Hello, Ms. Tsukuda. Thank you for representing Japan in the recent World Mind Sports Games. What did you find the toughest thing in this tournament? Were there any interesting episodes? I would really like to hear about your experience. Consultation One: Mr. Anjo The Beijing tournament was a great success. It was a marvellous tournament. This was the first time I hadbeen chosen as a Japanese representative in an international tournament. I was tense but also very happy. About 90 players competed in the women’s individual tournament. Apart from the professionals from China, Korea and Japan, they were all amateurs, so I felt as if I were playing in the World Amateur Go Championship. First of all, we played seven games over four days in the preliminary tournament to choose the eight players for the main tournament. I played amateurs of various strengths, ranging from close to professional level to 20-kyu. At first, I was not sure how to approach even games with amateurs, including kyu players. Previously I had played only teaching games giving handicaps with amateurs, so I was thinking about strange things, such as whether to just play for a win on points when I took the lead or whether I should keep playing the best moves and try to capture opponents’ groups .... I would become too cautious and get into a strange mental state, so it took a while for me to become calm. Looking back, I realize it must also have been pretty tough for my opponents... Also, the game I played with a professional just after playing a kyu player was terrible in content; when I replay it, I find I played nothing but funny moves. Of course, not only I but all the professionals would have experienced this confusion, so conditions were equal, but I realized that you really have to be mentally tough in international tournaments. As for my result, I reached the best eight but lost to the 16-year-old Chinese girl, Song Ronghui, who won the gold medal. I realize in retrospect that I was just not strong enough and that I’m not mentally tough enough, but this weeklong international tournament was a valuable experience for me with a tension that I don’t feel in domestic tournaments. I’m going to keep doing my best, so that I can play in an international tournament again.