From: Adam Skalny shogi sk> Date: 03 jun 2006 Subject: Become pro trough shoreikai and how does pro earn the living (questions,question Dear shogi fans, I've found rather old article about some girl who wants to become pro (http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/news/04-12/shogi.html). Put aside girls story, there's short description how Japanese kids become professional players. Are facts in that article still correct, please? Summarized: 1) Youngster apply in shoreikai office. - is there some age limit? or anybody can apply as long as he/she still have possibility to pass rules described below. 2) He pass written shogi test(?). - what kind of written test? do you know anything more about this please? 3) Win four out of six games against other applicants. 4) Win at least one out of three games against shoreikai member. - is there some key to pick up these shoreikai players? I assume that they are from tail of shoreikai member list. Correct? Everybody who pass become shoreikai member. 5) Earn 1st dan in shoreikai until 21st birthday 6) Earn 4th dan until 30th birthday or kick out. Article tell nothing about lady pros. Is limit for them lowered to 2nd kyu. Does it mean that there's no lady equivalent of professional player? Poof! One more professional player. Was article correct? Put aside new rule allowing strong amateurs to join (Mr.Segawas case). If You don't mind, i have few more silly questions related to article noted above: What's relation between nsr and shoreikai? Is shoreikai just part of nsr? Or is shoreikai self dependent organization? Article describes how shoreikai members learn shogi twice a month, do timekeepers, learn amateurs. Is it all support they receive from shoreikai? Are there any other responsibilities for shoreikai members? Does shoreikai members receive any money from nsr? Or they must keep/find normal job until pro -- "At the day thou drive the truck, at the night thou play shogi" -- that must be really hard! Who and when assign tutor to the professional player? It seems like, every pro listed on the nsr web have one. And what are responsibilities of professional players? What's source of their income? Is there some correlation between player rank and monthly salary? Does nsr pay professionals some extra money for participating in tournaments? Or is there only a grand prize for title holder? Do you know how much one session with professional player cost? Sorry, that i've put so much questions:( Thank You very much in forward for answers on some of them Best regards Adam Skalny PS: have You ever think about shogi knowledge database (wiki). there are some articles at the wikipedia.org but they are lost in zillions of other articles. just a wild idea, but i'd like to know your opinion :-) --^---------------------------------------------------------------- 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=TEXFOOTER --^----------------------------------------------------------------