第五章 パリで生まれた芸術——竜王戦観戦記
正しいことが正しく行われている街で/
Ever since the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers was announced on September 15, the problems inherent in the financial industry, which originated from subprime loan, started to become evident all at once, plunging the world into a great recession, and everyone across the globe is busy dealing with it. I suppose that this very severe economic situation will last for a while.
Come to think about it, ' the latter 7 years' of the 14 years since I moved to Silicon Valley, the frontier of the business world, I was forced to live being overwhelmed by many adversities, which started with the September 11 attackes, followed by the wars in Afganistan and Iraq and this global economic crisis. In the midst of those horrendous events subsequently happening, which is completely different from the bright future I was picturing when I had moved to Silicon Valley 14 years ago, I somehow managed to survive using all the knowledge I possessed.
There is one thing I have learned from this experience.
That is, there is not so much an individual can do against those uncontrollable things. Of course it is important to do our best. However, it is far from achievable for us to think about how to survive all the time.
Were terrorist attacks to happen, wars to begin or the global economy to completely collapse, we would need to manage to survive by maintaining our mental balance through profound cultures such as listening to music, reading novels or watching baseball. Cultures, the severer the situation of an era becomes, play all the more important roles in enriching our daily lives.
Shogi is a brilliant culture we Japanese should be proud of. And we should be also proud of the shogi players, who embody that brilliant culture. Playing shogi, watching shogi and talking about shogi and the shogi players are a brilliant gift innately given to us. And to share this gift with people from the world over is to globalize shogi.
The fact that the first round of the 21st Ryuo title match, what is more, 'the duel for the entitlement of Permanent Ryuoh' between Watanabe Ryuo and Habu Meijin, which all the shogi fans have been waiting for, is to be held in Paris, while the global economy and the world as a whole are riddled with many seemingly unsolvable problems, seems to me to represent 'something' which is important in the present world. The two players, the young 'Ryuo' Akira Watanabe and the challenger 'Meijin' Yoshiharu Habu, and as an official watchman and commentator, Kunio Yonenaga, the president of the Shogi Association, and 'Kio' Yasumitsu Sato. Now, all the unprecidented great shogi players have gathered here in Paris. Come to think about it, the EU15 緊急首脳会議 was held at Palais de l'Élysée in Paris last week, where the action plan to combat the financial crisis by bla bla bla was announced, to some extent placing the last week's worst market situation under control for the time being.
In the midst of this global financial crisis, I will go to Paris to watch shogi.
As the departure for such a strange travel was drawing near, 緊張感 was being accumulated in me day by day.
It reminds me of 7 years ago, right after September 11 attacks. While many Japanese companies were still issuing 海外出張禁止令, America was brimmed with the idea that 'leading our daily lives as if nothing had happened is what we can do to combat against terrorism at an individual level'. I sympathized with the idea and did not cancel my planned business trip to Japan. Despite this, I could not help but think that the day could be my last the instant my plain took off from San Francisco Airport.
Of course I did not have any such physical fear on my way to Paris this time. However, that I am trying to deal with this economic crisis by 'leading our daily lives as if nothing had happened' might be the same as that time. It seems the tension is arising from here.
It was July 5, 2001, when I met Habu-san for the first time because I was to watch the third round of the 72nd Kisei-sen taking place in Hakone the following day.
Two months prior to this, I had a dialogue with Junichi Imakita-san in Paris under the theme 'What is the real strength of Europe?'. At the beginning of the dialog, I talked about as follows.
>>
It might be because I had been working around the clock in Silicon Valley, where time passes 7 times faster (on a dog-year basis), for the past several years, I felt a sudden and very strong shock when I was walking from ビュシー通り towards ジャコブ通り on the east(west?) coast of the River Seine in Paris last November. If I were to forcefully put the feeling into words, I felt that 'right things are being rightly done in this town'. Without waiting for another half a year, I insisted and took a break, and came to Paris again.
<<
I and Imakita-san talked about attractiveness of the American venturesome competitive society, and as a comparison to its fierceness and severity, the hidden strength of mature Europe, especially the resolutely unchanging scenery of Paris regardless of what happens, and attractiveness of the people living there.
Imakita-san is a business-consultant residing in Paris, who co-authored a book 'From Fixed Patterns to Visions' with Habu-san and had been friends with him since then. (The first dialogue between them also took place for the Ryuoh title match in Paris 14 years ago.)
So, when I met him for the first time in the platform of Tokyo Station, I greeted him by saying 'It is great honour to see you. My name is Umeda. I had a dialogue with Junichi Imakita-san on the latest 'Chuo Koron'. Of course it was the last thing I had expected that Habu-san had actually read the dialogue, but I just hoped Imakita-san, a common friend, would work as a trigger for our conversation.
Unexpectedly though, his first words were,
>>
ああ、ああ、はい、はい. I read the dialogue. It is great pleasure to meet you, too.
<<
I remember me being taken aback to find him reading such things in the midst of fierce battles.
We have known each other for more than 7 years since then. Since our first conversation was about Paris, where 'right things are being rightly done', I came to promise to him that 'for the next title match in Paris, I would be more than happy to go watch it', on the tacit assumption that the challenger were Habu-san.
And on June 12 this year, the next morning after I wrote the commentary for the first round of Kisei title match, in the Shinkansen back from Tsubasa Sanjo to Tokyo, Habu-san abruptly said to me,
>>
This year's Ryuo-sen is going to take place in Paris.
<<
It was 5 days before he retrived the seat of Meijin and accomplished the entitlement of Permanent Meijin.
I was unable to answer clearly, and just mummered, 'Oh, is that so?' It was because no one could imagine who was to become the challenger to 'Ryuo' Akira Watanabe at that stage, and it was just 3 days before that (June 9) when he had finally qualified for the Challenger deciding Tounament(挑戦者決定トーナメント) with the rank of 5th in the 1st group. There was no guarantee that 'the match Watanabe-Habu was sealed'.
However, Habu-san kept on enthusiastically talking about Paris in the Shinkansen. And right after we parted at Tokyo station, he went so far as to send me an email with the information regarding the match in Paris attached to it.
>>
Alas, Habu-san is determined to seize both Meijin and Ryuo, and become entitled permanent seven crowns.
