[Computer-go] Comming events in Japan

[Hideki Kato]

Dear readers,

Two interesting computer Go events will be held in Japan soon.

1. 3/5 (Mon) - 3/6 (Tue) JST (+0900)
JAIST Cup 2012 (http://www.jaist.ac.jp/jaistcup/2012/ in Japanese) in 
Shinagawa, Tokyo.  A 13x13 Computer Go tournament 
(http://www.jaist.ac.jp/jaistcup/2012/jc/eng/13roalg-eng.html) will be 
played in the Computer Go room on KGS in 3/5 PM and two exhibition games 
(http://www.jaist.ac.jp/jaistcup/2012/jc/eng/13roex-eng.html), the gold 
and silver prize programs of the 13x13 tournament versus strong 
amateure players,  will be broadcast on Niconico Doga* (see below) in 
3/6 AM.  Please see the English pages for more info.

2. 3/17 (Sat) JST
Special events on the 6th E&C Symposium (http://entcog.c.ooco.jp/entcog/ 
in Japanese) in the University of Electro-Communications 
(UEC), Chofu, Tokyo.  There will be two matches betweeen Zen and 
Japanese professional players.  All games will be broadcast on Niconico 
Doga* (ditto).
Press release: 
http://entcog.c.ooco.jp/entcog/event/20120317/humvscom.html (in 
Japanese).

2-1. 10:00 - 12:00 JST (scheduled)
Two games, Hirofumi Ohashi 5d 
(http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/player/htm/ki000382.htm) versus Zen on 9x9 
boards with no handicap stones, Chinese rules, 7 points komi (jigo is 
possible), 20 minutes + 30 seconds byo-yomi.  Ohashi 5p is White at the 
first game and vice versa.

2-2. 13:30 - 17:30 JST (scheduled)
Two games, Masaki Takemiya 9p 
(yes, well-known by his cosmic style 
http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/player/htm/ki000003.htm, 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaki_Takemiya) versus Zen on 19x19 
boards with 5 handicap stones, Chinese rules, 0.5 points komi, 30 
minutes + 60 seconds byo-yomi.  If Zen win the first game the handcap 
stones for the second game will decrease and vice versa.

*Niconico Doga: A largest Internet TV company in Japan 
(http://www.nicovideo.jp/ in Japanese).  You have to register as regular 
members (free) or premium (payed) to watch their programs.  Although 
there is no English page, several western people already have 
successfully registered.  I believe anyone can register using machine 
translation sites such as Google.  Note that the number of watchers of a 
program (called a "room") is limited and varies depend on the program.  
When the watchers exceed the capacity of a room, regular members are 
pushed out first and premium ones are rarely.  However, even regular 
members can reserve "time shift" viewings and can view the program later 
(but only once).  Also, this could be useful for the people who live 
in other time zones.  The links will be updated later.

Perhaps, some readers will post more info.

Some FAQs on Niconico Doga.  
- What is "smile enterprise"?   "Niconico" means smiles :).
- I can't watch any anime.  Most (or all?) animes can be viewed only by 
premium members.

Best,
Hideki
-- 
Hideki Kato <mailto:hideki_katoh at ybb.ne.jp>