Japanese Culture: Animal Cafés

It is common knowledge that the Japanese are a bit crazy about animals, especially cats (4k: I'm already hearing a Japanese scream "Kaawaaaaiiiiiiiiiii!!!" in my head). Since Japanese flats are very small, it is often not possible to have a pet - or the landlord doesn't allow it. This is how animals cafés came into being. Especially the cat cafés are pretty well known in all the world and this concept has been copied by people in many other countries - even in Berlin there is at least one cat café.

Today, there are other kinds of animal cafés, too, for example dog cafés or bird cafés. 4k really wanted to see such a café, but not a "normal" animal café like for cats. It should be something that wouldn't be possible in Germany (there are really, really high constraints when animals, people and food come together). But 4k was really lucky since right now the latest "hoot" (4k: I was really looking forward to write this all day! *g*) in Japan are owl cafés. Right, a café with owls (Again, 4k can hear a Japanese scream this typical "Äääääääääeäeäeäeeeeeeeehh.....?" in her head). Since 4k loves all kinds of birds of prey, she definitely had to check out an owl café. By chance she found out that there is one quite close to the Kansai Ki-in (maybe 15 minutes to walk there), so after going there that morning with many other camp participants, 4k set off to フクロウのみせ (Fukurou no mise).

Outside the café

4k arrived quite early, about 1 hour before the shop opened and was actually the first one to sign up for the first group of the day - together with a group of very nice Australian women. After passing the remaining time until the shop would open by eating Takoyaki (dough balls with octopus inside - really, really hot but very nice!) and walking around in the streets near Fukurou no mise, the shop finally opened and we were allowed in.

Inside the café

At first I'll explain how this concept works:
Before you can enter, you have to make a reservation. Reservations can only be made on the spot and only for the same day (so you can't call in advance and make a reservation for Friday next week). Each person gets a time slot of one hour in the café - you can stay longer but you're not allowed to pet the owls again or to take pictures of them. Each time slot begins exactly on the hour. You actually are allowed to bring your own owl, too, (keep in mind that this is Japan, so... why shouldn't someone have a pet owl? XD ) if you contact the staff in advance - and probably can meet a few conditions.

After entering and taking your seat the first you'll do is order your drink (in the overall fee 1 drink is included). You are also asked to clean your hands with a hand sanitiser (provided at the café). Then you'll get to hear an explanation of about 10 minutes how to interact safely with the owls. This is 99% in Japanese but they're using a hand doll so it isn't a problem at all to follow the rules (when in doubt you can still ask, of course). During this time you get the drink you ordered when you enter - but actually no one drinks now because everyone rushes over to the owls as soon as possible. You then have a bit more than 30 minutes to interact with the owl before you are asked to drink up and to pay (1.500¥ for an adult, which is about 11€).

The time with the owls is really enjoyable even though one owl seemed to have a bad day and tried to eat my left thumb. Luckily, it wasn't Shi-chan the Siberian Owl, who was the biggest hoot in town (and also very calm and nice). Her talons were about as long as my thumb so.. lucky for us that Shin-chan (the only owl that is not tied in the whole café) is so friendly. When I touched the owls, I was really surprised how soft their feathers were - and how little "real" bird there is since most of it seams to be feathers! XD

Even though I came alone, I have quite a few pictures of me with the owls since the nice Australian women offered several times to take a picture of me and the owls. Here are a few:

Interacting with the owls

I really enjoyed my time at the owl café (even though one owl's droppings missed my foot (sandals, hello!) be the skin of my teeth - but well... it's animals). I'm saying this although I have to admit that I'm a bit torn between enjoyment and a bad conscience since keeping owls like this is just a pretty... weird and unnatural thing. However, I really love owls and this is probably the closest you might ever get... so... make up your mind for yourself if you'd want to go or not if you get the chance. If another camp participant wanted to go, I'd definitely offer to lead the way... and come again. Maybe then I can carry this EXTREMELY KAWAIII ultra small owl on my shoulder.. ^^;

Extremly kawaii

Osaka Go Camp - Day 10 (Kansai Ki-in, Osaka Castle)

On Wednesday of the second week we did some sightseeing in Osaka, organized by the camp.

