Message-Id: <9306172025.AA24578@thor.INS.CWRU.Edu>
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 93 16:25:32 -0400
From: smg6@po.CWRU.Edu (S. Max Golem)
To: vlevin@acs.ucalgary.ca, qing@iras.ucalgary.ca, mikew@cs.washington.edu,
        adrian@u.washington.edu, jonathan@cats.ucsc.edu, dfoster@maths.tcd.ie,
        randyk@wv.mentorg.com, paul.neureiter@his.com, john.tromp@cwi.nl,
        junger@rsg1.er.usgs.gov, crowner@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu,
        jmb@ideas.com, creare!spock.creare.com!inb@dartmouth.edu,
        carlos_costa@mindlink.bc.ca, ioffe@black.bgu.ac.il,
        yang@titan.ucs.umass.edu, andrew.robinson@anu.edu.au,
        wsharpe@delphi.com, bate@silver.cs.umanitoba.ca,
        wft@math.canterbury.ac.nz, lewis@venus.resntl.bhp.com.au,
        jones@reed.edu, garyb@ultima.enet.dec.com,
        derek@AU-BON-PAIN.LCS.MIT.EDU, chapmand@chdasic.sps.mot.com,
        li@draco.bison.mb.ca, blakeno@ivy.isc.com, kkkken@Athena.MIT.EDU,
        jrm@hprnd.rose.hp.com, dm0179@doc.cs.nyu.edu
Subject: Japanese Go books from Ishi Press.
Reply-To: smg6@po.CWRU.Edu (S. Max Golem)


Hi folks --

Blake Noah has come through with a listing of Japanese Go book
that Ishi Press has for sale.  He says --
>
>Hi all,
>
>>You might also try Ishi Press, though I don't have their address
>>right now.  I'm not sure that Richard bothers with Japanese Go
>>books any more, but it can't hurt to ask.
>
>Actually Ishi just got in quite a number of Japanese Go books. You can 
>get updates on what ishi is getting by sending e-mail to Anton at
>ishius@ishius.com, it's sort of an electronic catalog but I think he's
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>trying to send info on what seems most interesting to people on the net.
>
>Max, do you know/like/dislike any of these?

[MG: I really couldn't say without looking at them myself.  If I
had the money, I'd buy one of each though.  My experience with J. 
Go books is that most (maybe 80%?) are quite OK, so it's a bit
risky, but not much.  Sorry I can't be of more help.]

