20Japan=20= -=20I=20think=20the=20reason=20why=20everyone=20is=20interested=20in=20= your=20chess=20activities=20is=20that=20you're=20playing=20against=20= people=20from=20all=20over=20the=20world.=0D=0DHabu:=20Yes,=20I=20= understand=20that.=20But=20if=20the=20shogi=20world=20were=20to=20become=20= like=20the=20chess=20world,=20it=20would=20be=20difficult=20for=20= Japanese=20players=20to=20stay=20at=20the=20top.=20Even=20though=20we=20= don't=20officially=20exclude=20players=20from=20overseas,=20they=20don't=20= take=20part.=20But=20if=20that=20did=20happen,=20as=20it=20has=20in=20= sumo=20and=20judo,=20foreign=20players=20could=20rise=20to=20the=20top=20= quite=20quickly.=0D=0DNakai:=20There's=20no=20reason=20why=20not.=0D=0D= Habu:=20All=20fields=20are=20the=20same=20in=20that=20respect,=20so=20I=20= think=20shogi=20will=20go=20the=20same=20way=20one=20day.=20In=20sumo,=20= if=20all=20the=20yokozunas=20were=20foreigners,=20Japanese=20people=20= might=20feel=20quite=20resentful,=20but=20that=20really=20can't=20be=20= helped.=20They=20would=20just=20have=20to=20accept=20that=20their=20= efforts=20weren't=20sufficient.=0D=0DNakai:=20It=20seems=20like=20I=20= took=20up=20shogi=20at=20a=20good=20time.=0D=0DHabu:=20But=20there=20are=20= many=20strong=20women=20chess=20players,=20so=20there's=20absolutely=20= no=20reason=20why=20women=20shouldn't=20be=20good=20at=20shogi.=20Since=20= chess=20is=20a=20sport,=20women=20and=20men=20tend=20to=20play=20in=20= different=20tournaments,=20but=20one=20of=20the=20three=20Polgar=20= sisters=20you=20mentioned=20just=20now=20is=20so=20strong=20that=20she=20= plays=20in=20men's=20tournaments,=20and=20she's=20ranked=20among=20the=20= world's=20top=20ten=20or=20so=20players.=0D=0DNakai:=20A=20woman=20can=20= get=20into=20the=20world's=20top=20ten?=0D=0DHabu:=20Yes.=20It's=20not=20= a=20question=20of=20gender=20but=20of=20environment=20and=20an=20= individual's=20own=20efforts=20and=20ability.=20If=20all=20of=20those=20= conditions=20are=20there,=20you=20will=20naturally=20rise=20to=20the=20= top.=20We=20can=20expect=20the=20same=20thing=20to=20happen=20in=20= shogi.=0D=0DNakai:=20I=20think=20so=20too.=0D=0DHabu:=20You=20should=20= never=20think=20such=20a=20thing=20is=20impossible.=20For=20example,=20= if=20not=20a=20single=20person=20could=20reach=20the=20level=20of=204=20= dan=20for=20decades,=20we=20might=20incorrectly=20assume=20it's=20no=20= longer=20possible.=20We=20should=20never=20make=20the=20assumption=20= that=20certain=20people=20are=20inferior=20in=20some=20way=20or=20other.=0D= =0DNakai:=20That=20kind=20of=20prejudice=20never=20produces=20good=20= results.=0D=0DHabu:=20Believing=20absolutely=20that=20you=20will=20= succeed=20and=20feeling=20somehow=20that=20you=20probably=20won't=20lead=20= to=20completely=20different=20results.=20So=20I=20hope=20you=20will=20= bring=20up=20the=20next=20generation=20of=20strong=20women=20players.=0D=0D= Nakai:=20Me?=0D=0DHabu:=20Yes,=20we're=20counting=20on=20you.=20(Nakai=20= laughs)=20I=20don't=20think=20you're=20necessarily=20in=20a=20class=20of=20= your=20own,=20but=20just=20at=20the=20moment=20I=20don't=20see=20much=20= sign=20of=20younger=20players=20who=20are=20determined=20to=20defeat=20= you=20and=20become=20the=20top=20woman=20player=20themselves.=20So=20I=20= think=20it=20should=20be=20all=20right=20for=20the=20time=20being.=0D=0D= Nakai:=20What=20should=20be?=0D=0DHabu:=20I=20mean,=20the=20"age=20of=20= Nakai"=0D=0DNakai:=20(Laughing)=20Don't=20bet=20on=20it!=0D=0D=0D=0D=0D=0D= =0D=0D=0D= --Apple-Mail-6-598967531 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 --Apple-Mail-6-598967531--