The first stop was the Kansai Ki-in, where we could watch the professionals play their games. Most of the participants were waiting in the Kansai Ki-in Go Salon on the first floor, while a small group was upstairs visiting the pros. The groups rotated so everybody got a chance to see the pros playing.

A funny thing I noticed was a professional sitting in his chair in the traditional Seiza. I always thought it was a formal posture when sitting on the ground (which is common in traditional Japanese settings). I tried sitting in Seiza once during the Himeji-trip - but only for several seconds. For me (and for 4k), it's really uncomfortable, but then I might have been doing it wrong or are just not used to it. This pro seemed to find it a really comfortable posture (or maybe it helps him concentrate?)

Pros playing

After lunch, a part of the group (not 4k since the weather didn't look very good for taking pictures) went to the main sightseeing spot in Osaka - the Osaka Castle. The current castle is actually a reconstruction (one of many), not the original building like the castle in Himeji, with the Osaka Castle Museum located inside. Thankfully this meant not so much stairs (Elevator desu!). The view from the top (8th floor) was great, similar to the view in Himeji (but compare for yourself).

Osaka Castle

View from Osaka Castle

The castle has an interesting history, conquering the castle was part of several important wars in Japanese history. Not much is known about the original building, which was constructed in the 16th century. Nearly all information uncovered about the old castle seem to be from the first reconstruction at the beginning of the 17th century, after it was conquered by another family and changed the owner.

In the 19th century, the castle was completely destroyed in a fire after being struck by lightening. It must have been an enourmous fire, since some of the damage is still visible on several of the castle walls today. Another interesting fact about the castle walls is that it contains some really big stones, with the biggest stone having a surface area that is bigger than a small single-room flat.

Biggest stone in the castle walls

Osaka Go Camp - A League Game Day

Some of you (maybe even you?) may already have wondered what the schedule of a normal day at the Osaka Go Camp looks like. Well, here you go, then!

A "normal" day at the Osaka Go camp is usually a day on which we play a league game - a Monday, Tuesday or Friday. According to the schedule, the day starts at 10 am with a league game. Usually it takes a bit longer for all players to arrive, since some might want to go and grab breakfast or something to drink before playing.

I'm not sure how exactly the pairings are made, but they tend to limit the amount of handicap stones that are given in a game. Since everybody has a playing card with his strength, all games are played with full handicap. This also means that in theory every participant could win the camp - though i'm not sure how they handle the case if several people tie for first place after wins.

Serious league games

Your rank, however, does not stay the same. If you win three league games in a row you earn a promotion (usually 1 level), if you lose three games in a row you go down a level.
If no suitable pairing partner is available for you (we have this case with two 15ks at the camp - next strongest player is around 7k), you might play a teaching game with a pro instead of playing a handicap game with another camp participant.

Teaching game instead of league game

Depending on how fast you finish your game, you can ask one of the professional at the camp for a review of your game or just go straight to lunch. The next scheduled activity starts at 13:30, which is homework checking. On each league day, Maeda-sensei gives out homework, which consists of 12 problems. The first six problems are whole-board problems, mostly for the late opening or middle game, with one or two endgame problems. The last six problems are tsumego/endgame problems.
Everybody who gets all problems for a day correct, can collect a little price but the problems are getting harder each time, so this is not that easy.

After checking the homework, at around 2pm, a pro gives a lecture until about 3pm. For most people it's free time after the lecture, but those who have put their names down fast enough, play teaching games against the visiting pros.

Teaching games after the lecture

Of course, not every day is a league day. Like mentioned earlier, Wednesday and Thursday are free days as the pros have their own games on these days. Usually sightseeing trips are organized for these days, but they are completly optional. On the weekends no league game are played. Instead it's friendship matches against local players (strong amateurs or even insei).

Osaka Go Camp - Day 5 (Relay Go)

There was no league game on Friday, despite what the schedule on the website said. Instead it was a day all about Relay Go.

We really hoped that there was a page at Senseis Library or somewhere else on the internet explaining what Relay Go is, but couldn't find any. So here is an explanation of Relay Go (maybe it is faulty, but the rules are quite extensive and a bit complicated):

• Relay Go is played by two teams. Each team consists of at least 6 players (+ substitute players) and a coach (usually a strong player). A team needs to have at least one female player.
• The actual game is split into three phases.
  
