Readers of a certain age in Europe and South America at least might like to know that Nagahara Yoshiaki passed away recently at the age of 85. He was the pro behind Ishi Press's Basic Techniques and was also the pro with Hans Pietsch in Guatemala when Hans was tragically murdered.

American readers of similar vintage may remember Tozawa Akinobu, who passed away at the age of 93 on Christmas Day. He spent over a year teaching in New York.

Regrettably, winters do tend to cut a swathe through the pro ranks.

I am an European of a certain age.

And yes, I remember Nagahara Yoshiaki and his "Strategic concepts of go" (not basic techniques, which I didn't read...). At that time, I thought it was interesting. Because, as a beginner, I usually read about life&death, tesuji... *real moves you have to play*, so to speak. But aji,kikachi... don't tell you what to play, but how to think. A different story.

Sad news.

As also being a 'European of certain age', over 40 plus years ago in July 1981, I watched Mr Nagahara comment on a game (translated by Stuart Dowsey) between two kyu players in a hall in Hammersmith, London. One of the players was the British mathematician Richard Borcherds.