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The people in the hall still seemed excited. Then, a microphone was handed to the participants who were present for a speech.
First, when Tomoko Ogawa 6-dan and Koichi Kobayashi 9-dan walked together, Hideo Otake Honorary Gosei, the chief judge of the tournament, said, “It is like a wedding ceremony.”
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Kobayashi 9-dan said, “Today, we sat next to each other by coincidence, so I had a feeling that I might be a pair with Tomoko chan. But I am surprised that it came true. (To Ogawa 6-dan) Let’s try our best.”
Ogawa 6-dan said, “I will follow you. I will do my best to play good games.”
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Next was Keiko Kato 5-dan who was holding a microphone and Norimoto Yoda 9-dan pair. They were like comedians. After looking at each other, Kato 5-dan said, “We were a pair before. Do you remember?’
Yoda 9-dan said, “…”
Kato 5-dan said, “We lost in the first game.”
Yoda 9-dan said, “I thought we won, if I paired with you.”
Kato 5-dan said, “… Your kimono is nice.”
Yoda 9-dan said, “Your clothes are nice.” |
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Otake Honorary Gosei said, “Now, it is like a meeting at matchmaking event.”
From Narumi Osawa 3-dan and Naoki Hane 9-dan, their comment was like a declaration of victory (?). |
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Hane 9-dan said, “Yoroshiku.”
Osawa 3-dan said, “I am glad to be paired with Hane sensei. Did you come all the way from Nagoya today?”
Hane 9-dan said, (immediately) “Yes…But I have been losing in Pair Go.”
Osawa 3-dan said, “I have been to the final game once, but since then, I have been losing.”
2 of them said, “Then, may be this time, we will go to the final.”
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Ms. Takanishi, the MC, said to Ayumi Suzuki 3-dan, the winner from last year, “I’d like to know the secret to wining.” The microphone was handed to Suzuki 3-dan.
Suzuki 3-dan said, “Last year, I was told by U Cho Meijin `In Pair Go, if we lose, it is the male player’s fault. So, you can play freely.’ So, the reason for our victory was that I played freely. U Cho Meijin is very kind and during games, I felt comfortable. And even though I made mistakes, he wore a poker face.”
The audience was impressed. |
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