BY FISCHER WATCH

August 10, 2004

Japanese immigration authorities have moved Bobby Fischer, to a different detention centre in a move that may signal his stay in Japan could be prolonged, states his lawyer, Masako Suzuki.

Mr. Fischer has been moved from the small 'Narita Airport Detention Centre' to the larger 'Ushiku Immigration Detention Centre', some 50 kilometres northeast of Tokyo, Japan.

Ms. Suzuki said immigration officials did not disclose the reason for the transfer, but she added that going by past cases it was likely Mr. Fischer would be kept there for some time and would not be deported imminently.

"I think immigration is eyeing a long-term stay.  It would seem natural to keep him at the airport if they were thinking of deporting him soon.  The most important thing is to prevent him from being deported from Japan to the United States. So from that perspective it's not a bad sign", said Ms. Suzuki.