<<
So I thought.
As if overwhelmed by his determination, as soon as I returned to Silicon Valley I booked a round ticket between San Francisco and Paris for the Ryuo title match in Paris.
はたして, he successively defeated Tetsuro Itodani(5 dan) 'Oi' Fukuura, Tadahisa Maruyama(9 dan) and proceeded to the challenger deciding final match(挑戦者決定戦) (both of the duels againt Fukaura and Maruyama were a great upset victory). He also won in the best of three match against Kazuki Kimura(8 dan) and qualified for Ryuoh title match against 'Ryuo' Watanabe, succeeding in creative a tremendously spectacular stage of 'whoever wins becomes entitled Permanent Ryuoh'.
Right now, at 9 p.m on October 18, 2008, in the playing room specially set up for this purpose in a suite room on the 9th floor of ル・メリディアン・エトワール in the city of Paris, the 21th 7-round 'Ryuo-sen', where 'Meijin' Habu challenges 'Ryuo' Watanabe, has begun.
The main observer is Kunio Yonenaga, the president of the Shogi Association, the sub observer is 'Kio' Yasumitsu Sato, and the scorer is '4-dan' Taichi Nakamura (20) under Yonenaga-monka. A scorer is normally a 奨励会員 in a domestic title match, but a young professional often serves as one in an international match. '4-dan' Nakamura, who has been ready in 和装 since 7:30 a.m., is deternimed to face the match without unfolding his 正座 even for once for the coming two days. In Furigoma of tossing 5 pawns, 4 Pawn(歩)s faced upward, making 'Ryuo' Watanabe the Sente(First mover). With more than 40 shogi fans from Japan and all over Europe in the playing room, 'Ryuo' Watanabe played his first move, , followed by 'Challenger' Habu's second move, ,. This will not become Yagura Opening. ...
人間が人間と戦う将棋の面白さ/
The match is proceeding with the latest strategy of 一手損Kakugawari(Bishop Exchange).
In a match of 2 days and 8 hours of allotted thinking time, time seems to pass slowly compared to a title match of 1 day ...
Regarding the shogi of 一手損Kakugawari(Bishop Exchange) which Habu chose, Yonenaga-san in the waiting room predicts as follows.
>>
Were thorough research to be conducted on 一手損角換わり, the conclusion would be likely that 'the Sente(First mover) is in favour'. But I am not sure if I can live to see this question answered.'
Are drastic changes beyond Yonenaga's prediction about to happen in the modern shogi? No one would be able to answer at this stage. All the leading professionals, including the two currently playing before my very eyes, are diligently working on it day in and day out. Yasumitsu Sato-san, one of them, says that 'Even I will not be able to live to see it solved. In fact, I am also in favor of being Gote(Second mover) (laugh).
<<
>>
I am absolutely sure that 'Meijin' Habu is going to give his very best as usual. If I cannot catch up with him, then the series will bore the spectators. It will be up to whether I can give my best, and I am determined to do so.
<<
Here, I would like to make a detailed introduction of 'Ryuo' Akira Watanabe, who decleared his determination as such on 'the Shogi World October 15 Issue', so that those who are not so familier with shogi can also have interest in him.
'Ryuo' Akira Watanabe, who is confronting 'Challenger' Habu, is a genius destined to fight against Habu for the inter-generation battle.
It was in the spring of 1995, when he was merely 10 years old, when shogi fans, including me, became aware of his existance.
It was because '7-dan' Toshihiko Kawaguchi wrote as follows in his popular series 'New-対局 Diary' on 'The Shogi World' (April 18, 1995)
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There appears a genius in the shogi world once in 10 years. I am sure you already know, but I will still name them. Hihumi Kato, Kunio Yonenaga and Makoto Nakahara, Koji Tanigawa and Yoshiharu Habu. Following this theory, it has been 9 years since '4-dan' Habu debuted. I knew it was about time for the next genius to appear.
History is never to be wrong. A genius certainly appeared.
His name is Akira Watanabe, and he enrolled in 奨励会 as '6-kyu' last year. After merely 2 years, he has already become '2-kyu'. He is the 5th grade and at the age of 10. (...)
Using my business as a pretext, I went to Ginza and dropped off at 'Yakuman', finding Nakahara, Sato (Yoshi) and Ogura there.
I ended up talking with them overnight, but when I mentioned that Watanabe少年, Nakahara-san's eyes glittered and he immediately said 'Habu-kun will be defeated by him'. These words are worth taking notes of.
<<
This is a famous anecdote inside the group. But I wanted to be absolutely accurate about it word by word considering its famousness, so I looked for the back number of 'The Shogi World' and transcribed the concerned part before departing. It seems he was still of his surname '渡邊' at that time.
In 2000, he had become '4-dan' before he graduated from secondary school. There have been only 3, Hihumi Kato, Tanigawa and Habu, who had become '4-dan' before graduating from secondary school in the past, and Watanabe was the 4th. It was 5 years after Kawaguchi had written this text.
It is hard to believe that Watanabe grew up unaware of Nakahara's prediction that 'Habu-kun will be defeated by him'.
15-year old Watanabe, who had become '4-dan' knowing that he would be the prodigy destined for the inter-generation battle, was, expectedly, bursting with confidence.
>>
I was believing that I would be able to become a leading professional at the age of around 25 even without putting much effort, when I was 15 years old.
<<
So Watanabe reminisces. However, when he confronted 'Osyo' Yasumitsu Sato after 3 years since he had become a professional, he finally experienced the strength of the Habu-generation and began to hold a growing sense of crisis.
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When I played with Sato-san in my third year, I thought 'it will be unwise to leave myself untrained'. I was leading by a small margin, yet could not maintain the lead and lost. It was a close match if closely looked at later on, but he was way ahead in deep reading. He played many moves(手) I had least expected. I certainly will become strong, but so will the seniors. I thought this power relationship would remain unchanged. Having that sense of urgency in the match with Sato-san was a great luck for me.
