http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php ja Mon, 13 May 2013 06:47:50 +0900 stereolog 0.67b http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=13050001 "What do you have new this year, Maki?," many visitors asked. Godfather of Sudoku joined the Cherry Blossom Festival at Brooklyn Botanic Garden on April 26th and 27th. It has been four consecutive years since Maki started sharing the dynamics of Niko... Nikoli http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=13050001#com http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=13050001 Mon, 13 May 2013 06:47:50 +0900 "What do you have new this year, Maki?," many visitors asked. Godfather of Sudoku joined the Cherry Blossom Festival at Brooklyn Botanic Garden on April 26th and 27th. It has been four consecutive years since Maki started sharing the dynamics of Nikoli puzzles. Maki was greeted with many familiar faces.

Nikoli presented its original "find errors" picture puzzles to the visitors. On a two-feet-wide picture puzzle, children and adults raced to find errors comparing two pictures. Another popular activity at the event was Edoku, a picture version of Sudoku, created by Osami Okamoto. Osami presented the ipad version of Edoku where you can solve Sudoku by drawing Sushi pictures and animals. Many children found so much joy drawing pictures while solving Sudoku. "I don't like numbers, so this picture Sudoku is perfect for me," one teenager said. A number of parents requested to receive online book sale and ipad application information in the future. “This would be such a fun way for children to learn logic without knowing it!,” a parent said.]]> Nikoli's Business Update http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.phptb.php?id=13050001 http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=13040003 Nikoli is known for creating Sudoku in symmetrical pattern. Maki gave workshops to American High School Students who study Japanese at Japan Bowl National Language Competition in Washington DC on April 12, 2013. He demonstrated how to make a Japanese... Nikoli http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=13040003#com http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=13040003 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 03:15:14 +0900 Nikoli is known for creating Sudoku in symmetrical pattern. Maki gave workshops to American High School Students who study Japanese at Japan Bowl National Language Competition in Washington DC on April 12, 2013.

He demonstrated how to make a Japanese crossword puzzle in a symmetrical pattern. More than 150 students came up with possible words such as tabemono (food), natsu (summer), nihongo (Japanese), ninja and niwatori (chicken). Some came up with words from Japanese Anime cartoon.

Maki talked about the importance of balancing a particular word with making a question for the word.
"Quiz is knowledge. Puzzle is all about the process. Making this process exciting for solvers is a work of art," he said. Students enjoyed creating crossword while they also experienced the difficulty of creating a one with good quality. Computer-generated logic puzzles offer one-pattern of solving. However, he explained, when each puzzle is created by a human, it offers multiple solving patterns. He used the analogy of climbing a mountain. "Depending on which path to start with, each person can enjoy different views from the mountain. Puzzle is like a life. There is no one straight answer," he said.]]> Godfather of Sudoku: What's He Up to Now? http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.phptb.php?id=13040003 http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=13040002 "Teaching younger group of children can be more difficult than teaching adults," Maki confessed. A Montessori school in New York invited Maki again to give a puzzle workshop to 3-5 years old children.Last time, children enjoyed solving picture puzzle a... Nikoli http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=13040002#com http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=13040002 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 03:12:05 +0900 "Teaching younger group of children can be more difficult than teaching adults," Maki confessed. A Montessori school in New York invited Maki again to give a puzzle workshop to 3-5 years old children.
Last time, children enjoyed solving picture puzzle and Origami picture Sudoku with Maki.

Maki enjoyed playing Fukuwarai, or "Lucky Laugh", a Japanese game whereby the players pin different parts of the face such as the eyes, eyeblrows, nose and mouth onto a blank face and laugh at the humorous results. "It is a team-effort puzzle. Help your friends by guiding them. Who wants to volunteer?," Maki asked. Almost all of 20 students raised their hands. Children laughed at the funny faces their classmates created.

