Pair Go Ricoh Cup 2001 The Final

■Pair Go Ricoh Cup 2001 The Final

Meijin Yoda Appeared in Kimono Again

As above mentioned, an elementary school tournament was held on the same day. If the tournament and the Ricoh Cup finals had been held on different days, would the hall have been able to accommodate all Go fans who have thronged to watch the Ricoh Cup finals? The finals were started with an opening speech by Mr. Ichiro Yoshikuni, Chairman of the Japan Pair Go Association. Following Mr. Yoshikuni's speech, Mr. Seigen Go, chief judge, took the platform. At that moment, the atmosphere of the hall became somewhat tense. The audience closely watched Mr. Daikokushu Go, a legendary Go player appearing before them. When Mr. Go finished his speech in Chinese, he received loud applause. The spectators might have clapped for him because of his continuing efforts to pursue Go for the 21st century rather than his achievements in the past.

On this day, Meijin Mr. Yoda appeared in Kimono. From the first round through the finals, he was dressed in Kimono. It was just like him to do so.

Chief judge Mr. Seigen Go declared the start of the game in Chinese. Ms. Yoshimi Rin, daughter of 9-dan Mr. Kaiho Rin, acted as the MC of the finals, interpreting Chinese into Japanese and vice versa. She told that she had first declined the appointment as the MC because she was not able to speak Chinese. However, she decided to accept it and hastened to Beijing to study Chinese. She has worked hard and is still staying in Beijing to master Chinese. Her efforts bore fruit. Mr. Seigen Go highly praised her for her performance as the MC.