<<
He did not specify in this interview, but I may be right to assume that he is refering to the Challenger-deciding-tournament for Oza title on May 29, 2002, where he was defeated by Sato. Watanabe earnestly trained with the sense of crisis and expectedly began to stand out before long. He won the challenger-deciding-tournament for Oza title in the following year, achieving himself a chance to challenge 'Oza' Habu. This first challenge for a title was in the summer of 2003, when he was 19 years old. Although he could not win the title, it is still a fresh memory that he cornered Habu to the limit in the Oza-sen 5 years ago. '9-dan' Teruichi Aono, who was in charge of the commentary of the last round, wrote as follows,
>>
Still, Habu's finger shaking in the final phase was extraordinary. They were shaking so hard that he could not even hold a piece and the monitor caught him pulling his hand back again and again. That spectacular scene I have seen for the first time gives a hint for us to know how much stress this
defending match
防衛戦 had placed upon even Habu.
<<
It was the final round of this Oza-sen against Watanabe when he first began to experience shaky fingers when he becomes sure of a massive upset victory.
And Watanabe defeated 'Ryuo' Toshiyuki Moriuchi and attained his first title at the age of 20 (December 2004). He was seated as 'Ryuo'. Since then he defended the title 3 successive years and will be able to
get entitled 'Permanent Ryuoh
by defending the title 5 successive years' within the reach of his hands. And he is now confronting Habu, who
will also be able to be entitled 'Permanent Ryuoh
by retaining the title for the total of 7 years' within the reach.
We became close friends when I wrote a word of recommendation on the band of his first book '頭脳勝負', which was published in November 2007 and was targetted for ordinary readers.
In the same November 2007, I also published my second book 'The Web for the Rest of Us' from Chikuma Shinsyo. My 'The Web for the Rest of Us' and Watanabe-san's '頭脳勝負' were shelved next to each other as new titles of the month from Chikuma Shinsyo, and I was asked to write the recommendation, which was of great pleasure to me.
And when I read his draft of '頭脳勝負', I was struck by his sense of duty and crisis. I was also impressed to find that the 14 years of difference between Habu-san would manifest itself in such places.
Simply put, Watanabe-san is a young leader who anticipates that the premise that 'a professional shogi player can live off as long as he is strong enough' might become unsustainable if 'leaving himself untrained' in his era. He is filled with sense of duty and responsibility to earnestly confront this severe reality.
For example, he started a blog earlier than anyone else, where he makes
professional shogi player
s' days open to the fans and makes honest comments on his own shogi for the fans the next day of a match
regardless of whether he wins or loses. It was a manifestation of his strong desire for a broader range of fans to feel the shogi world more familier.
In the 'Preface' of '頭脳勝負' he writes as follows
>>
We
professional shogi player
s make our living by playing shogi. It is made possible because there are those fans who value ths shogi played by professionals. Like sports, shogi would not exist were it not for spectators.
However, I assume there are a large number of fans who think 'shogi is difficult' or 'we cannot understand it without special knowledge' and 'the threshold to enter is much higher than sports'. It is certainly true that shogi isdifficult to play. However, it is anything but difficult to enjoy it. It would be regretful if people were watching our shogi and just feeling 'it looks difficult'. I would like more people to know how attractive shogi actually is and this brought me to write this book.
<<
If I am allowed to be so bold as to say this, I assume that there has been this prevalent thought that 'if you love shogi, please just go ahead and play it. And just get strong. I will measure your love towards shogi by how strong you are.'
Of course the world of the tournament professionals can be like this. However, I think that there existed the hierarchical structure predicated only on how strong one is among all the people involved in shogi, including media, amateurs and fans, and it led to the situation of 'the threshold to enter being high' that Watanabe-san mentions.In order to seek a better future for shogi, the number of 'non-playing shogi fans' and 'those fans who are not good at playing but can enjoy watching shogi' must be increased. So thought Watanabe-san and he published '頭脳勝負'. Furthermore, this '頭脳勝負' depicts interestingly the mental battles between players, thereby brooding over what 'the interesting parts of shogi where two human beings confront each other are'. He wishes that even those who are not quite familier with shogi can enjoy more than enough the attractiveness of supreme shogi where two human beings confront were evident. In Watanabe-san, who had to write this kind of book at as early as 23 years old, did see a glimpse of solidarity, which is of stark difference from the leading professionals of the Habu-generation. Why he particularly seeks 'the interesting parts fo shogi where two human beings confront each other' and writes about it is because there is a severe reality where the computer shogi is becoming stronger and stronger. In March 2003, he accepted a serious match against 'Bonanza', a computer shogi. 'A win will be taken for granted, a loss will lose his face'. He took on such an unworthy match where he could have lost much more than gained.
>>
Considering the current shogi world, I thought I would be most suited for this match age-wise. Professionals in their 30s and 40s would be hindered by their past achievements. I am not certain yet as to how much I will be able to achieve in the future, but I thought it would be now or never to play against it. (...)
I believe that computer against human will be one of the most important contents in the future shogi world. This will be the first time to play against it in a proper stage, therefore as a first step, I am very eager to win regardless of how (laugh). Were it to so easily surpass us, then it would not serve as a content. It would entertain both players and fans if we could hold it off as long as possible. (The Shogi World April 2007 Issue)
<<
I would like to praise Watanabe-san, who talked as above just before the match against Bonanza. Had it been expected or unexpected, he won against Bonanza. And in a book he co-authered with the developer of Bonanza, he talked as follows.
>>
The day might come when the representative of human beings loses. Even so, I believe that we need to keep honing our skills so that we can put off the day for as long as possible.
Bonanza has already reached the level where it it very likely for it to defeat a professioal in a one-round match. What if it were allowed for a chance to participate in the 6th group of Ryuo Ranking, which is the lowest group? It is not unusual at all for it to defeat a professional once in several games if it participates every year. Were it to be permitted to join every formal match likewise, and to play some 30 matchs a year, some professionals would be defeated.
However, it does not necessarily mean that it is already better than human. Being strict on computers, it is finally possible to say that they have reached the professionals' level when they can be one of the leading contenders in the 6th group of Ryuo-sen. In order for someone from the 6th group to proceed to challenge my Ryuo-seat, he needs to have more than 10 consecutive wins.
Computers have surely become strong. However, I predict that it would still take a while for them to reach the human's level.
<<
When the day finally comes when a computer defeats the best and brightest of human, then how would it alter the lives of professional shogi players?
