[CQ-Contest] Japanese 2x2 calls?

[Katsuhiro Kondou]

In article <1035653635.1480465.1635522772280 at mail.yahoo.com>,
	AB1J via CQ-Contest <cq-contest at contesting.com> wrote,
	on "Fri, 29 Oct 2021 15:52:52 +0000 (UTC)";

> A few weeks ago there was discussion here about the new VK contest calls.  I sent a reply saying Japan also needed shorter contest calls.  Later I saw a posting from a Japanese op who said there were 2x2 JA calls in the pipeline.
> 
> This morning I heard a Central American station work JR6FC on FT8.  I couldn't hear the JA station.  Since it's not common to have this kind of busted call on FT8, I thought maybe some of these calls may have been issued and there might be some in the contest.  All the more so since the prefix was JR2.  There always have been a few 2x2 JA prefix calls, but not further down the alphabet, like JR.
> 
> This is just conjecture.  Does anyone know more about this?  In any case, be alert in case they are in use.  It could cause some confusion until we get used to them.

Not a few Japanese ham want to have 2x1 or 2x2 call sign even if it
needs over some hundred dollars.  There are call signs starting from
8J or 8N, but these are for special events not for contest.

For 2x2 call signs starting from JA, they were assigned when amateur
radio was permitted again after WWII.  JR6 2x2 is a bit different.
These were assigned when reversion of Okinawa (Ryukyu Islands) was
done only for the hams before the reversion happened, and the allocated
call sign was JR6AA-NZ.
Actually, there are other 2x2 starting from JR, but these have been
used for repeaters.

Call signs in Japan have been reissued, but 2x2 is not the case.

I like my call sign, but I do want to have 2x1 for contest.
I don't think this will happen in a few years...
--
Katsuhiro Kondou, JH5GHM