  
  1. From the beginning of the game up to move 72.
  2. From move 72 up to move 143
  3. From move 143 all the way to the end
• Two players from each team will play a single phase like normal Rengo
• When a phase ends there is a 5 minute break, where the players return to their team and coach. The coach then gives instructions based on the analysis they are doing during the game.
• Once a player has played in a phase or as a substitute (see next point) he may not play in this game again - two different players have to play the next phase
• At any time the coach can decide to switch one of his players with another person - up to 3 times in total.
• The coach can ask for a short time-out (90 seconds) to discuss the situation with the players up to 2 times in total

I hope this is understandable. Basicly it is mimicking other team-sports like Basketball and applying it to Go. The main difference to a normal game of Go or Rengo is the coach and the ability to switch players or to get a time-out. You can guess that the coach is extremely important for the team.
Relay Go seems actually to be quite a new variant of Go, being developed in 2012 in China, if I remember correctly.

There was a big match of Relay Go scheduled for the afternoon between an international team, consisting of Japanese players and strong dan players from the camp participants and a Chinese team. This match even had some price money - 100,000 Japanese Yen for the winning team and 30,000 Japanese Yen for the losing team, so both teams considered it a serious match.

But before that, instead of the league game, the camp participants played their own Relay Go match, to get a feel for the rules. So the camp was split into two teams, each team getting a pro as their coach and after some strategic discussion (who plays which phase etc..) the game started.
Of course this was rather unfortunate for some of the weaker camp participants as only stronger players were set to play and able to really contribute to the analysis during the game. I (1k) was fortunate enough to be strong enough as 1d and played some part of the fuseki. But as I made a bad strategic decision in one joseki I was switched out. However, in the end my team managed to win. 4k was to be a substitute player for the opening if there'd be any need for that. (Un?)fortunately, there was no need so all 4k could do to help the team was run between the board on which the game was played and the analysis area of her team since the internet didn't work at this moment and we had no other way to follow the game. 4k definitely liked this kind of Go but would have preferred to play since the last two days had only held very little Go, too..

For the real match in the afternoon the lowest level for camp participants playing in the international team was 3dan, so both authors had to sit back and watch the commentary instead. The internatinonal team got a top pro as their couach: Yuki Satoshi 9p (4k: !!!). Unfortunately, this didn't help and the Chinese team won the game in the end. The nice (or not so nice, depending on your point of view) thing about this match was that the international team performed a lot better than most people (including Yuki Satoshi) had expected (4k: Maeda-sensei had shown his true colours before the game and wore a T-Shirt from the Chinese team.. Please believe a little more in us next time, Sensei!! ;-) ).

Osaka Go Camp - Day 3+4 (Himeji, Kobe)

Wednesday and Thursday are free days at the camp, as the professionals play their tournaments on these days. In the first week these days were filled with the cultural trip.

So on Wednesday we set of for Himeji. After lunch in front of the beatiful Himeji Castle we went to the City Hall to play some friendship matches against local Himeji players.

There was big dinner in the evening, including a traditional opening of a sealed sake bottle in which even 1k was asked to take part. The day ended with a visit to a local Go club and more games played.

Great chinese food

While the first day was filled with Go, the second one was filled with sightseeing. In the morning we visited Himeji Castle. It is really a spectacular piece of architecture including lots and lots of stairs (small and narrow stairs), especially in the main keep.
Since you aren't allowed to wear shoes inside the main keep you are climbing these smalls stairs either barefoot or on socks, with a plastic bag holding your shoes in one hand. For me (1k) it was a really stressfull experience, but then i'm nearly 1,80 metres tall, which might be quite tall in japan. But then again i wouldn't have missed this trip and can recommened it to any one who is going to visit japan.

Impressions of Himeji Castle

We were also a bit lucky since Himeji Castle had undergone a six year long restauration that was finished just in March 27, restoring the beatiful white color to the castle.

The second stop after Himeji was Kobe, which is actually not that far from Osaka. Kobe is probably most known for their "Kobe Beef" which ranks as one of the most expensive food world-wide. You can probably guess what we did in Kobe (apart from visiting a shrine - they are really everywhere in japan) and i must say it was really great meat. Even though the restaurant might have been overwhelmed by so much customers at once.
Like the restaurant in Tokyo, where we had Okonumyaki, the meat was prepared in front of you right at the table. Our group was big enough that we filled four or five of these tables at once and there were other guests as well. Considering that we were one of the latest table from our group ordering (it takes some time getting 50 people to the fith floor if all you have is one elevator that can take like 5 people at once), it was to be expected that we had to wait quite some time for our food.

