2: captbirdseye (700) 2019-11-12 14:19 (Edited at 2019-12-14 19:07)

Interesting experience. I was better prepared than last year, so was able to get
a rough idea of people's preferences. I took along a variety of equipment (different
selection on each of the two days), and conducted a small (and rather crude) survey
of whether people preferred 'traditional' sets or 'westernised' sets, using a sample of
two traditional sets and two westernised sets.

The aggregated and normalised scores indicated a preference for traditional over
westernised sets of 0.63 to 0.37 (ie: a ratio of ~2:1) I may need to look at the  way 
I've analysed these scores - I'm not entirely sure I've treated them properly according
to the usual 'Survey Methodology' SOPs.

The big surprise was that many people really liked one or both of the two 'hybrid' sets I
took along, that is, sets with a combination of kanji and graphic symbols illustrating the
moves along with the kanji. They were very popular - indeed one person ordered two
such sets over the internet while actually at the demonstration. The two 'hybrid' sets I
took along were the ones available here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=kumon+shogi+set&ref=nb_sb_noss

and here:

https://www.shogi.cz/

(Note: I have no connection, financial or otherwise with either of these vendors).

It's my belief that if I had included the 'hybrid' sets in my little survey, the preference
for 'traditional' over 'westernised' sets would have been more like 4:1. This (admittedly,
qualitative) 'result' disposes fairly unambiguously of the idea promoted by some that
Westerners find the kanji too difficult to learn - a piece of nonsense which I have never
believed for a moment!

I was single-handed, so didn't have time to publicise anything but standard 9x9 Shogi.

Incidentally, publicity seems to work! I met two people there who had seen the original 
heads-up for the event!

1: ramalam (1013) 2019-10-26 07:27

Good luck captbirdseye . Chu-Shogi , watch out for the Lion ! ;)