TOKYO, Japan—Maki Kaji, 69, the creator of the popular numbers puzzle Sudoku whose life's work was spreading the joy of puzzles, has died of 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.

Ridiculously, it wasn't until 2004 that Sudoku became a global hit, after a fan from New Zealand got it published in the British newspaper The Times. Two years later, Japan rediscovered its own puzzle as a “reimport.”

Kaji 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. Sudoku was also never trademarked (注册) except within Japan, driving its overseas craze.

Born in the main northern island of Hokkaido, Kaji started Japan's first puzzle magazine after dropping out of Keio University in Tokyo. He founded Nikoli in 1983, and came up with the name Sudoku about the same time. In recent years, Sudoku, believed to be the world's most popular pencil puzzle, has come out in digital versions.

“Our mission (使命) is to seek Kaji's wishes and possibilities,” said Yoshinao Anpuku, who succeeded Kaji as Nikoli's chief executive (执行官). Major Japanese newspaper Mainichi credited Kaji for starting the puzzle sections at bookstores, as well as introducing the word “Sudoku” into the Oxford English dictionary.

A young painter had just completed a beautiful painting. To get people's opinions about his painting skills, he put his painting at a crossing on a busy street and put up a board that read," Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. Since I'm new, I might have made some mistakes in my work. Please put a cross wherever you see a mistake. ”

When he came back in the evening, he was completely shocked to see that the whole painting was filled with crosses. He ran to his master and said to him, "I’m useless and if this is what I have learned to paint, I'm not worth teaching.”

The master smiled and said, "I'll let you know that you are a great artist. Now go to paint the same painting again and give it to me.”

Then they went to the same street the next morning and put the same painting exactly at the same place. Now the master took out another board which read, "Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. I might have made some mistakes in my painting. I have put a box with colors and brushes just below. If you see a mistake, pick up the brush and correct it. " Two days later, they came back to the place. The young painter was surprised to see that actually there was not a single correction.

If you want to help people improve their behavior, you’d better learn how to help people change their behavior, attitudes and skills. Also, always remember not to judge yourself by someone else’s criticism(批评), because you are the best judge to judge yourself.

Roberto Clemente is the greatest baseball player of all time. He had an unbelievable batting average(击球率)in all seasons he played. Having won four batting titles, Gold Glove Awards twelve times, and a Most Valuable Player Award, he is certainly the best player that has ever played.

Besides being the best baseball player, Roberto Clemente was also a great man and a hero. In 1972, there was an earthquake in Nicaragua. On December 31 of that year, Clemente flew to Nicaragua to take supplies to the people. Almost immediately after take-off, the plane crashed into the Caribbean Sea.

The best honors for Clemente came after he died. He was the first Latino voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1999, the city of Pittsburgh, where he played baseball, renamed a bridge after him—a bridge that leads to the city’s beautiful new stadium.

No one summed up the life of Roberto Clemente and the baseball commissioner(总干事)when, at Clemente’s Hall of Fame award ceremony, said, “He was so great a man. as a leader and humanitarian, so great an inspiration to the young and to all in baseball, especially to the proud people of his homeland, Puerto Rico.” The commissioner further honored Clemente by creating a sportsmanship award in his name.