>
>enjoy,
>Blake
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Below find the info Anton sent out for Ishi on the recent shipment of
>Japanese books :
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>Subject: Review of new Japanese GO Books (LONG)
>
>Most of the Japanese books I mentioned earlier arrived at our
>San Jose warehouse late yesterday, and we started shipping them out
>today (we had to spend some time sorting them out).  For your information,
>I have reviewed most of them, and include my comments below:
>
>> INTERNATIONAL JAPANESE GO BOOK PRICE LIST:
>>
>> PRICES:         $=U.S. Dollars, #Stg=Pounds Sterling
>> Europeans:      use Pounds Sterling, add 10% for shipping and handling
>> All Others:     use U.S. Dollars.  U.S. residents add $0.50 per book for
>>                 shipping and handling, minimum $1.50.  Outside U.S. double
>>                 shipping charges, minimum $3.00.
>>
>> Titles with * are recommended as requiring little kanji to read.
>>
>> New Igo Club Special Series
>
>These volumes are written especially for kyu players, and in general
>are among the easiest of the Japanese books to understand.  Each volume
>is about 200 pages, with large, easy to follow diagrams.  Colorful
>illustrations help convey a sense of what's going on.
>
>> J102     The Double Edged Sword by Kajiwara      $6.50/4.50#Stg
>
>Originally, I assumed that the Double Edged Sword referred to was
>the crosscut (from the proverb 'The crosscut is a double edged
>sword').  Actually a collection of five games, commented in detail
>for kyu players.  About 40 variations per game, or about one every
>four moves on the average (the endgame is omitted, as most games are
>given to 150th move or so: well into the middle game).  A nice collection.
>
>> J103     Joseki Charts                $6.50/4.50#Stg
>
>A basic repertoire of josekis, arranged in chart form so they are easier
>to memorize.  Symbols are given as the value of each variation using
>happy or sad faces for: Black is ecstatic, Black is happy, Black is
>satisfied, White is unsatisfied, White is unhappy, White is miserable,
>Black stands slightly better, this is the vital point, etc.  Covers
>handicap, 4-4, 4-3, 3-3, 5-3, and 5-4 josekis.
>
>> J104     Shock Treatment for Improving Your GO, One Problem a Day       
>>                                                 $6.50/4.50#Stg
>
>A collection of 31 wholeboard problems, mostly fuseki and early
>middle game.  We have carried this book before, and it was one of 
>the most popular Japanese titles.
>
>> J105*   Takemiya's San-Rensei Strategy: Whole Board Fuseki Problems    
>>                                                 $8.00/5.50#Stg
>
>About two dozen fuseki problems, but not all are sanrensei.  A better
>title probably would be 'Takemiya's COSMIC Strategy', as Takemiya's
>famous high or center oriented strategy is common element in the problems.  
>Each fuseki is developed in some detail, up to the first 50-60 moves.
>As advertised, mostly diagrams without a lot of commentary.
>
>> J107     Kato's Fuseki Training Camp             $6.50/4.50#Stg
>
>A dozen basic fusekis are given, and Kato shows how different
>professionals played from each: about a hundred professional
>fusekis are given.  These are analyzed in much less detail than
>J105 above; on the other hand, you get to see how different
>professionals chose to play the same position differently.
>
>> J108     Attacking Strategy                      $6.50/4.50#Stg
>
>A mixed bag of fuseki, tsume-go and endgame problems, divided into
>three levels of difficulty.  The endgame problems are given on
>13-line boards.  About 30 problems in all.
>
>> J109*   Otake's Tsumego (Life and Death)        $8.00/5.50#Stg
>
>Almost a hundred tsume-go (life and death) problems, divided into
>four levels of difficulty.  The first level covers elementary knowledge
>of life and death, maybe 10-15 kyu, but the other levels are more
>difficult.  Guessing, I'd say they go up to 5 kyu, probably not dan-level.
>
>> J111     Common Knowledge for Shodans            $6.50/4.50#Stg
>
>A mixed bag of josekis, fuseki, tesujis, tsume-go and endgame.
>More commentary than is usual for the IGO club series.  Includes
>about a dozen whole board problems.
>
>> J112*   Ishida's Pro vs. Pro Handicap GO        $8.00/5.50#Stg
>
>My favorite book of this entire series: a dozen professional handicap
>games, with detailed variations.  Because of the nature of Handicap GO,
>the variations are easy to understand: they're almost always obviously
>worse than the line played in the game.  By analyzing each variation
>myself, I was able to comment out the game in English.  When I checked
>my commentary with several Dan players, they found I was correct.
>I consider some of these games to be of such value that they are included
>in 'The Many Faces of GO' along with my "translated" commentary.
>
>> J113     Ten Worst Amateur Moves                 $6.50/4.50#Stg
>
>More like the SIXTY worst amateur moves, this book is not difficult
>to follow.  A big hand points to the offending move, the next variation
>shows how the opponent might exploit the move, and subsequent variations
>show why the bad move was unnecessary (if a defensive move) and how
>they should have played instead.  Almost entirely fuseki problems,
>including handicap games.  I thought this was very easy to follow.
> 
>> J114*   Time Trials 900                         $8.00/5.50#Stg
>
>One of the most popular books in this series (the Baltimore GO
>Club bought half a dozen copies and highly recommends the book).
>This book contains literally 900 problems covering whole board
>fuseki, joseki, tesuji and tsume go (no endgame problems), and
>object is to solve them in groups of 30-60 problems in ten minutes.
>As soon as I saw the book, I stashed aside a copy for myself.
>Definitely a treasure: Keith Arnold (of the Baltimore GO Club)
>is right.
>
>> J115     Amateur Professional Victories          $6.50/4.50#Stg
>
>As expected, a collection of a dozen games (complete with endgames),
>commented in detail.  Includes even and low handicap games.
>
>> J116     Modern Joseki Guide                     $6.50/4.50#Stg
>> J117     An Invitation to Fuseki                 $6.50/4.50#Stg
>
>Don't ask me why, but these books are still sitting in a box in Richard
>Bozulich's apartment in Japan.  They will be included in the next
>shipment from Japan, which is scheduled to arrive around July 15th.
>If I haven't seen them, I obviously can't comment on them.

