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Special Cooperation / East Japan Railway, HITACHI, Japan Airlines
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| Scenes from the Tournament |
November 14th (Saturday) Reception, Special award ceremony
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| « Welcome Party » |
An eventful day had passed and it was now 6:30. The party was all the more animated because of the overseas players in their national costumes.
Ms. Hiroko Taki started proceedings with a speech. ‘Something we only dreamed of 20 years ago – Pair Go spreading all over the world – has become a reality. Nothing could make us happier,’ she said. She went on to report that the World Pair Go Association had been founded last year, that Pair Go had been designated a competition event at the 1st World Mind Sports Games, and that Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, who had just completed his term as Director-General of UNESCO, would become the president of the WPGA. Furthermore, she also announced, the Pair Go World Cup would be held in Hangzhou in China in March of 2010 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of Pair Go, and that also Pair Go would be a competition event, along with men’s team and women’s team events, at the 16th Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou in November 2010, where go was to be included for the first time. ‘This is thanks to the efforts of everyone to popularize Pair Go. I believe that all the people gathered here have helped Pair Go to grow. We hope that Pair Go will grow new branches and that new flowers will blossom. I hope you will enjoy the game of Pair Go all day tomorrow and that you will continue to popularize it after you return home.’
Next, Yuichi Iwasaki, Managing Director of the Japan Pair Go Association, ascended the stage. ‘The national costumes are beautiful, they are really marvellous. I’ve participated in the Pair Go tournament and took 8th place. My partner is taking time off just now to rear her children, but when she makes a comeback we will aim at a higher place. I hope that you will all enjoy yourselves tomorrow while competing for glory. Let’s drink a toast to your success tomorrow – kanpai!’
After the toast, the party got into full swing.
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Party on the eve of the 20th commemorative tournament
Speech by Ms. Hiroko Taki,
Director and Secretary General of the Japan Pair Go Association
Toast by Yuichi Iwasaki,
Managing Director of the Japan Pair Go Association
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After the officials from overseas were introduced on the stage and given commemorative gifts, awards were made to persons who had made meritorious contributions to Pair Go, such as popularizing the game and organizing tournaments in various parts of the world. These persons were:
Mr. Wang Yi, Director of Overseas Dept. of China Qi-Yuan (not present)
Ms. Cheng Shu Chin, Assistant Secretary General of the Chinese Weiqi Association
Mr. Martin Stiassney, President of the European Go Federation
Mr. Francis Roads, official of the British Go Association
Mr. Allan Abramson, President of the American Go Association.
Awards were also given to the following Japanese:
Mr. Shozo Okauchi, Mr. Shoroku Suzuki, Mr.Hiroshi Asamoto, Mr. Isamu Sawano, Ms. Imayo Matsumoto, Mr. Junzo Yamamoto, and Ms. Fusako Tamura.
In all, five person from overseas and seven from within Japan, making a total of 12, were given awards.
Next was the presentation of the PGPP Pair Go Grand Prix for the best essay about Pair Go submitted in a competition for Pair Go Promotion Partners. Michael Marz of Germany received the Grand Prix for an essay entitled ‘Pair Go May Change Your Life’.
Finally, all the competitors were introduced on the stage, with each person saying a few words about his or her hopes in this year’s tournament. Miho Yoshida commented:
‘I have been looking forward to playing with people from all over the world.’ Nobuhira Tanaka said: ‘We want to show that we combine well as husband and wife, so we will do our best tomorrow.’ The players were all cheerful and showed no signs of fatigue. After a commemorative photo of all the competitors was taken, the party concluded so that the players could get enough rest for the next day. Which team would win the tournament?
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Souvenirs given to guest officials
by Hiroko Taki of the Japan Pair Go Association
Address by Mr. Thomas Hsiang,
Vice President of the International Go Federation
and Director of the World Pair Go Association
Presentation of awards to persons who
have made meritorious contributions to Pair Go
By Ms. Hiroko Taki, Director and
Secretary General of the Japan Pair Go Association
Address by Ms. Imayo Matsumoto, Nihon Ki-in, Ehime Prefecture Branch,
who received an award as a meritorious contributor to Pair Go.
Presentation of the PGPP Pair Go Grand Prix for the best essay
Mr. Michael Marz, President of the German Go Association,
and Mrs. Manja Marz, an official of the German Go Association
Photograph of all the participants
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