Shrine in Kobe

Original Kobe Beef

The last stop after Kobe was a Go Shop in Osaka. Actually it's a workshop wo also produces the materials they are selling. In fact it was the Shop that is actually supplying the Kansai Ki-in. The shop was really small - way too small for the many people who wanted to take a look - and had some really expensive stuff. The most expensive Go item was a floor Goban for 1,3 million japanese yen.

That's quite expensive

We didn't spend that much money there but bought some nice slate- and shell-stones and a digital game clock, which looks very similar to the ones in Hikaru no Go ;-)

Improvements to the Blog - Fixed mobile version

I've made some minor improvements on the blog. First i added a link-list, where you currently find the link to the offical website of the Osaka Go Camp. More links will be added there in the future.

I have labeled all our posts and added the list of labels to the Sidebar. This allows for easier filtering, depending on your preferences. The label-names might change in the future, but for now these are probably the most important ones:

• Photo - All posts which contain photos
• Camp - All posts relating to the Osaka Go Camp
• Sightseeing - All posts were we were sightseeing
• Go - All Go-related posts
• Go Club - We visiting one of the many Go Clubs in Japan
• Kifu - Posts containing game records

Also the eidogo player used to display game records, now also works in the mobile version of the blog.

I also want to apologize for the recent lack of updates, more posts will be coming soon.

Osaka Go Camp - Day 2

On the second day of the camp the place was more crowded, as the Chinese group (about 30 people) had arrived yesterday afternoon. Because of this we dropped down a lot of boards (4k: 11 boards, 1k: 10 boards) and played with the small clocks. This is important to note, since only the big clocks have byo-yomi (1x30 seconds). The small clocks have no byo-yomi (sudden death) but with 80 minutes main time, instead of the 60 minutes of the big clocks.

Also both got to play against a 1d. 4k played against young French player and 1k played against a Japanese woman.

My game (1k) was very exciting, after I messed up a corner my opponent managed to build a huge - and I mean huge - center moyo. I never really invaded it, instead I tried to take most of the corner- and side-territory that is available on the board to make up in points. But still at the beginning of yose I was behind by at least 10 points (maybe even more), I think. During yose, however, I managed to catch up, which might be related to the fact, that my opponent had already used most of her time. In the end she resigned. Maybe it was a bit early, since I tried something that wasn't working, but the game became close at that point and she had only very little time left, too.