[MG: BTW, Richard doesn't have an apartment; he's had his own
house in Chigasaki, Japan for close to twenty years.  He used to
regularly brag about how much it was worth until John Power
bought his own house.  Then Richard's house suddenly quadrupled
in value overnight. . . . ]

>
>> J118*   Games of Yoda Norimoto                  $8.00/5.50#Stg
>
>Yoda Norimoto is a young (27 years old), up and coming Japanese
>professional.  At 18, he was the youngest player ever to win a place
>in the Meijin League.  This collection contains over 50 games,
>although the first 30 games are given only through the first 20 or
>30 moves (I guess in order to convey an idea of his style).  The
>last 20 or so games are analyzed in more detail, and are complete to
>the endgame.
>
>> The Complete Games of Honinbo Shusai Honinbo Shusai never lost
>> an important game; hence his nickname, 'The Iron Meijin.'
>> J250*   Volume 2          $25.00/16.75#Stg
>> J251*   Volume 3          $25.00/16.75#Stg
>> J252*   Volume 4          $25.00/16.75#Stg
>> J253*   Volume 5          $25.00/16.75#Stg
>> J254*   Volume 6          $25.00/16.75#Stg
>
>This is a handsome set.  Each volume is clothbound, 250 pages, and about
>the size and layout of the KIDO yearbooks (i.e. 10.5" x 7.5", large
>diagrams, about 100 moves per diagram, 1 diagram per page, about 2-3
>diagrams per game).  Well made, very nice paper, a handsome volume.
>
>> Otake's GO Course
>
>Nicely made paperback, typical Japanese quality.  About 280 pages
>each volume.  Except for the first volume, they are not as difficult
>to follow as I would have expected.
>
>> J255     Joseki                                  $9.25/6.25#Stg
>
>Of course this has a lot of commentary, but fortunately many of the
>diagrams are labeled as being correct or failures.  Covers even game
>and handicap joseki, emphasizing whole board analysis, not just the
>corner.  I found this the most difficult of the five volumes to
>make sense of.
>
>> J256     Fuseki                                  $9.25/6.25#Stg
>
>Surprisingly, this volume has more diagrams and less commentary than
>the volume on joseki above.  Covers parallel and diagonal fusekis,
>including sanrensei and Chinese style fusekis.  I found it much easier
>to follow than the volume on joseki.
>
>> J257     Vital Points of Attack and Defense      $9.25/6.25#Stg
>
>Surprisingly easy to follow, considering the subject.  However, the vital
>point in a position is the vital point for both sides, and once you've
>seen the variations, it's relative easy to see why.  Good perhaps for
>training your eye to see the vital points.  Mostly whole and half board
>positions.
>
>> J258*   The Power of Tesuji                     $11.50/7.75#Stg
>
>The easiest of the five volumes to follow.  However, use a 3 x 5 card to
>hide the answers from yourself, as they sometimes appear on the same page.
>The diagrams are easy to follow, and it is easy to distinguish correct
>answers from wrong answers.
>
>> J259     The Endgame                             $9.25/6.25#Stg
>
>This title was originally identified to me as 'Handicap GO', but turns
>out to be about the endgame.  After 'The Power of Tesuji', this is the
>easiest volume to follow.  Much of the commentary gives the point value
>of various moves, and this is easy to read and interpret.  If I had seen
>this before writing up the price list, I would have recommended it as
>being easy to read.  Lots of endgame problems on 11 and 19 line boards.
>
>> New Intermediate Series
>
>Generally aimed a somewhat higher level than the IGO clubs series
>and somewhat more difficult to follow, this series primarily consists
>of diagrams without too much commentary.  Each volume is about 220 pages.
>
>> J260     Choosing a Joseki                  $6.50/4.50#Stg
>          by Kudo Norio
>
>This book begins with a 30 page exposition on joseki viewed locally,
>starting with the knight's approach to the 3-4 point, and covering other
>common josekis.  The remainder of the book consists of whole board
>situations, and shows how various josekis turn out in that position.
>Usually the first few positions are wrong, and the last few are correct.
>Each position is gone over in some detail, with about half a dozen
>to a dozen josekis from each position.
>
>> J261*   Endgame Tesujis                       $8.00/5.50#Stg
>          by Sakata Eio
>
>Just what the title says.  The book starts with a brief (about a
>dozen pages) discussion (review?) of opening and early middle game
>strategy, followed a brief exposition of elementary endgame tactics.
>The remainder of the book consists of maybe a hundred endgame problems.
>Better use a 3 x 5 card to hide the answers from yourself, though: part
>of the answer appears on the same page as the problem itself.  These are
>not tight endgame problems, but situations worth few points that a
>professional would leave hanging from the middlegame until the endgame.
