I haven't seen it mentioned here, but there are two new foreign pros at the Nihon Ki-in. They qualified last year but have only just appeared on the roster of pro results. They don't start till April, so haven't actually played any games, but... And even when they do, it might be a long time before they see a lot of action. Antti Törmänen has just had 1 game this year, compared to, say, Sumire's 9 (4-5).
The newcomers are Rafif Fitrah Shidqi (Indonesian) and Chang Fukang (Malaysian). Both have appeared in the World Amateur in recent years. They qualified through the new scheme for fast-tracking foreigners.
Rafif, 17, is a foreigner to the Japanese, but would not be regarded as such in many other countries. He was born and raised in Japan. His father, an engineer, works there. Chang has spent some time in Japan as an insei.
Meanwhile, off the ranch, Yoda Norimoto appears a lot of people upset to have with postings on Twitter and Google Groups. I don't subscribe to any social media and can't find anywhere else what he is specifically alleged to have done, though it seems to include putting the Masters Cup in jeopardy by upsetting sponsor Fumikilla. Beyond purportedly not acting as a role model for society (one of the obligations of a NK pro which has blocked paths for certain western pros
) and talking to the press, I can't see what was said, although it is well known that social media causes the gearbox between mouth and brain to go haywire, so nothing would surprise me. There is nothing on Fumikilla's web site, but the Kiin has banned him from games for 6 months. Anybody more au fait?