Maki also had all children and teachers trace their hands on a large paper. With crayons on one hand while covering their eyes on other hands, everyone tried to color their finger nails. It turned out to be a piece of artwork.

Teachers who tried wooden puzzles said, "colleges did not teach us this!" Maki reminded everyone the simple idea can turn into a puzzle.]]> Godfather of Sudoku: What's He Up to Now? http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.phptb.php?id=13040002 http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=13040001 Maki received the gift of chocolates doughnuts from 4th grades students in response to his puzzle question. He visited a public elementary school, PS 321 in Brooklyn, New York. More than half of 30 students in class have solved Sudoku before. When Ma... Nikoli http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=13040001#com http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=13040001 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 03:10:43 +0900 Maki received the gift of chocolates doughnuts from 4th grades students in response to his puzzle question. He visited a public elementary school, PS 321 in Brooklyn, New York. More than half of 30 students in class have solved Sudoku before. When Maki gave them the puzzle question of drawing a doughnut (two separate circles) without detaching a pencil once you put the pencil down on the paper, a few students came up with filling the doughnut like a chocolate coated one. Maki said, "I have been traveling the world, but no one came up with the idea of chocolate doughnut. How you think in solving puzzles is most important. You are creative and amazing!"

Students are very much focused in solving other puzzle questions Maki gave and wanted to try everything.
Ms. Robyn, the class teacher, was supportive in encouraging students to think from different angles. "In puzzle and your life, giving up is sometimes equally as important as never give-up motto. You need to learn the balance of focus and relaxation. Whatever the answer you come up after thinking is your best answer. What other people would say is not that important," Maki told the students.

Maki didn't give the answer to the doughnut question right away. "Once you know the answer, you don't think. So try to think for the next several days." Students agreed.]]> Godfather of Sudoku: What's He Up to Now? http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.phptb.php?id=13040001 http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12120001 The third Sudoku Championship was held in Kuala Lumpur, the Capital of Malaysia on December 1-2, 2012. It was organized by Malaysia Sudoku Society. Nikoli provided the prize as a sponsoring company.The tournament was divided into three categories of s... Nikoli http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12120001#com http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12120001 Sat, 22 Dec 2012 02:05:37 +0900 The third Sudoku Championship was held in Kuala Lumpur, the Capital of Malaysia on December 1-2, 2012. It was organized by Malaysia Sudoku Society. Nikoli provided the prize as a sponsoring company.

The tournament was divided into three categories of student, senior citizen and open. Ten winners from each category competed at the final tournament.

More than 300 people registered for the competition. It was held at a shopping mall complex in the suburb, and a large number of crowds joined as spectators and shared the excitement. This year, attractive prizes from eight sponsors ranged from gift certificates to air conditioner and washing machine. McDonalds gave away free coffee coupons to all the participants.

Nikoli's 150 puzzle books were sold out in two hours. Maki was busy signing the autograph. "It is great to meet the Sudoku fans in Malaysia. I had a great time even though I had no time for smoking," he said.

More Championship photos]]> Nikoli's Business Update http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.phptb.php?id=12120001 http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12110001 Brazil is no exception for Sudoku craze, and Nikkey Shimbun Press hosted the first Sudoku tournament in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sep. 29th, 2012. The youngest contestant was four years old, and the oldest was 86 years old. Even a pregrant woman who was d... Nikoli http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12110001#com http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12110001 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 01:17:24 +0900 Brazil is no exception for Sudoku craze, and Nikkey Shimbun Press hosted the first Sudoku tournament in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sep. 29th, 2012. The youngest contestant was four years old, and the oldest was 86 years old. Even a pregrant woman who was due on the tournament day joined the event. Sixty enthusiastic Sudoku fans shared excitement and joy one another.