>These tend to involve capturing a two or three stones or otherwise
>reducing your opponent's territory.  These problems are focused on one
>part of the board, the rest doesn't matter.
>
>> J262     Positional Judgment Made Easy          $6.50/4.50#Stg
>          by Otake Hideo
>
>Definitely NOT the same as G45 Positional Judgment by Cho Chikun
>(of which, by the way, there are only six copies left in the warehouse).
>However, like Cho's book, the first part seems to be about estimating
>territory, while the second half gives nine professional games with
>variations.
>
>> J263     Big Plays and Vital Points        $6.50/4.50#Stg
>          by Ishida Yoshio
>
>About a hundred whole board fuseki and early middle game positions
>are given and analyzed.  The variations show how the game develops
>depending on who takes which vital point first.
>
>> J264*   Capturing Tesujis                   $8.00/5.50#Stg
>          by Kobayashi Koichi
>
>About 80 capturing tesujis are given.  For each tesuji, variations show
>how a few stones placed differently affects the outcome.  Emphasizes
>ladders.
>
>> J265     Becoming Strong at Ko                  $6.50/4.50#Stg
>          by Kato Masao
>
>The book begins with an exposition on the two basic situations where
>a ko matters: when a connection is at stake or in a life and death
>situation.  It also shows the negative results from ignoring a ko threat
>or losing a ko fight.  The major portion of the books gives situations
>where an important ko fight develops, again emphasizing the consequences
>of losing the ko fight or ignoring a major ko threat.  The last part of
>the book consists of 25 whole board problems.
>
>> J266     Winning a Won Game                $6.50/4.50#Stg
>          by Fujisawa Shuko
>
>This book gives 67 wholeboard situations from the late fuseki to early
>middle game where one side has a "won" game, but only if they follow up
>correctly.  The first few variations usually show how to blow it, while
>the last one or two show how to secure the win.
>
>> Basic Series by Sakata Eio
>> J267     Fuseki              $5.75/4.00#Stg
>
>Starts out with an exposition on corner enclosures and basic fusekis.
>The bulk of the book follows out a number of fusekis for the first
>20 to 40 moves.
>
>> J268*   Tesuji               $7.00/$4.75#Stg
>
>Nearly a hundred tesujis in problem format.  Very easy to follow,
>as the diagrams are clearly labeled.
>
>> Other Titles
>> J269*   5-kyu Tesujis         $9.00/6.00#Stg
>
>This title has not yet arrived (see comments on J116 and J117 above).
>
>> J270     1-kyu Josekis                $6.50/4.50#Stg
>          by Ishida Yoshio
>
>A collection of a few hundred josekis for stronger kyu players, given
>in much the same style as his Dictionary of Basic Joseki.  Includes
>some handicap josekis.
>
>> Titles with * are recommended as requiring little kanji to read.
>
>I read only less than twenty kanji and about a dozen player's names,
>but I get a lot out of going over the problems and the game records.
>I've found that not being able to casually read the analysis at a
>glance forces me to think it through, and not accept my judgment
>until I am sure.
>
>> Once these books are sold, they won't be back in stock, so order
>> yours today!
>
>Between the Cotsen Open in Los Angeles the weekend after next, the
>1993 GO Congress in August and the books going to our European office,
>these titles will sell out fast.  As this was a one-time deal with
>the Nihon Ki-in, these books will never be reordered, so when they're
>gone, that's it!
>
>Please feel free to write me if you have any questions.
>
>                                Anton Dovydaitis
>                                Customer Support
>
>
>========================================================================
>Ishi Press International        800/859-2086 voice, 408/944-9110 FAX
>76 Bonaventura Drive            ishius@ishius.com           The Americas
>San Jose, CA  95134             ishi@cix.compulink.co.uk    Europe
>
>

[MG: BTW, it may come as a shock to you, but very few Japanese Go
books are actually written by their listed authors.  The sixth
floor of the Nihon Kiin building in Ichigaya is devoted to
professional Go writers (who are usually 5- or 6-dan amateurs)
for this purpose.  The most that a pro is likely to do for a book
with his name on it is to look through a rough draft and make a
few suggestions (there are some famous exceptions -- I think
Yamabe was one of the ones who did all the writing himself).  

One reason for this is that, until recently, professional players
became insei when they were very young then spent increasing
amounts of time at the dojo until they finally dropped out of
school and devoted themselves entirely to Go (this has changed
somewhat the last ten years or so, I'm told).  As a result, only
a minority of pro's have graduated from high school, even fewer
from college; certainly only a small number are capable of writ-
ing an entire Go book on their own.]