The Presence of Greatness

Ask any gamer to name a mascot in a blue cardigan and they’ll say Sonic the Hedgehog.

But if I were to point out that this is in fact Ichiyo Shimizu, all gamers would instantly identify the game as Visco’s 1997 hit Shimizu Ichiyo Joryuu Yonkan’ou Kanshuu Joryuu Shougi Kyoushitsu.

Shimizu Ichiyo Joryuu Yonkan’ou Kanshuu Joryuu Shougi Kyoushitsu – or “Ladies’ Shougi Classroom Supervised by Four-Time Ladies’ Shougi Champion Ichiyo Shimizu” – is a ladies’ shougi arcade game featuring tutorials from four-time ladies’ shougi champion Ichiyo Shimizu.

Ichiyo Shimizu won the Ladies’ Open Tournament shougi championship in 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1993. Shimizu Ichiyo Joryuu Yonkan’ou Kanshuu Joryuu Shougi Kyoushitsu was released in 1997, then she won the title again in 1997, 2000 and 2003.

So if it was released now, it would be more like Shimizu Ichiyo Joryuu Nanakan’ou Kanshuu Joryuu Shougi Kyoushitsu!! (“Ladies’ Shougi Classroom Supervised by SEVEN-Time Ladies’ Shougi Champion Ichiyo Shimizu”!!) Right?

And yet somehow Sonic is more famous!