SPECIAL KISEI / N.A. OZA EDITION
TOYOTA & DENSO CHIEFS KICK OFF 2ND N.A. OZA:
"Look for the spaces
between the sounds," master shakuhachi player Ronnie Nyogetsu
Reishin Selding urged. "Try to put aside all problems, worries
and strategies. Just let the music enter you." The audience of
nearly 100 go players listened raptly as the haunting, mysterious
tones of the shakuhachi flute and koto harp filled the room at
the Nippon Club in New York City. The concert highlighted the East
Coast kick-off for the 2nd North American Oza Championship; across
the country a reception at the Seattle Go Center completed the
opening festivities for what's turned into the year's biggest event,
with well over 300 go players participating in the two-site tournament.
In New York, Toyota Motors N.A. President and CEO Mr Taguchi and Denso N.A. Chairman Mr. Takeuchi welcomed players to the Oza, expressing satisfaction that turn-out has increased so dramatically since the first Oza two years ago. Mr Taguchi, who recently toured the home of Commodore Matthew Perry, noted that 2004 is the 150th anniversary of the historic trade treaties between Japan and the United States, saying that the bilateral relationship between the two nations is even more important now than when Perry first came to Japan in 1854.
Mr. Takeuchi revealed that the President of Denso -- one of the top auto component suppliers in the world -- is an avid go player and fan and that the global development of the game of go mirrors the global partnership of Toyota and Denso.
After the last haunting notes faded, go players mingled while munching on sushi before disbanding into the chilly night to prepare for the next day's tournament.
OZA CONTENDER FIELD NARROWS:
After the first day of play, the field
of contenders for the 2004 North American Oza is down to just five
top players. In Seattle, Mingjiu Jiang and Jie Li were undefeated,
while in New York City, Feng Yun, Lu Wang and John Lee won all three
rounds. The top winner at both sites after tomorrow's final three
rounds will compete for $300,000 and a new Lexus later this year in
Japan.
HEARD ON THE BOARD:
"The best thing about American Go today is that
it's getting so much stronger," John Lee told the E-Journal in New
York City this morning, as he watched the huge Oza turn-out gather
on the 18th floor of the Hotel Pennsylvania, which overlooks Midtown
Manhattan and which in turn is overlooked by the Empire State Building
just a few blocks away.
Published by the American Go Association
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