When it comes to the promotion and popularization of Go, the Japanese have indeed been at the forefront. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 infoAs early as the beginning of the 20th century, Japan had a plan to promote Go around the world.

For example, Japan's Mr. Iwamoto Fumi, a senior chess player's life is also quite legendary, he was Japan's "Ben Yin Fang", and played ten games of chess with Mr. Wu Qingyuan, of course, the most famous Go incident related to him, that may be the "game under the nuclear explosion".

It was the year of Japan's surrender in World War II, and Iwamoto Kaoru and Hashimoto Utaro competed for the natural position of Japan's "Honinbo".

Mr. Hashimoto once described it in his autobiography: "When I first saw Mr. Iwamoto, I knew that I was going to lose this competition. Because the country was in chaos at that time, most people were worried about their livelihoods, and professional chess players were no exception. And when I first met Mr. Iwamoto? He was so engrossed in his comprehension that he was unaware of my coming... ”

One of the rounds of the Battle of Honinbo was held in Hiroshima, and on that day, a nuclear explosion landed on Hiroshima... There is not much else to say, but what is more interesting is that when the nuclear explosion broke out, the entire house in the game room was overturned, and there were many casualties among the other staff, but the two players were miraculously safe, and Mr. Hashimoto Utaro was even more prosperous.

This cannot but be said to be a miracle, probably the god of Go is blessing them in the dark.

In addition to this incident, Mr. Iwamoto is also famous for another thing, that is, in his later years, he traveled around the world to promote and popularize Go all over the world. Therefore, in Japan, he is considered a pioneer in popularizing and popularizing the game of Go.

In the 80s and 90s of the twentieth century, when the Japanese economy was at its best, they spared no effort in promoting Go. I remember that in that year, Japan's largest tournament, the "Chess Holy War", one of the seven finals must have been played overseas, and it traveled all over the continent, and it became a tradition for a time. It was only later, due to the recession of the Japanese economy and the diminishing influence of Japanese Go, that I rarely saw news about it.

But then again, although Japan has spared no effort to promote Go in Europe and the United States, the effect seems to be very limited. In the Western world, not many people know the game of Go, let alone those who play Go.

Li Xiaoqiang, Yukari Umezawa and others converged, and everyone arrived at the competition site together. Mr. Masaki Takemiya sighed: "I remember that many years ago, I also came to Europe, it was in Madrid, Spain, and I played chess with Jihoon in the final of the holy war. But after so many years, I feel that in Europe and the United States, the influence of Go is still quite limited. ”

There are many Chinese chess players in Europe, such as Wang Yuan's ex-wife Guo Wuduan, and Fan Erduan, who has just gone abroad. They have always been the backbone of European Go, and when Li Xiaoqiang and others arrived, they naturally accompanied them all the way. After listening to Mr. Wu Gong's words, Fan Erduan smiled and said:

"Mr. Takemiya wants to know why Europeans and Americans don't like Go?"

"Why?"

"It's mainly because Go is too difficult... Fan Erduan sighed: "... Plus we always advertise the intricacies of Go. This has given Europeans and Americans an understanding of Go, and they think that Go is a game for smart people, so the vast majority of ordinary people stay away from it. ”

"Oh? Is that so... ”

Takemiya laughed when he heard this. Li Xiaoqiang also smiled silently. Fan Erduan's point of view, Li Xiaoqiang also heard it in his previous life. Whether this is true or not, it is true that Go has a very narrow audience in the West. Most of the people who like Go in the West are concentrated in academia, such as mathematicians and engineers, and most of the others are not interested in Go.

Thinking about it on a deeper level, Li Xiaoqiang believes that this is also where Westerners are inferior to Easterners. For example, if you say to a Chinese: Because you are not smart enough, you better not learn Go, what is the most likely reaction of that Chinese? He may be humble in his mouth, admit that he is not smart enough, and then secretly be ruthless and work hard to learn Go.

Westerners, on the other hand, may turn away from Go because of this.

Which is higher or lower? Actually, it's clear at a glance. Li Xiaoqiang once again reiterated that he is not a racist. But to be honest, there are actually a lot of shining points in our people, and this kind of "unconvinced" mentality is one of them, but most of us turn a blind eye.

"In addition to holding such competitions, does FIDE have any other initiatives to promote Go in Europe and the United States?"

This time, Mr. Wu Gong asked Hu Yi. For a star player like Masaki Takemiya, who often attends various Go events, he sees the essence of this type of tournament very clearly.

Holding such a Go tournament in Europe is certainly beneficial to the promotion of Go, but to be honest, the benefits are extremely limited. It's like getting everyone together and having a big party, and then it's business as usual.

If that's all, then it's no different from the nature of Mr. Takemiya's next game of "chess jihad" in Europe.

"Yes, of course we have other initiatives, and hosting this competition is just the first step in our plans... At this time, Hu Yi seemed full of confidence:

"Our ultimate goal is to support the establishment of their own professional Go system in Europe and the United States!"

"Oh? Can you elaborate on your plans ... Wu Gong was very interested in this, and he grabbed Hu Yi and asked non-stop.

In fact, this plan is not new at all, if it is from later generations, in fact, I know that this is a copy of the "European Go Support Program" carried out by several young people in "Go TV".

In later generations, Japanese Go began to fade, while Chinese and Korean Go began to take on the task of popularizing Go around the world. The main area of activity of the Koreans is in the Americas, while the Chinese focus their operations on Europe.

Although everyone's plan has just begun, there are no significant results. But judging from the initial stage, it should be said that the plans of the Chinese are more successful.

Because with the help of the Chinese, professional chess players have been produced in Europe. And in the Americas? Of course, they also have professional chess players, but unfortunately, the vast majority of professional chess players there are still Asian.

"Mr. Takemiya, your country's promotion and popularization of Go for so many years, although it seems that the effect is not obvious, but it is actually very effective, it at least let many Europeans and Americans know that there is a game of Go. Your work is equivalent to sowing seeds, so now, the work of letting them take root and sprout can be handed over to us Chinese. ”

When Hu Yi said this, he showed a little domineering, which was in line with his local tyrant attributes.

"Okay, you guys have a good plan... Masaki Takemiya said in a loud voice:

"Who came up with this plan?"

"Of course it's ... Hu Yi looked around:

"Huh? What about Xiaoqiang? Where did the others go? ”

Only then did everyone realize that Li Xiaoqiang had disappeared unconsciously, and there seemed to be Lin Mengyu and Yukari Umezawa who disappeared with him. (To be continued.) )