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With go stones clacking, people discussing their games and chatting around me, I am sitting at the desk, trying to think of something to write. I came here with my mother for a nice trip to Italy, to play go and enjoy the company of European players. And now they make me do this homework?! WHY? (I’ll tell you why: Gionata forced me to!)
I arrived in Milano on the evening of the 8th. The cars parked all over the place and carelessly thrown away cigarette butts were a little like the Osaka of many years ago. At first I had hard time finding a restaurant and even when I did, I had problems reading the menu. So when I checked into the tournament site on the 20th, one problem was solved: I didn’t have to worry about not getting anything to eat any more. When you travel there is nothing like local friends to look after you.
My first impressions were of the relaxed atmosphere (only the waiters in the restaurants may be a little too relaxed), the slow pace of time, plentiful green, fresh air, people spending long European vacations with their families. All these things we don’t usually get in Japan and I envy you for them.
To give you my impression of European players, I was surprised by their excellent ability to judge situations for themselves. Even a beginner, for example, will not just blindly react to the moves of his stronger opponent, but is able to think for himself where the biggest points on the board are. Also, I was happy to see how enthusiastic you all are about go and above all how many young players and female players I saw.
If I could enjoy go in this way, I am sure it would help me to become a stronger player.
Let me mention just one point that bothered me: It is about playing on forever, even if you have already lost a big group and there is no hope of victory. Perhaps you want to enjoy the game until the last move, but if you ask me, this is not really good manners. Resign, discuss the game for a while and start a new one, that is my suggestion. Of course you have to be tenacious in order to win but being a sore loser is not right. Now that this congress has been held for 40 years and has grown impressively in size, I want you to pass on the best side of the game of go to your children (being only human, I have to admit to getting emotional and being a sore loser myself at times...).
I very much enjoyed the time I spent here and I would like to talk about many more things that I liked and that impressed me, but already there is someone who wants a game commented, so let me end here.
Just one important thing I just remembered: after coming here I was surprised to hear the news that I had become married to Yuki Satoshi, 8 Dan. Now, let me tell you: I am still single, he is not even my boyfriend. So next time we meet, why don’t you take me out for a cup of coffee.
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