It is a matter of life and death for young professional shogi players who need to think about their lives in the much longer run than veteran professional shogi players. Therefore his generation must not run away from facing computers, so is determined Watanabe-san. At the same time, it might be possible to interpred that he is asking the computer software developers if they are also determined to study the techniques of top professionals (of course top professionals also study the techniques of the softwares in earnest), and to keep seriously competing with the professionals. If so, he is declaring to accept the challence. It is not merely about winning or losing in one-round match, but are they (computers) sincerely ready to fight to the death in the system where the geniuses of the same level are aiming for the top? So asks Watanabe-san. He is absolutely certain that his mission as a leading figure of the shogi world is to take full responsibility for asking this question.
A brilliant figure surely appeared after the Habu-generation.
I wholeheartedly think so.
F1と装甲車/
I went into the playing room when Habu played P-7d, but Watanabe keeps pondering and is hesitating to play the next move. 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minites... All is audible in the room is the sound of the clock ticking, and there is no visible change in the two players. They heave a deep sigh from time to time, and shift their stares from at the bourd up into the empty air.
This experience of putting myself in the silent playing room, where time is controlled by the two pondering players, gives us a completely different perception towards time.
He mulled over the moves(手) for 41 minutes and played P-2e . Habu then played S-3c. Then the next move of S-2g from Ryuo indicated Bogin(Climbing Silver)棒 銀. Then Habu responded with . It has been already 3 hours since the match commenced. In this dense flow of time, each has played only 12 moves(手).
In shogi, one move is extremely important and valuable.
I had a chance to think it over again when I had a following conversation with Furakura.
Fukaura, who defended Oi and prevented Habu from accomplishing the Grand Slam, engaged in a dead heat battle with Habu over this summer. He predicted that 'Watanabe would defend with the score of 4-3' in the round-table talk published by Yomiuri Shimbun座 談会. I took the opportunity and sent him an email asking what would be worth paying special attention to in this Ryuosen and what are the differences between the two.
His reply is as follows,
>>
Even Habu-san might be swung around by Watanabe-san. Therefore, I would like to pay close attention to his (Habusan's) strategies. How he will deal with Watanabe's 'solidity and attacks'. However, Watanabe-san's countermeasure for avoiding being left behind in the early and middle phases might be more serious. I would like you to have a look at the forth round of Watanabe-Sato match last year, if possible. It was a game where Watanabe-san built an Anaguma castle with no feeling against Sato-san's Kakugawari Mukaibisha(Opposing Rook with Bishop Exchange). The generation of Habu tend to think about gaining even one move to contribute to the sense of speed in the middlegame and the endgame, while Watanabe-san did not drop the Bishop on 6e in the opening and was consistent with his shogi(Anaguma). The position in the opening symbolizes it. There are some positions where their sheer differences are even comparable to an F1 car and an armored car. I would be unable to say anymore until the match begins, but I am looking forward to the match, and it has been a while since the last time I am so excited about a match except for my own.
Sincerely Yours,
Koichi Fukaura
<<
Habu-san is an F1 car and Watanabe-san an armored car.
When I was studying the 'Watanabe-Sato match from the last year' Fukaura san had mentioned, I came across a dialogue between Fukaura-san and Watanabe-san recorded in 'Shogi World June 2008 issue'
>>
Fukaura: Trading Bishops from Gote's side and choosing Mukaibihsa(Opposing Rook). It's the strategy to intentionally allow Sente to play B*6e if he like. However, I felt impressive that Watanabe responded it with no feeling to build Anaguma. Gote chose an extensively challenging opening. But I think it's a pity to manage to have the position to this degree as a result of such a challenging opening. Though it was one of the themes last year if Itteson Furibisha(Ranging Rook with losing a move) should make sense, I think Itteson Kakugawari Furibisha(Ranging Rook with Bishop exchange losing a move) has been getting less popular since that game.
Watanabe: Yeah, I admit it's not satisfactory to allow Gote to transfer his Rook to 2b in a move indeed, but I did not think I had to drop a Bishop on 6e with anger. From Gote's point of view, he should worry about both risks of allowing B*6e and allowing Sente to build anaguma. The recent Gote's tendency is to seeking for another shogi in consideration that such risks exist.
<<
The minute detail on the board aside, from their discussion regarding the difference just one move(手) might make, and from Fukaura-san's sense to be able to feel the two (Watanabe-san and Habu-san) are 'comparable to an F1 car and an armored car', I thought that unlike one movement in sports such as baseball (a pitch and a swing), there is surely tremendous value and weight in one move(手) in shogi.
By the way, there is a book named 'Men at Work'. This is an immortal great book written by George F. Will, a baseball enthusiast and political critic, who had close interviews with 4 baseball intellectuals and reached the soul of the modern baseball. He remarks in the book as follows
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Being a serious baseball fan, meaning an informed and attentive and observant fan, is more like carving than whittling. It is doing something that makes demands on the mind of doer. Is there any other sport in which the fans say they "take in" a game? As in, "Let's take in a game tomorrow night." I think not. That is a baseball locution because there is a lot to ingest and there is time --- although by no means too much time --- to take in.
<<
Watching professional shogi players ponder and making a guess about the next move in a difficult situation in the early and middle phases is surely a fun. However, this way of enjoying a match is only previledged to those who are a strong shogi player him/herself.
But there is much more ways than this to enjoy shogi. Is it possible to become 'a shogi fan who has vast amount of knowledge about it, rich imagination and sharp powers of observation', although he is not so good at playing?
Watching shogi infinitely stretching, remembering richly talked words about shogi and mulling them over, assotiating shogi with other forms of art and extracting some common meanings from it, out of which then making the essences to live in the modern world... there is certainly much for us to take in from a match.
If I were to substitute baseball with shogi, then it would go as follows.
>>
Being a serious shogi fan, meaning an informed and attentive and observant fan, is more like carving than whittling. There is a lot to ingest and there is time --- although by no means too much time --- to take in.
<<
Unlike baseball, it takes 2 days for a match. 'Take in' is more suited for shogi than for baseball.
Incidentally, Habu san's goal for this match is 'to play an artistic shogi in Paris'.
