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Jul 11 2004 4 Comments

Soporific shogi

It’s probably true to say that wherever you find yourself in the world, daytime TV is decidedly dull. And that’s being generous. So it came as no surprise to find that in this respect Japan is no different from anywhere else. Insipid presenters, countless food based bore-fests, and hour upon hour of housewife dramas are your daily staple should you find yourself at home on a weekday afternoon.

But even these sleep inducing efforts at entertainment pale into comparison when pitched against the boredom behemoth that is televised shogi. Click on the picture below for a small snippet of this disturbingly dull excuse for distraction, and I challenge you to get to the end without at least stifling a yawn.

daytime_tv.jpg

Categorized: Culture, General, Television

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jonathan says

    7/13/2004 at 7:34 am

    It looks thrilling- like an episode of Countdown where someone has nicked half the furniture.

    Mind what the Japanese would make of the phenomenonally scary Richard Whiteley is anyone’s guess.

    Reply
  2. kelvingreen says

    7/13/2004 at 2:27 pm

    What’s the guy on the left looking at? Is there an Edgar Allen Poe style Pendulum Of Death swinging just above the camera’s field of vision?

    Reply
  3. Lee says

    7/14/2004 at 8:40 am

    I think your two observations need to be combined. My guess is the fella on the left is watching a recorded episode of Countdown.

    He’s sporting that bemused how-on-eatrh-did-Richard-Whitely-ever-get-a-job-on-TV expresion.

    Reply
  4. numao says

    7/14/2004 at 11:11 pm

    Since I cannot tell a funny joke like you, I’ll write the truth.
    This was a historical moment. The left person made a mistake which is very unusual for a professional shogi player. His last move is one of the easiest fouls. He should not put that piece into there, because the same kind of piece already had been placed on the same row. It was a foolish act like running toward third base as soon as hit the ball.
    In that moment, his soul must have slipped away from his body.

    Reply

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