【画像】美人女流棋士さん(20)「え、囲碁普及のためにこんなポーズしないといけないんですか⇒？？」ﾊﾟｼｬ…!!
A 20-year-old beautiful female professional Go player reportedly expressed bewilderment after being asked to strike an uncharacteristic pose for a photoshoot, as part of efforts to promote Go.
This incident has sparked a debate online about the balance between promoting the traditional culture of Go and modern marketing methods, with various opinions on "how far is too far."
It highlights the delicate challenge facing the Go world in balancing its future growth with the expectations and burdens placed upon young players.
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Female Professional Go Player (Joryu Kishi)
A "Joryu Kishi" (female professional Go player) is a general term for professional female players in board games such as Go and Shogi. While women have long participated in the Go world, the institutionalization of professional female players progressed relatively recently. For example, the system for female professional Go players in the Japan Go Association (Nihon Ki-in) was established through the creation of women-only tournaments and the recognition of ranks based on skill. In recent years, many female professional players have emerged who started Go at a young age and possess both strong playing ability and popularity. They contribute significantly to the promotion of Go not only through their match activities but also by teaching in Go classes, participating in events, and appearing in media. Compared to male players, they often have more opportunities for media exposure, leading to attention not only to their competitive skills but also their personality and appearance. However, they sometimes face conflicts and challenges between their primary role as competitors and their role in promotional activities. The current topic can be seen as an illustration of one such situation that female professional Go players might encounter.
Go Promotion Activities
Go promotion activities refer to all efforts aimed at spreading the appeal of Go, expanding its player base, and ensuring its cultural transmission. In Japan, Go was once a popular national pastime enjoyed by people of all ages. However, in recent years, declining birthrates, an aging population, and the emergence of diverse entertainments have led to a decrease and aging of the player population. Consequently, organizations like the Japan Go Association (Nihon Ki-in) are implementing various promotional activities targeting younger generations and beginners. These include teaching Go in elementary and junior high schools, hosting Go events, collaborations with manga, anime, and games, and providing online matches and learning content via the internet. Additionally, a "visual strategy" is sometimes employed, actively exposing popular professional players, especially young female professionals, in the media to spark interest in Go through their approachable image. The current article's background likely involves this urgent need for Go promotion and new experimental approaches, but the balance between the traditional image of the game and modern promotional methods is always a subject of debate.
Talentization (Becoming a Celebrity)
"Talentization" refers to the phenomenon where individuals from a specific professional field (in this case, professional Go players) gain mass popularity through media, not just for their expertise but also by foregrounding elements like appearance, personality, and approachability. Particularly in the Shogi world, the emergence of stars like Sota Fujii significantly boosted attention to the game itself and had widespread social ripple effects. Following this success, the Go world has also seen a trend where young players, especially female professionals, are expected to serve as "faces" that transcend the game's boundaries through media appearances and event participation. This is considered a potentially effective means to halt the decline in Go's player population and attract new fans. However, there are also opinions that players should focus on their primary duties of matches and research, and concerns that excessive talentization might degrade the dignity of the game. The phrase "pose like *this*" in the current article can be seen as symbolizing the promotion of this "talentization" and the conflicts and debates that accompany it. How to balance competitiveness with entertainment value is a crucial challenge for connecting traditional culture to the modern era.