King Of Backgammon

by Jake Jacobs
10 June 2009

Jake Jacobs

I've smeared quite a bit of ink on paper describing the Japan Open. The Open is a big tournament to be sure, and is the one that draws entrants from overseas, but there are three other important events on the Japanese calendar. Two of them involve league play, and so are effectively closed to foreigners. These are the Bonsei ("board saint") and the Meiji which could be translated as the "Masters" (and is applied to everything from chess to fishing), except that they have an event called the "Masters" event that we would call the "Seniors." Bonsei and Meiji start with qualification through regular league play, and culminate with extended playoffs. Currently the Meiji is in the playoff phase; matches are 25 points, and since the qualifiers come from clubs around Japan, it takes months for the players to arrange matches to play off.
 

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Article text Copyright © 1999-2009 Jake Jacobs and GammonVillage Inc.

Feedback about this article:

1.

Subject: Re: King Of Backgammon

From: mochy   

Date: 17 Jun 2009 22:25 EST

Hello Jake, Thank you for great articles!

Bytheway, Master in Japanese is "Meijin" not "Meiji". "Meiji" is name of the emperor 3 generations ago!

2.

Subject: Re: King Of Backgammon

From: tobaksa   

Date: 17 Jun 2009 23:26 EST

Hi Mochy:

I know Meiji was the Emperor from 1868-1912. His successors were: Taisho 1912-1926; Showa (aka Hirohito) 1926-1989; Heisei (aka Naruhito) 1989-

I got the spelling from Michy! You will have to drum him out of the JBL, and send him to Denmark. ;-)

Best,

Jake

PS I will be in Tokyo for 4-8 days from next Tuesday.

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