Shogi Festival in Japan Club Kuala Lumpur! (Report)

Hey all,

Before I begin to talk about Shogi Festival, which was held in Japan Club Kuala Lumpur today, I would like to show the book that I have purchase via internet which has cost me roughly around RM 100.

It has 118 pages and I found it very useful for beginners because it teaches us the things we should be thinking while playing Shogi. Unless "Art of Shogi", it teaches you basic joseki (openings or fundamentals) but not too much about what we should be thinking. Therefore it is very good to have Habu's Words for Shogi players.

Alright, it's time for the report on Shogi Festival!
 

Report on Shogi Festival

Yesterday I was told that today Shogi Festival will be held in Japan Club Kuala Lumpur. One of the Japanese told me that it was starting around noon but I thought it was just a normal festival but it turns out that they were having tournaments!

A knockout tournament! I didn't knew they were having tournaments otherwise I would have join them! I shouldn't have went there at 2pm. And this is the first time in my life I've seen so many Japanese playing Shogi in Japan Club!

These are the giveaways and prizes. There are two types of categories. One is for adults and another is for children. Naoki has already finished his game so I have a game with him. Unfortunately I lost. =(   But I knew why I have lost. =)

After the tournament has ended, We were given by a small lecture on tsume Shogi by a 9-Dan pro Mr. Kenji Kobayashi. After the small talk a gift was given to the club leader as a small present...

This present actually has all the signatures of the Meijins! Do not look lightly on this prize. It is actually worth more than RM 3,000!!!

Two tables are set up and Mr. Kobayashi is going to play against 7 players at the same time, including me! He gave me two piece handicapped, Rook and Bishop. The game lasted for a long time and I lost. After all the games Mr. Kobayashi gave evalution on everyone about how well they played. Naoki has the strength of 2-Dan amateur while I have the strength of 3 kyu only. That explains why I have lost to Naoki earlier. Looks like my days of exams have really deteriorate my Shogi skills. =(   But I remember Naoki was playing against handicapped of Rook, Bishop and two Lances... Fortunately Mr. Kobayashi praised me that I have talent and might be a genius. I have never been so proud of myself in my life. =D

After that it's time to hand the prizes to the winners!

The winner of the adult category

2nd of the adults category

 

3rd of the adults category



Winner of the child category

2nd of the child category

Alot of things have been given away as presents and then it's group photo! I'm the one wearing the yellow shirt from the 2nd left...
 

With the Shogi activities over I have been invited over to a restaurant for free dinner! Talk about being lucky!
 

I was the only Malaysian there so I feel a little awkward because I couldn't speak Japanese nor fully understand it. But I'm very grateful that they're being friendly and tried to talk to me in English. =)
 

Prezzies

Speaking of which I've received a lot of presents from them! First off I've received an instant soup. =P And then...
 

Knewing that I play Shogi, they specially gave me this...
 

A book written by Mr. Kobayashi himself! It teaches you how to play Fourth File Rank Rook (Shinkenbisha). And lastly...
 

A calligraphy by Mr. Kobayashi! I really should have thank him for all these great stuffs!
 

Conclusion

It's been a long time I have enjoyed myself so much in Shogi events after AISEP. I'm glad that i have came to this festival just because I love Shogi alot. To everyone in Shogi Club in JCKL...
 

OTSUKARESAMA!

Now that I know I was 3 kyu, looks like getting 1-Dan by the end of this year will be realised soon! I'm going to work hard to achieve 1-Dan! And also I really hope I can participate more Shogi events in the future! Gambatte, Ryou! You can do it! For the sake your dream, work hard!

Regards,
Ryou Takehito

 

 

 

Shogi Full Time!

Hey all,

Today's 28th Nov so that means... exams are finally over!!! WOOHOOOOO!

With my semester ended I can finally play Shogi the whole day! Actually I'm playing Shogi at this moment and I'm taking a break right now to type this entry. I have been learning for Shogi for two straight hours so I still have 6 hours ago! It's great that I can learn Shogi full time, with at least 8 hours per day. Call me crazy, but that's how I love so much about Shogi!

On the night before my last exam, I couldn't sleep at all. Not that I was worried about my exams just because I have to take two different papers on the same day, the main reason is I was too excited about playing Shogi after exams! I found it a little scary that my obsession of Shogi is too strong but... I love this feeling! I did not force myself to learn 8 hours of Shogi. I was actually spending it just like my past-time/leisure! The sense of learning new strategies, discovering new ideas, playing against myself - it feels so great and refreshing!

Tomorrow is Saturday and I'm going to Japan Club Kuala Lumpur to play a few games of Shogi. It has been a very long time since I last visited JCKL. Hope my skills improve!

Alright everyone, I'm going to resume learning Shogi now. Take care everyone!

Regards,
Ryou Takehito

Interesting Video!

I found this interesting video as I was looking for "Gekka no Kishi", a story about Shogi, and thought I should share with everyone. Please have a good laugh. =)



If you can't read Chinese or understand Japanese, I have provided the translations below:
1: Who's the strongest player here?
2: Who?
3: Me. Any problem?
4: You're already playing. This is bad.
5: You're alone, right? I'll play with you.
6: Who are you?
7: Me or anyone else is the same, right?
8: Come on, hurry!
9: You don't have to hurry me. When the time comes the opponent will be here.
10: Then how about we have a match before he comes?
11: Let me tell you
12: I'm 3-dan. How about you?
13: 5-dan....... what?
14: But I stopped playing Shogi ever since middle school.
15: Now I probably should have jumped to 7-dan.
16: This is not even a jumping box!
17: It's alright!
18: Someone please go to the office and ask someone to come...... no need.
19: I will get rid of him.
20: Then... I'll go first.......okay!
21: P94? (Pawn in 94 square)
22: I'll say... do you even know how to play Shogi?....... Huh? What's wrong?
23: This move has no meaning at all!
24: You should study some joseki (Chess openings) first.
25: Sorry, but in my dictionary there's no such thing as 'joseki'.
26: What?
27: What's happened?
28: Don't cause any trouble, okay?
29: Please be quiet, okay?
30; What are you crying? So noisy.
31: You're still young.
32: There is still a long way to walk in your life.
33: I have never lose before!
34: I'm only playing with him a little.
35: V-Shape?
36: I had never lose since middle school.
37: I'm not playing Shogi anymore!
38: Not playing anymore!
39: You're not playing anymore?
40: I was actually thinking of making a heart shape...
41: Who are you? You're an outsider, right?

It's....It's finally here!!!

Hey all,

after waiting for another week, I woke up early at 9 a.m. to check my mailbox. It was not there. I have started to doubt that the online purchase might have been a failure so I went back into my house to take my morning bath and breakfast. At around 1 p.m., my mobile phone mysteriously rang. I was trying to get a hold of it but it stopped ringing before I could. Although the missed call was from a friend, I stupidly thought it as a sign that my book has arrive. So I went to check the mailbox again and there it was, Habu's Words!

After waiting for three weeks it has finally arrived!!! Words can't describe how happy I am to receive this book. I wished I could have taken a photo with the book but unfortunately my camera broke down. =(

Although I am happy that I've receive my copy of Habu's Words, but I can't use it now. WHY? This is because exams around the corner and I don't have time for Shogi! =( *Mumbles and curses at the college exams* Anyways my last day of exam is on 27th November so I'm really looking forward to study Shogi with Habu's Words on that day! =3

Regards,
Ryou Takehito