News / Articles

Your Move/Readers Write: 1940's Article on Go Found

"I expect you'll have many responses to Stuart French's question (looking for 1940's article about how Japanese generals used the game of go to strategize WWII in the Pacific) in the April 7 E-Journal (Your Move/Readers Write: More Responses to The Popular Go Quiz Question), but I give mine anyways," writes Reinhold Burger. 

 "I think the article may have been a piece in the May 18 1942 edition of Life Magazine (pp. 92-96), entitled 'Go: Japs play their national game the way they fight their wars.' The map in question is on page 96. Btw, it includes a photo of Edward Lasker placing a stone on the board." Burger goes on to wonder "if this is a serious example of the game. After 42 moves, neither player has touched the lower left corner (i.e., where the Indian ocean lies). But I am quite weak (DDK), so perhaps a stronger player could comment." 
Thanks also to David Doshay, Grant Kerr and quizmaster Keith Arnold, who also flagged the same article. It also appears on page 26 of The Go Player's Almanac published by Kiseido, reports Richard Bozulich.