昼食休憩、佐藤康光棋王の局面解説/
In the lunch break, I asked Kio Yasumitsu Sato for 'a commentary for 5-kyu' ' a commentary for sho-dan' and 'a commentary for 5-dan' in the situation of. Those are as follow.
<for 5-kyu>
This is for 5-kyu. In fact, I do not believe that Watanabe-san will be so aggressive, but I recommend this strategy to syokyu amateurs since it is easier to understand.
<For syo-dan>
It is not so easy to explain for syo-dan.
あっ!I came up with an explanation for syo-dan!
いやー, this is not so bad an explanation, even if I do say so myself! (laugh)
おお、I have succeeded in giving a good explanation for sho-dan! (lauch)
<5-dan>
This situation is fairly unprecedented.
渡辺と羽生、24歳のパリ/
At 3:30 p.m., .
'', 'but this is merely my ideology, so it is hard to tell' so explains Kio Sato. Under the rule of Ryuosen, the match resumes after a short while of break. However, it seems that
'The next move and the following one are extremely difficult. I could think nothing but of ' so predicted Sato-san, only to see Ryuo Watanabe play . 'おっ, this is his true strength'. Ryuo Watanabe, asked for his own evaluation in an interview for Weekly Shogi, answered as follows.
>>
I would say my shogi is modern if asked so. My shogi might be fairly predictable because I like to 固める. My strategies are seen through by others (laugh).
<<
Expectedly, he ...
'How is he going to ... ? ' Mummered Sato-san. How will Habu-san ? The president Yonenaga, back from lunch outside, is staring at this situation and predicted 'Habu is considering , but will not choose either of them.'
Habu-san might
By the way, Habu-san and Watanabe-san are 14 years apart.
And this is the first Ryuo match in Paris in 14 years. (The last one was between Ryuo Yasumitsu Sato and Challenger Yoshiharu Habu in 1994).
Watanabe san is now famous for writing a blog, but 14 years ago is when the internet was just born. People in Japan started using the internet in 1995, and it goes without saying that blog did not even exist.
However, Habu san was writing a blog at the time.
I would call it a printed blog.
He was publishing a diary series on a monthly magazine called ‘Shogi Magazine’.
This series was subsequently published as a book titled ‘好機の視点’ in 2003. This book is fairly interesting and comparing this book and Watanabe san’s blog will provide you with a clear idea regarding the difference of their personalities.
And Habu san is slightly embarrassed about it later on.
>>
This book was made by compiling a series I was writing for a magazine called ‘Shogi Magazine’ in my early 20s.
Reflecting back upon it from the present perspective, there are a fair number of parts I am so embarrassed to show you, and I would be willing to seal it off somewhere, if possible.
There are several reasons for this, the first of which being that the shogis are emitting the impression of youthness, in other words, roughness.
I assume that I was trying new strategies and techniques, but if looked at from the present perspective, there are many which seem rather reckless.
In addition to this, partially because I was fairly pressed by matches after matches, I was writing the drafts without putting much thought on them. I remember me struggling to write each series despite its not so massive amount per draft.
Having said that, I am extremely pleased to be able to publish in the form of book those 棋譜s and drafts, which are the traces of mine at the time.
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I recommend to Habu fans to look for the book in a book shop.
I wondered if Habu-san had happened to write something about Paris and looked for one. There it is. I will transcribe it.
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Prior to the departure, I heard that it would be fairly cold in Paris, which made me bring sweaters and coats. But the temperature was more than 20℃ upon our arrival, which was completely unexpected.
Under the name of taking photos, I went to standard sightseeing places such as the Arch of Triumph, the Louvre and the Hill of Montmartre.
What strongly struck me there was the difference of its profound history between Japan and those places. I assume that European people have a stronger desire to leave historic values than Japanese people, which has kept the scenery and atmosphere of the town unchanged since long time ago.
Comparing to this, in Japan there is a strong likelihood that a certain place transforms into a completely different place in the time span of merely 10 years, which I suppose derives from cultural differences.
The philosophy to try to sustain great traditions and the philosophy to keep seeking new and better. These two distinct philosophies have considerable influence on the evolutions of chess and shogi.
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This is the impression of Paris Habe san had when he was 24 years old
みなぎる精気、匂い立つ成熟/
Shortly past 4 p.m., he plaeyd ??.
According to Kio Sato and President Yonenaga, ‘’
It seems like that this is the turning point of today. After memorizing …, I entered the playing room, wanting to be there until Habu-san plays. ‘Ryuo’ Watanabe just played,,, and Habu-san was pondering over his next move, with his stare fixed on the board and his legs crossed in agura way.
‘Something is different.’ This thought occurred to me the instant I entered the room.
I kept staring at the two, wondering what the ‘something’ might be.
Then the answer popped out.
Youthful, invigorating air is outflowing from Watanabe-san.
And mature, experienced air is wrapping Habu-san.
Watanabe-san, who was said to resemble late Meijin Oyama since his childhood and still looks matured despite his youthness, was brimming with the stoical aura of a monk in his teens. Compared to this, Habu-san, who has been a super star for a long time and still maintains his youthful appearance, was representing 風格 of an adult. It was then when I could finally understand their age difference of 14 years.
After all, this match is definitely the inter-generation battle.
Habu-san kept thinking for 27 minutes without breaking his stern look, and finally pulled up …
Not taking the challenge from Sente(first mover), he patiently held back gin, and gave the turn to youth Watanabe. Watanabe-san, looking at ….,, crossed his legs, with his whole body over the board. Habu-san fiercely fanned his face with his Sense, and gave a slightly tired look. I stood up and left my seat.
When I was reading the 棋譜 commentaries, I found this word from Yonenaga-san.
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‘Let me humbly apologize.’ , said president Yonenaga. ‘I suppose that there might be something wrong in my big picture that …. . I would like to praise him for holding back here, where normal people would want to move. ’
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Watanabe-san entered into the pondering.
After 30 minutes since he started to ponder, it is now 5:10 p.m. There is 50 minutes left until sealed move, but it may be possible that he will keep thinking until then.
This is without a doubt a battle between the youth and the matured.