1k game

(;FF[4]GM[1]AP[gobandroid:0]SZ[19]GN[Osaka Go Camp 2015 - L02]DT[2015-06-30]PB[Axel Köhler]PW[White]BR[1d]WR[1d]KM[6.5]RE[B+R]
;B[pd]
;W[dp]
;B[pq]
;W[dc]
;B[fq]
;W[jp]
;B[cq]
;W[dq]
;B[cp]
;W[do]
;B[dr]
;W[er]
;B[cr]
;W[eq]
;B[cn]
;W[fp]
;B[qo]
;W[nc]
;B[lc]
;W[ne]
;B[qf]
;W[kd]
;B[kc]
;W[jd]
;B[ld]
;W[le]
;B[jc]
;W[id]
;B[hc]
;W[ge]
;B[pj]
;W[qj]
;B[qk]
;W[qi]
;B[pk]
;W[pi]
;B[of]
;W[oi]
;B[me]
;W[mf]
;B[md]
;W[nf]
;B[nd]
;W[qc]
;B[qd]
;W[pc]
;B[ob]
;W[oc]
;B[nb]
;W[pb]
;B[mb]
;W[rd]
;B[rb]
;W[re]
;B[rc]
;W[od]
;B[rf]
;W[oe]
;B[pf]
;W[nj]
;B[lq]
;W[lp]
;B[mp]
;W[mq]
;B[kp]
;W[lo]
;B[kq]
;W[ko]
;B[jq]
;W[ip]
;B[iq]
;W[oq]
;B[np]
;W[op]
;B[nq]
;W[oo]
;B[mr]
;W[qn]
;B[pn]
;W[qp]
;B[pp]
;W[po]
;B[ro]
;W[rn]
;B[nn]
;W[on]
;B[pm]
;W[om]
;B[rp]
;W[pl]
;B[qm]
;W[ql]
;B[rm]
;W[rl]
;B[sn]
;W[mm]
;B[dj]
;W[cl]
;B[cm]
;W[dl]
;B[cf]
;W[dh]
;B[ch]
;W[ci]
;B[di]
;W[cj]
;B[fi]
;W[eh]
;B[bh]
;W[df]
;B[ce]
;W[de]
;B[cc]
;W[fk]
;B[hp]
;W[ho]
;B[io]
;W[in]
;B[jo]
;W[jn]
;B[go]
;W[hn]
;B[en]
;W[fn]
;B[fo]
;W[dn]
;B[gn]
;W[dm]
;B[gq]
;W[gl]
;B[db]
;W[cd]
;B[bd]
;W[dd]
;B[cb]
;W[be]
;B[bf]
;W[bc]
;B[ae]
;W[eb]
;B[bb]
;W[hd]
;B[gc]
;W[fd]
;B[kn]
;W[hm]
;B[rk]
;W[ol]
;B[sl]
;W[pr]
;B[qq]
;W[or]
;B[mn]
;W[km]
;B[nm]
;W[nl]
;B[lm]
;W[ml]
;B[ln]
;W[ll]
;B[ng]
;W[nh]
;B[lf]
)

4k game
Since I won my game against a 1dan yesterday, I got anoher one today (it seems like we have plenty of 1dan players at the camp). Today, my opponent was from France and it was a really interesting game. Until I was able to destroy his right side and catch some stones there I think I was behind a little, but after that I think I was leading by about 10 points and fortunately was able to keep the lead until the end - although I didn't play a very good endgame and missed quite a few moves (then and in the middle game, too...). I didn't get a review today since we had some business to do this afternoon and then it got too late, but I hope that I might get one on this game tomorrow. Anyway, here's the game (if you have some remarks on the game, please feel free to write a comment!):

