[2]Go in Japan
· A professional Go-playing system was first established in Japan four centuries ago and nowadays there are about 500 professionals. They are kept busy competing in a large number of tournaments that are open to all professionals and that offer large prizes to the winners.
· Go is not just a game; it is also recognized as a form of culture. There is a profound understanding of Go among such socially respected figures as scholars and cultural persons, and familiarizing oneself with Go from a young age is considered a sign of status. Even non-players have an awareness of the virtues of Go, such as its mental discipline, its educational value, and its elegance.
· There is a wide range of amateur tournaments - besides those for adults, there are tournaments just for university students, high-school, middle-school and elementary-school students respectively. Even if you don't play in tournaments, there are facilities in most areas for playing Go, so it's easy to get a game in your neighbourhood. |