羽生世代の信頼関係/
Meijin Habu made the sealed move at 6 p.m sharp yesterday. One and half hours after, at 7:30 p.m, the players and and 関係者 reunited in a restaurant in the hotel, where we were to have dinner.
The dinner on the first day of a 2 day title match is held among 関係者s, including the two players.
Of course the dinner proceeds in a very lively atmosphere, but the 関係者 are divided into two groups so that the players in the midst of a match do not have to talk to each other. Last night, Yonenaga-san and Sato-san, the main observer and the sub observer, respectively, were seated next to each other in the centre, with Watanabe-san sitting next to Yonenga-san and Habu-san next to Sato-san. 関係者 took suitable seats around them and had a pleasant chat. In other words, 関係者 were separated into the Watanabe group and the Habu-group.
I joined the latter.
I have watched two matches between Habu-san and Sato-san (the Kisei sens in 2005 and 2008). As Watanabe-san and Habu-san are being put in a separate group this time, Sato-san and Habu-san were being in a different group at those times.
Therefore I was unable to observe it at those times, but I found out that those two are actually very friendly to the point of me feeling envious towards them. There is unmeasurably deep trust between them, which other people could not possibly imagine. I could strongly feel it even without words.
There is a word ‘Habu-generation.’ Habu-san, Sato-san and Moriuchi-san, who occupy almost all the titles in the current shogi world, are all at similar ages and they have kept competing with and improving each other since their childhood. Habu-san is the most prominent, but I would say that they have accomplished it as a group. Therefore, many have already written about ‘Habu-generation’.
However, the most impressive account of the Habu-generation I have read so far was the one written by then 19-year old ‘8-dan’ Nanekata, who is 3 to 4 years younger than the Habu-generation (By the way, I always make sure to transcript every part I feel moved by or impressed with when I am reading a shogi book or magazine, and keep them ‘on the other side’ of the web. Therefore, I can refer to them whenever necessary, even from Paris. )
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I have to bear the sheer weight of the existence of ’57 year’, such as Meijin Habu or Ryuo Sato. Unlike me, who aimlessly spent 奨励会 days, they were innately gifted with the very best environment, where they could maintain the rivalry relationship for more than 10 years since they had entered 奨励会, or even before that.
By putting themselves in a kind of utopia even before the awaking of consciousness, they succeed in spending a realistic childhood without drowning in daydreams. They already know what they want. By following the already well-laid path, they will be able to live much more interesting lives than most adults. A conceited child would become too proud of himself and fail to take his life seriously, but they prevented it by controlling themselves further. If one had become conceited, then he would have been immediately left behind. Obsessed by shogi, their body began to feel heavy and incompatible with the air of the town. But because nothing is more interesting than competing with each other in 奨励会, no one paid even the slightest attention to the daily lives. They sometimes had disdainful admiration for being normal, but reading ‘Weekly Jump’ was the last thing they could have imagined.
Then they had become professional shogi players, exerted their influence in the whole shogi world and finally were given a brand name.
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I was very fortunate to be able to have a glimpse of something common only in Habu and Sato, who together grew up the childhood where ‘reading ‘Weekly Jump’ was the last thing they could have imagined’. Seeing is believing. No word would be able to describe this.
By the way, ‘4-dan’ Taichi Nakamura (20), who is determined to serve as the scorer of this match without unfolding his seiza even once during the whole two days, is 4 years younger than ‘Ryuo’ Watanabe. I assume Nakamura holds the deepest respect for ‘Ryuo’ Watanabe, but does he have the same complex feeling towards his seniors including Wanatabe, as the one 19-year old Namekata was holding towards ‘the deepness of the Habu-generation’? I doubt it because there is not deepness which might be called the Watanabe generation, and Watanabe looks like a maverick.
4 days ago, while we were walking in the public square in front of the ノートルダム大聖堂, I said to ‘4-dan’ Nakamura ‘I am looking forward to seeing you playing in a title match.’
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I appreciate you saying so. Certainly. As soon as possible.
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There was no worry in his voice. It is not yet decided that Watanabe is the only one following the Habu-generation.
Including this ‘invisible battle against the younger generation’, this Ryuo-sen is, even beyond the entitlement of Permanent Ryuoh, tremendously important for Watanabe.
繰り返す「青と壮」の戦い/
Habu’s 封じてwas …. The battle of the second day has commenced from here.
Watanabe played without any pause. This is the expected move.
For the next move in ……, there was difficult choices between……, Habu, who ,,,,,, was given a night to think about his move in…. And he soon ….
In order for Ryuo Watanabe to have avoided this situation, he would have had to ….. But if he had done so, then there would have been one and half hours of difference in the allotted thinking time in the second day. Ryuo Watanabe prioritized his time and played…. between 5 and 6 p.m yesterday, giving to Habu-san the right to seal.
This is the tactics between the two over the sealed move and the allotted thinking time.
By the way, I became keenly aware of ‘the youth Watanabe’ and ‘the matured Habu’ in the strained playing room yesterday, which left me wondering which among his matches in his youth would be ‘the battle between the youth and the matured’ for Habu, which is comparable to this Ryuosen for Watanabe.
It is, without doubt, the Meijinsen of 1994, where he challenged Kunio Yonenaga, President of the Shogi Association ( Meijin at the time), who is the main observer of this match.
Habu, 23 years old at the time, declared that ‘he would not play usual shapes of standard sequences and surprised everyone by ….. Legend has it that many old professional shogi players were indignant that he did …… facing a great senior Yonenaga in such a spectacular stage of Meijin-sen, This irrational ideology was rampant in the shogi world until only 10 or so years ago, but he empathized ‘the freedom on the board’ in the Meijin sen.
By the way, ‘6-dan’ Kiyokazu Katsumata, than whom no one is better at explaining and evangelizing the modern shogi, refers to the first round of the 1994 Meijin-sen at the beginning of the 5th chapter ‘’ in his book ‘A Story of the Modern Strategies’
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得意戦法云々コピー
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By saying so, he analyzes that the idea of , which Habu threw at Yonenaga in the first round of Meijin-sen led to ご機嫌 which had become very popular since the late 90s. Habu, at almost the same age as Watanabe, opened the door to the modern shogi by winning ‘the battle between the youth and the matured’ against Yonekura in the Meijin sen.
