Sudoku creator Maki Kaji, ‘Godfather’ of puzzles, passes away
Tokyo, Aug 18: Maki Kaji, the creator of the popular numbers puzzle Sudoku whose life's work was spreading the joy of puzzles, has died, his Japanese company said Tuesday. He was 69 and had bile duct cancer.
Known as the Godfather of Sudoku, Kaji created the puzzle to be easy for children and others who didn't want to think too hard. Its name is made up of the Japanese characters for number and single, and players place the numbers 1 through 9 in rows, columns and blocks without repeating them.
Ironically, it wasn't until 2004 when Sudoku became a global hit, after a fan from New Zealand pitched it and got it published in the British newspaper The Times. Two years later, Japan rediscovered its own puzzle as a gyakuyunyu, or reimport.
Kaji was chief executive at his puzzle company, Nikoli Co., until July and died Aug. 10 at his home in Mitaka, a city in the Tokyo metro area.
Maki traveled to more than 30 countries spreading his enjoyment of puzzles. Sudoku championships have drawn some 200 million people in 100 countries over the years, according to Tokyo-based Nikoli.
Sudoku was also never trademarked except within Japan, driving its overseas craze, Nikoli said.
Kaji-san came up with the name Sudoku and was loved by puzzle fans from all over the world. We are grateful from the bottom of our hearts for the patronage you have shown throughout his life, the company said in a statement.
Originally, Sudoku was called Suji-wa-Dokushin-ni-Kagiru, which translates to, Numbers should be single, a bachelor. In recent years, Sudoku, believed to be the world's most popular pencil puzzle, has come out in digital versions.
Born in the main northern island of Hokkaido, Maki started Japan's first puzzle magazine after dropping out of Keio University in Tokyo. He founded Nikoli in 1983, and came up with Sudoku about the same time.
Yoshinao Anpuku, who succeeded Kaji as Nikoli's chief executive, said Kaji made friends easily and had a unique and playful approach toward life."
Our mission is to pursue Maki's vision and possibilities, Anpuku said.
Nikoli has provided original puzzles to more than 100 media companies, 10 of them foreign ones.
Major Japanese newspaper Mainichi in its obituary credited Kaji for starting the puzzle sections at bookstores, as well as introducing the word Sudoku into the Oxford English dictionary.
Kaji is survived by his wife Naomi and two daughters. Funeral services have been held among close family. A separate memorial service is being arranged by Nikoli, but details were still undecided.
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Delhi CM joins 'Shakti Walk' at Kartavya Path on International Women's Day
New Delhi (PTI): A "Shakti Walk" was organised at Kartavya Path here on Sunday to mark International Women's Day, with the Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta calling it a reflection of women's collective strength and their role in nation-building.
The event was also attended by Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi, Minister of State Anupriya Patel and Savitri Thakur, and National Commission for Women chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, along with hundreds of women.
Speaking at the event, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the event reflected the spirit of women's empowerment and their role in nation-building.
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"Today, through this Kartavya Path, we are reminded that our responsibility is not only towards ourselves or our families but also towards society and the country," Gupta said while addressing participants.
Extending greetings on the occasion, she said the day was meant to honour women's strength and dignity.
"Today is truly a day that honours the power of women and enhances their dignity across the world and the country," she said.
Gupta said women in India were achieving new milestones across sectors.
"From startups to space missions, from teachers to doctors and engineers and in every major project, today India's women are leading. Today, women lead the armed forces, and they also lead society," she said.
"Today is a day for all of us to think ahead, to set goals and to determine our role in nation building. India will move forward under the leadership of women's power. The women of India will lead the country forward," Gupta said.
Union minister Annapurna Devi said women across the country were demonstrating their capabilities in every field and encouraged them to continue moving forward and achieving new milestones.
The event was organised to celebrate women's achievements and to encourage greater participation of women in leadership roles across society, officials said.