Maki was invited as a guest speaker and gave a talk on the history of Sudoku and the technique on solving them. The Nikkey Press plans to host the second tournament next year on the same day.]]> Nikoli's Business Update http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.phptb.php?id=12110001 http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12100002 Maki's visit to the Hoover Middle School and Lincoln High School in San Fransisco were welcomed by more than 200 students. Students were curious about the person who made the Sudoku craze in the world. Maki gave the total of five lectures on October ... Nikoli http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12100002#com http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12100002 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 02:04:55 +0900 Maki's visit to the Hoover Middle School and Lincoln High School in San Fransisco were welcomed by more than 200 students. Students were curious about the person who made the Sudoku craze in the world. Maki gave the total of five lectures on October 4th and 5th and taught how puzzle can be a great activity in developing a logical thinking skill, which can stay with the students for the rest of their lives.
Students had another layer of appreciation for Sudoku.

The school visit was organized by the Japan Society of Northern California.]]> Godfather of Sudoku: What's He Up to Now? http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.phptb.php?id=12100002 http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12100001 Godfather of Sudoku, Maki Kaji, visited a Montessori School in Brooklyn and gave a 30-min puzzle class.The three to five years old students were glued to Maki while he was demonstrating wooden physical puzzles. All the students raised their hands to t... Nikoli http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12100001#com http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12100001 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 02:00:31 +0900 Godfather of Sudoku, Maki Kaji, visited a Montessori School in Brooklyn and gave a 30-min puzzle class.

The three to five years old students were glued to Maki while he was demonstrating wooden physical puzzles. All the students raised their hands to try the puzzle for themselves.
Maki told the children, "You can try to figure them out on your own. I will not give you answers today because puzzle is all about thinking and figuring out how you can solve! Thinking time is very important." Maki left some of physical puzzles at the school so that students can try them out.

Students were also fascinated when they were introduced to the picture Sudoku made of Origami including a fish, rabbit and dog. Among other things which were popular was a picture puzzle book, "Bee's Day" written by Mari Shimizu. Students enjoyed matching puzzle games.]]> Godfather of Sudoku: What's He Up to Now? http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.phptb.php?id=12100001 http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12080002 Sudoku has been spreading throughout the world. Africa is no exception. Mr. Alexander Tébily formed the Sudoku Association in Ivory Coast. “Our young organization aims to promote the practice of Sudoku in my country and throughout Africa,” he s... Nikoli http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12080002#com http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12080002 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:50:37 +0900 Sudoku has been spreading throughout the world. Africa is no exception. Mr. Alexander Tébily formed the Sudoku Association in Ivory Coast. “Our young organization aims to promote the practice of Sudoku in my country and throughout Africa,” he said. The association is planning to host a Sudoku event and inviting Maki as a special guest.

Nikoli donated 100 copies of Sudoku books as a sign of friendship.

Photos: Mr. Alexander Tébily and its members receive Nikoli’s books in their hands.]]> Nikoli's Business Update http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.phptb.php?id=12080002 http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12080001 The Star, the English newspaper with the largest circulation in Malaysia, started publishing Nikoli’s Sudoku every single day on July 25th. In addition to the world craze Sudoku, the Star’s decision to commit itself in introducing quality logic pu... Nikoli http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12080001#com http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.php?id=12080001 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 01:59:56 +0900 The Star, the English newspaper with the largest circulation in Malaysia, started publishing Nikoli’s Sudoku every single day on July 25th. In addition to the world craze Sudoku, the Star’s decision to commit itself in introducing quality logic puzzles extends to Slitherlink. Nikoli provides Slitherlink, another hit puzzle invented by Nikoli, to the Star for its Sunday edition every week.
The Star featured a story on Nikoli’s puzzle making in depth by interviewing not only Maki Kaji but Jimmy Goto, executive vice-president and Kei Nakata, sales planning department chief. Jimmy said in the article, “What we deeply care about is creating puzzles that offer an enjoyable diversion for people everywhere and at the same time, letting them exercise their brain…”]]> What the Media Says About Nikoli? http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/topics/index.phptb.php?id=12080001