Habu himself also writes mostly about the 1994 Meijin sen against Yonenaga in the preface of his best selling book ‘Determination’. As I understand quite well as a writer, the preface of a book is where he/she most carefully develops plans. ‘Determination was published in July 2005, which is more than 10 years after the Meijin sen. Therefore it was not necessarily the most natural thing for him to write about the Meijin sen considering that he had even achieved the Grand Slam during the period. That he cited the Meijin sen against Yonenaga in the preface of ‘Determination’ despite all of this shows very well how important that match was for his life. Looking back at those times, Habu writes as follows.
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The public opinion is filled with ‘Hang on, Yonenaga!’. These voices are naturally reaching my ears.
It was the fist time that I experienced such 'repercussions' before a match.
A battle between a young professional shogi player aged 23, who has reached the top without any struggle, and a senior professional shogi player aged 50, who, after a repeated challenges and failures, has finally reached the glory— If framed like this, a normal person would want to support Yonekura-Sensei. In addition to this, I had spurred some controversies before the Meijin-sen. (…) Most public opinions were
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Yonekura, defeat Habu.
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(…)
The sixth round was about to begin in this atmosphere.
During the three days prior to the match. I felt as if I was wandering alone in the complete darkness.
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It seems that this match between Habu and Watanabe is, being still in the first round, far from this degree of tension. However, watching the swell of voice for ‘Habu’s Gramd Slam, again’ which started since this spring, Watanabe might be having the same feeling as Habu was holding at the time.
Had Furaura not defeated Habu and defended the Oi in the Oi-sen this summer, Habu would have been holding five titles now and have come to Paris to retrieve the sixth title, namely ‘a further step towards the Grand Slam’. In this situation, the public opinion would have been further against Watanabe.
When I returned to my room after dinner last night, there was an email from Oi Fukaura, who had prevented Habu’s Grand Slum (I mentioned in the third entry that he predicted that Watanabe would defend the title).
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When I saw the sealed move, my instinct told me that Watanabe would win. But something is bugging me regarding Habu-san’s behaviours (For example, his independent action in Paris). The first win is crucial but to be absolutely honest, I have become less and less sure who wins through the whole series. I was taken aback by Habu-san’s strategy against Watanabe-san’s ‘solidity and attacks’ and also felt from the early phase Habu-san’s confidence that he can handle any strategy. The second day will be all about how Habu san is going to いなす Ryuo Watanabe’s attacks. I am composing this message with my family soundly sleeping next to me (around 6 a.m.) Another title holder is here (laugh). I will enjoy myself in Disney Sea, but I assume that I will be unable to keep my eyes away from Ryuo sen live broadcast. It is fairly rare considering that I usually want to enjoy myself to my heart’s content.
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Yes, among the seven titles of the shogi world, six (Yoshiharu Habu, Akira Watanabe and Yoshimitsu Sato) have all gathered here in Pasis, and only Koichi Fukaura, ‘another title holder’, is staring at this match through the screen of his mobile phone from ‘Disney Sea’ in Japan.
Yes, the only title held by someone except for the Habu generation is Watanabe’s Ryuo.
Upon reading his commentary, President Yonenaga sent him a one-line email.
‘It seems you have finally understood what shogi is like.’
自信に満ちた手つきの真意は?/
Although the situations were slowly shifting on the first day, since Ryuo Watanabe's ... which he played after a long pondering, the match has transformed itself into a fiercely flowing stream. This is ' ' (Yonenaga), meaning the severe battle has just begun, but for some strange reason, Habu has also increased his pace.
It took 3 minutes for , no time for , 1 minute for , one minute for , 3 minutes for , and 4 minutes for . Despite being in the midst of the difficult middle phase, he seems as though he were saying 'I am seeing through all of your moves'. Especially, ... was played slowly, full of confidence. ' Ryuo Watanabe was caught off balance. He will take more than 30 minutes here.' is what Yonenaga-san remarked. As he expected, Ryuo Watanabe started to ponder here.
On his way to the Ryuo-sen, Habu experienced unbelievable turnaround wins against Fukuura in the quarter final and against Maruyama in the semi final.
'5-dan' Daisuke Katayama, under the title 'Shock', wrote about the match against Maruyama in his blog.
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I do not have even the slightest idea as to how I could express this surprise. It was the first time I was that surprised watching a live broadcast. (...)
It seemed as though the match had finally become clear after a great length of difficult situations. Then the prompter abruptly read 'Maruyama, Defeated'.. I actually screamed in front of the screen. (...) I was really really stunned yesterday. The only reasonable explanation for this would be 'it was done by the God.'
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The previous match against Fukaura was also a surprising setback win (the title of 'Weekly Shogi August 20 Issue' was 'Habe Setback Win, One Move Collapse Favoured Fukaura ). When I compared the 棋譜コメント and post game analysisコメント, I could not help but feel deeply impressed by Habu's battle tactics.
The 90th move of that shogi, Sente(First mover) Fukaura's .. against Gote(Second mover) Habu's ... was the bad move which led to Habu's setback win. If Fukaura had ..., then the winner would have been probably Fukaura, eliminating Habu's chance to challenge Ryuo.
The real time live commentary read '... with a powerful manner'.
Nevertheless, Habu's commentary in the post game analysis on this move was 'I was reluctant but needed to choose...'.
Habu, while being ' reluctant', moved 'with a powerful manner'..., leading to Fukaura's mistake.
Staring at B-6d, Watanabe is still pondering. He has been pondering for more than one hour.
What would be the true meaning behind Habu's move which was played 'slowly, with full of confidence'?
記録係・中村太地四段の目/
The match entered a lunch break at the 65th move.
'4-dan' Taichi Nakamura, the scorer, came back to the waiting room.
He was also playing together with the players in the 対局室, where all the 検討情報 in the waiting room does not reach.
So I asked him for his opinion as soon as he entered the waiting room.
It is not the best idea to ask a scorer for his opinion in the middle of a match, but since '4-dan' Taichi Nakamura is an apprentice under president Yonenaga, under the agreement to post it in my blog, I asked him for his current 形勢判断, which is as follows.
