The time is 1:15 pm. Chairperson's Ms. Miyoko Goto appeared and started the Pro Pair Go Ricoh Cup Championship 2004 final game.

Chairman: Mr Miyoko Goto

Guests' seats

Firstly, Mr. Ichiro Yoshikuni, the Tournament Adviser and Chairman of the Japan Pair Go Association, made an address to the audience as a representative of the Rico Cup Organization.

Mr. Yoshikuni: "When the Go rally was done in Europe, the player besides the individual competition seemed to always play the Pair Go as well. The Pair Go game is expanding around the world. Today this competition can demonstrate the highest level of Pair Go. It would be very interesting if Ms.Inori and Mr.Cho pair might attain three successive victories."

Chief referee Mr. Seigen Go 9-dan greeting

Mr. Ichiro Yoshikuni, the Tournament Adviser and Chairman of the Japan Pair Go Association greeting

Next, Chief referee Mr. Seigen Go 9-dan gave a speech.

Mr. Go: "I wish you a Happy New Year. It is a new year in the old calendar today. The Pair Go has already been expanding all over the world. This world consists of positive and negative. When the positive and negative is kept, it is balanced, and progress is made. The Pair Go is an exemplary game which consists of the balance between positive and negative. On this coming spring, I wish everyone prosperity."

Next, Mr. Hiroshi Hamada, the Chairman of this championship and company sponsor representative from the Ricoh Corporation and Mr. Hisao Taki, Committee Member of this championship and the Executive Officer of the Japan Pair Go Association were introduced. Soon thereafter, the players appeared.

Guest introduction

Mr. Hisao Taki the Director of Japan Pair Go Association

The role of the recorder was Ms.Kozue Mukai 1-dan, and the timer was Ms. Mieko Nakajima 1-dan.

For the real-time commentary using a large board was Mr. Masaki Takemiya 9-dan and his assistant Ms. Tomoko Ogawa 6-dan.

Mr.Takemiya: "Mr.Yamashita and Ms.Izumi have both recently gotten married.Also Mr.Yamashita is in the middle of the Kisei title competition. It would be a great game if both can bear such pressure."

Today's highlight description

Ms.Ogawa: "It is really interesting game that we are going to see today.Ms. Inori won last week's Women's Meijin challenging right and was to play with Ms.Izumi for the Women's Meijin title. It was a coincidental game that Ms.Inori was to compete against Ms. Izumi for the final game as well. This game was a prelude for the two contestants."

Player introduction

Presentation of a bouquet

Soon afterwards the preparation was ready. Chief referee Mr. Go 9-dan gave a signal, and the final game started.

"Ok now, please consider the harmony between the positive and the negative, and do your best."