(;FF[4]GM[1]AP[gobandroid:0]SZ[19]GN[Osaka Go Camp 2015 - 2]DT[2015-06-30]PB[4k]PW[White]BR[1k]WR[1d]KM[0.5]RE[B+8.5]
;B[pd]
;W[dp]
;B[pq]
;W[dd]
;B[fq]
;W[cn]
;B[jp]
;W[qn]
;B[qp]
;W[qk]
;B[qi]
;W[on]
;B[pm]
;W[pn]
;B[fc]
;W[df]
;B[db]
;W[cc]
;B[ic]
;W[ok]
;B[np]
;W[oi]
;B[qf]
;W[ob]
;B[oc]
;W[qc]
;B[nb]
;W[pb]
;B[mc]
;W[qd]
;B[pe]
;W[di]
;B[fo]
;W[hd]
;B[hc]
;W[fd]
;B[gd]
;W[ge]
;B[gc]
;W[dr]
;B[ck]
;W[cj]
;B[dk]
;W[fj]
;B[fl]
;W[lq]
;B[kq]
;W[mo]
;B[mq]
;W[mp]
;B[nq]
;W[no]
;B[kn]
;W[gl]
;B[fk]
;W[gk]
;B[ej]
;W[ei]
;B[ie]
;W[ng]
;B[he]
;W[gf]
;B[er]
;W[cq]
;B[gm]
;W[il]
;B[kl]
;W[hm]
;B[gn]
;W[kj]
;B[ig]
;W[gh]
;B[rm]
;W[rn]
;B[rk]
;W[qh]
;B[rh]
;W[rg]
;B[ph]
;W[qg]
;B[pg]
;W[ri]
;B[rf]
;W[sh]
;B[qj]
;W[pi]
;B[rj]
;W[ql]
;B[sf]
;W[rd]
;B[hn]
;W[in]
;B[jm]
;W[im]
;B[io]
;W[kg]
;B[gj]
;W[hj]
;B[fi]
;W[fh]
;B[hk]
;W[ik]
;B[hl]
;W[hi]
;B[lr]
;W[nd]
;B[nc]
;W[rl]
;B[sg]
;W[lm]
;B[km]
;W[cb]
;B[ll]
;W[mj]
;B[bj]
;W[bi]
;B[dj]
;W[ci]
;B[ke]
;W[lf]
;B[jh]
;W[kh]
;B[ij]
;W[jk]
;B[nl]
;W[sq]
;B[rq]
;W[sp]
;B[sr]
;W[so]
;B[rr]
;W[bl]
;B[bk]
;W[eb]
;B[ec]
;W[dc]
;B[fb]
;W[da]
;B[ed]
;W[ee]
;B[ol]
;W[pl]
;B[nk]
;W[nj]
;B[om]
;W[pj]
;B[qm]
;W[sm]
;B[ne]
;W[le]
;B[kd]
;W[ld]
;B[lc]
;W[op]
;B[oq]
;W[jf]
;B[hg]
;W[eq]
;B[ep]
;W[dq]
;B[do]
;W[co]
;B[bm]
;W[cm]
;B[cl]
;W[bn]
;B[al]
;W[fr]
;B[gr]
;W[es]
;B[gq]
;W[je]
;B[jd]
;W[em]
;B[mf]
;W[mg]
;B[fe]
;W[ff]
;B[ai]
;W[ah]
;B[aj]
;W[bh]
;B[jg]
;W[kf]
;B[lk]
;W[lj]
;B[oh]
;W[nh]
;B[pp]
;W[lp]
;B[oo]
;W[nn]
;B[kp]
;W[og]
;B[rh]
;W[me]
;B[md]
;W[gs]
;B[hr]
;W[fa]
;B[ga]
;W[sd]
;B[oa]
;W[rb]
;B[sk]
;W[sl]
;B[dn]
;W[dm]
;B[oe]
;W[ji]
;B[id]
;W[ii]
;B[hs]
;W[pa]
;B[ln]
;W[mm]
;B[an]
;W[ao]
;B[am]
;W[en]
;B[eo]
;W[na]
;B[la]
;W[lo]
;B[jn]
;W[ko]
;B[jo]
;W[nf]
;B[ma]
;W[gg]
;B[fs]
;W[hf]
;B[if]
;W[gs]
;B[po]
;W[gi]
;B[fj]
;W[fs]
;B[el]
;W[of]
;B[kk]
;W[jj]
;B[ea]
;W[qh]
;B[si]
;W[fa]
;B[ds]
;W[cs]
;B[ea]
;W[qg]
;B[pf]
;W[fa]
;B[mn]
;W[nm]
;B[ea]
;W[ml]
;B[mk]
;W[fa]
;B[fd]
;W[ea]
;B[oa]
;W[gk]
;B[gl]
;W[na]
;B[ro]
;W[sn]
;B[oa]
;W[kr]
;B[mr]
;W[na]
;B[de]
;W[ce]
;B[oa]
;W[ha]
;B[gb]
;W[na]
;B[ef]
;W[eg]
;B[oa]
;W[pc]
;B[na]
;W[bp]
)

And now, please bring on the next 1dan!! ;-)

Afterwards it was homework checking time (4k got 2 wrong, 1k got 1 wrong) and then the lecture started. The lecture was really nice (and funny) since the professional gave us also tips about life. He compared a weak group to a beautiful lady that you might want to chase after. Chasing directly after her, however, is not the best way to approach her. Instead he gave three tips on how to approach the "beautiful lady":

• Approach her friends first (leaning attack)
• Dress up nicely before approaching (strengthen your groups)
• Don't approach (Tenuki)

In the afternoon we got to play a game against Hayashi-sensei (6p), who we had already met for the first time at the European Go Congress 2012 in Germany. We played with no handicap-stones but received reverse komi: 1k got 40 and 4k got 55 points. It was a lot of fun and while 1k lost by 1 point, 4k managed to win by 3 points (4k: I'd rather say he was playing nicely and letting me win. I don't really believe that 55 points reverse komi is quite enough actually if he played like in a real tournament. Or if he just decided not to led me win. ;-) ). After the game, he pointed out some moves that we missed and so both of us learned a few things from each game.

So that's it for the second day. We hope you enjoy our blog (it is actually so quiet here we don't know...)!

Our best regards from Osaka to whereever you are!