Backgammon in Japan & Online Backgammon Flaws

"…There’s nothing quite like seeing the agony on your opponent’s face when you roll that miracle double-six…"
 

As Remy Zane simply put, playing backgammon online is accessible, convenient and all, but you grow more appreciation for your lucky rolls when you get to see your opponents amazement.

But he intended to talk about something else, on the difficulty experienced by an immigrant to continue practicing the same social activities, such as playing backgammon, for example. Zane, originally from Hawaii, did eventually find backgammon opponents in his current Japanese residency.
 

Japan Open 2008

Not surprising, since backgammon is pretty strong in Japan, and there is not a single major tournament worldwide that is not decorated with some of the Japanese Backgammon League representatives, most notably Masayuki Mochizuki aka Mochi, number 6 on the 2007 Giants of Backgammon list and Kenji Shimodaira, who directs Japan's international backgammon tournament, the Japan Open, which will be marking its 38th (!) anniversary this year (according to some resources, according to some others, it is about to turn 15).
 

Japan Open 2008