original title：趙治勲 私の履歴書（26）週刊紙で相談室
Original article: The Nikkei
Author: Cho Chikun, Honorary Meijin
The Nihon Ki-in (Japan Go Association) had been publishing a specialized newspaper for Go enthusiasts called Weekly Go until last year. Previously, a staff member whom I greatly respect became the editor-in-chief of Weekly Go and consulted with me about starting a new column. From the beginning of 2012, I began writing a column called "Heaven of Troubles."
As the subtitle “Cho Chikun’s Life Consultation Room” suggests, this column was aimed at answering readers' various concerns and offering solutions in my own style in the newspaper. Every two months, the writers and editors would bring the letters received to my home, and with a little help from some alcohol, I would decide which letters to select and which to pass over, while freely sharing my thoughts. They would then compile these into 8 or 9 articles.
After accepting a wide range of questions, all kinds of "consultations" poured in. Most of them were Go-related questions, particularly on how to improve one’s Go skills. In addition, there were questions about Go etiquette, online matches, the operations of the Go association office, and inquiries about popular Go players. There were even philosophical questions like, "What exactly is Go?" and impolite requests such as, "Can you get an autograph from a female Go player for me?"
There were also many questions unrelated to Go, like, "My husband doesn’t pick up his clothes," "How do I win a woman's favor?" "I want more pocket money," and "Why do adults drink alcohol?"
For difficult questions like “What exactly is Go?” I would sometimes dodge the answer, saying things like, "If you’re expecting a profound answer from me, you’re wrong. Go ask Otake Hideo-sensei instead," but for the most part, I answered these questions sincerely. Unlike other games like Shogi, Go takes time to understand its enjoyment. It’s not a game that everyone can appreciate, and for that reason, I want to cherish those enthusiastic fans who are willing to subscribe to a specialized newspaper.
For questions unrelated to Go, I would sometimes mention people close to me, such as my wife, and try to respond based on my own experiences. However, of course, there were times when I veered off-topic or got stuck. As someone who loves comedy, especially manzai (a form of Japanese stand-up comedy), I always tried to keep a sense of humor. I know people expect that from me.
Initially, I thought the column would only last six months, but surprisingly, it became very popular, and it continued for ten years. Four books were published based on the column. When there weren’t enough submissions, I would choose timely topics and share my personal thoughts about stories in the Go world. Since the readers were all Go enthusiasts, sometimes I would let my guard down and delve into some rather controversial subjects.
During this time, the contributing writer changed. When discussing the direction with the new editor-in-chief, I came up with the idea of writing the articles myself. I have enjoyed writing since I was a child, whether it was essays or novels. After trying it out with one article, the editor said, "No problem." As a result, this method continued for two years and three months, and almost no one noticed the change in writing style. I’m once again grateful for the integrity of the writer who faithfully recorded my dictation.
In March 2022, the column officially ended with its 500th issue. I am filled with gratitude for the readers who accompanied me on this journey of free expression. While it was unfortunate that Weekly Go was discontinued last summer, losing a platform to interact with fans, recently the Nihon Ki-in has started publishing content on YouTube. My disciples, including Tsuruyama Atsushi, are also actively involved in the platform. Moving forward, I would like to entrust this responsibility to them.
Hozzászólások