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Yonenaga: Taichi Nakamura, the scorer, has kept silent towards his seniors' 指し手. But since his master President Kunio Yonenaga insists him to say his opinions, he could do nothing but obey the master's order. Well then, speak about 形勢 and ....
Nakamura: I would be on the side of Habu-sensei. If I were to give reasons for this... Let me see... I assumed that .. was a good move. (To the question as to whether he had expected this move) I had this move in mind as one of the possible moves, but thought that ... would be more usual. However, Ryuo was pondering for 88 minutes after the move. I assume that Ryuo did not take ... so seriously.
Yonenaga: Well then, give Taichi Nakamura's next move!
Nakamura: With pleasure. I would say that the most natural move would be ..... But ... would be also a possiblily. ... might be another. I suppose those are the three possibilities. And I did not expect Ryuo's ..... I was expecting he would....
Yonenaga: Not bad! Would you write in your blog that 'His master Yonenaga is certain that Taichi Nakamura will qualify for a title match in the near future'? It is surely brilliant relationship between the master and an apprentice, is it not?
P.S. The first move after the match had resumed was ..... It transitted as '4-dan' Nakamura predicted.
昼食休憩、米長邦雄会長の局面解説/
'A commentary for 5-kyu', 'A commentary for syo-dan' and 'A commentary for 5-dan' which I asked Kio Yasumitsu Sato in a lunch break yesterday were so popular that I would like to ask president Kunio Yonenaga, instead of Kio Sato, who is away for 指導対局, for his 'A commentary for 5-kyu', 'A commentary for syo-dan' and 'A commentary for 5-dan' in a lunch break on the second day.
'A commentary for 5-kyu'
It is a difficult situation.
'A commentary for syo-dan'
Ryuo Watanabe is attacking and Meijin Habu is defending.
'A commentary for 5-dan'
I would say that Habu is in favour at this stage.
佐藤康光棋王、現代将棋を語る/
Ryuo Watanabe .... after his 88 minutes of pondering in the morning, and then it was Habu's turn to take time to read. He spent 84 minutes for the 70th move(手). It is 4:10 p.m. It is estimated that the match will finish after 7 p.m. This breathtaking moment will last for more than 3 hours.
Kio Yasumitsu Sato and president Kunio Yonenaga are still 局面検討 in the waiting room. I could hear in the conversation that 'bad aspects of the modern shogi might be manifesting themselves (on the part of Watanabe-san)'. So including these things, I tried to interview Kio Sato.
Umeda: I heard you mention that 'bad aspects of the modern shogi might be manifesting themselves.
Sato: It would be more accurate to say side effects, instead of bad aspects. People sometimes feel overconfident for Anaguma, which makes it easier to calculate..... .. (...) Only one move(手) is different. These shogis are not rare at all. The most remarkable example would be the 5th round of the Oi sen. Some might easily conclude to be able to win by these (). Especially modern professional shogi players.
Umeda: Could you tell me what you meant by modern professional shogi players?
Sato: Certainly. Watanabe-san would be also included. I am not absolutely sure about Habu-san. But Watanabe-san Gote(Second mover) would not take the strategy which Habu-san took today. I would say most young professional shogi players would not. Watanabe-san ...., which I also thought was the best. Instead of... If I were the Sente(First mover), I suppose I would choose this move.
Umeda: Some said that ..... was a good move.
Sato: ......... But I would not think that ... might..., which I admire the most. .. Not so many people have the sense to thinkg...
Umeda: May I suppose you meant Habu san's sense by this?
Sato: It is hard to answer. I assume that Habu-san might be thinking that he made some mistakes in the early phase. He might be playing thinking that 'I could not have done any better than this even though I lost', but other professional shogi players might have already ruined himself. They might think 'there is no chance anymore' when they saw ... They might play more suicidally.
Umeda: Habu-san, since ... until.. spent little time.
Sato: This shogi is not so ... from the beginning. It might be easier to .. in the middle phase. This shogi is difficult to ... Watanabe san is ......
It took half an hour to compile the interview draft into this text. Sato-san, keeping 検討 during that 30 minutes, said 'I am beginnig to believe that 'Habu-san might be leading, thought I am not so certain.'
羽生名人、大局観の勝利/
The clock pointed to 4:45 pm, I receive information that it was closer to the end of game. Then, I entered the game-room. When I was in the room, the atomoshere was very intense, so once I turned green and got back to the common room to take a little rest. But, the rest of time, I have looked at these two players.
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'I resign.'
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Watanabe Ryuo said. Before several moves from the resigning by Watanabe Ryuo, Habu Meijin, after the game, who told us 'When △6七銀(86th) was moved, I was sure I could win' , never trembled his body in last three moves.
All the time I've told you, in the common room, Everyone agreed 'This is very good match' and stired. Nevertheless, Watanabe Ryuo repeated with regret in the post-game analysis 'It was really bad game'.
I was suprised to hear that. Habu Meijin, showed consideration for Watanabe, said 'Not really. If you moved like this... How did it go?' time and time again until the post-game analysis finished.
A few minutes after the tough game, Habu became so-called "Good senior".
Put simply, Watanabe Ryuo said neary same thing as Satou Kiou said in (12)佐藤康光棋王、現代将棋を語る.
>Satou>
いや、△6四角そのものよりも、△6六歩と取り込んで、△6七歩成って、それで△6九角のところ、ですかね。それが間に合うって感覚はちょっとないです ね。それが感心するところです。*snip* But, "(△6七歩を)promote to Kaku(Bishop)(△6九角)で大変"という感覚は、ちょっと持ち合わせてる人は少ないような気がします。
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Be encouraged, Watanabe droped ▲2三角, but Habu's counterattack was beyond his expectation.
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'That was beyond my expectation, so I stroke up. Dropped △6四角, I could'nt develop any tactics. I looked for a good move again, but I could have no choice. Damn. My perspective was wrong. I dropped Kin(Gold)(▲4三金)、he dropped Kaku(Bishop)、I once had an uneasy feeling... After he dropped, I was looking beyond again, but no answer. It's awful. 打たれて困っているようじゃダメですね。I realized the fact that I should have all the choice to attack on ahead. When I doropped △6七歩成り, I didn't find out I was in bad situation. If I could realized my bad situation then, I could'nt drop ▲2三角.
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