イダズワイカ
Suzz helped me to spell “idazuwaika” in Katakana 🙂 How can I make my Japanese name official?
Anyway, she also informed me of a Japanese Drama based on Shogi. It was Hachi-One Diver. Hachi-One or 81, represents the number of squares in Shogi, or Japanese Chess. A bit like a chess board, it is square but with 9 x 9 dimension, instead of 8 x 8. Hence the name, 81 Diver.
The story was about a man who failed to be Shogi professional player, despite studying the game for 20 years. Indeed the level of board game professionals is really high, and certainly not attainable by any average person with average mental strength and average spirit. It’s discomforting to know that this happens in reality – many people fail professional Go examinations despite studying unthinkably diligent for decades.
Back to the story, this man Segata Kentarou then became a Shinkenshi, or a gambler, who earned money by gambling and winning Shogi. With his higher than average skill, he managed to win money easily, until he met Akihabara Champion, Ukeshi who Segata lost Shogi (and big money) to.
The Akihabara Champion had two personalities, one as a superb Shogi player, another as a cleaning maid. The maid version does not really fit into the story line well, except adding some fantasy to the drama. Anyway Ukeshi then brought Segata into the a new world of Shogi gambling, where he had to gamble life, future (loser quit Shogi) and so on. Through many desperate games, Segata managed to acquire higher level of concentration in Shogi – including diving into Shogi board – hence the name 81 Diver.
The story continues with them later having to oppose an evil organization Kishoukai who wanted to bring the world of professional Shogi down. This organization is full of strong Shogi players who harbored discontentment towards professional Shogi. Segata with his improved skill managed to beat this organization with many top-skilled players, but at the end he was stopped by the leader of the organization who happened to be Ukeshi’s own father.
Later, Ukeshi’s father died and Ukeshi inherited the organization despite opposing it in the beginning. She felt it was her responsibility to continue her father dream to bring professional Shogi down Just like her father, Ukeshi had Second Sight skill which was far superior than Segata’s ‘diving’. However, in his desperation to save Ukeshi from the ill path of Shogi, Segata later gained even higher level of concentration, Clear and Serene (going over the 81 boundary into space of emptiness) to have a rematch against Ukeshi. The bet, if he wins, Ukeshi must quit the organization and be at his side forever, if he loses, he must never see Ukeshi again.
Haha.. personally I think this drama to be quite enjoyable, although too much nonsense. Luckily it’s only 11 episodes, otherwise I probably wouldn’t finish it. I admit, I used to dream saving girls, even nation by winning a high-tension chess game. LOL 🙂 Anyway, the story teaches never to give up, even after 20 years of hard effort !
currently watching hachi-1 diver..hehehe.
found your weblog when i google hachi-1 diver 😀
owh i love Hikaru no Go anime too but couldnt be like you lah Waq who go all the way…
btw, niceeeeeee blog!
hi 🙂
i remember you were part of kmys chess team. not suprising to know u watch hachi-one and hikaru no go.
i havent gone all the way yet.. there’s still a lot of things for me to do. in 3 years, if you read in newspaper of a man who visits and challenges every go club in South East Asia, then you know I’ve gone all the way 🙂
hi, found your blog when i was deciding if I should buy 81 diver. Thanks for the detailed summary!
It’s a really funny series! Really enjoyed watching it… But I’m kinda sad about the ending though!!
hi elaine
i thought it was happy ending? or not happy enough for you? 🙂
do you play any board games? i think only board game lovers would like such series. that include me, of course.
Luv the movie, but never really like board game. Just an interesting movie with an interesing effect.