GO in Asia and GO Salons

[goTony]

A recent topic caught my interest.

http://lifein19x19.com/forum/viewtopic. ... on#p212288


I am inviting people to share photos and reminisces of playing GO in Asia. Most of us will never be fortunate enough to visit Asia but still would love to hear more about the GO scene there in all its flavors. I think it would be so fun to go to a GO salon in Japan, or play at a park with the "old men." So please share your unique, interesting experiences and photos here. Thank you.

[Drew]

I live in a 2nd tier Chinese city. I've never once spotted weiqi being played in public, only majiang and xiangqi. On a whim I once walked into a weiqi school to have a look. The students were all young children. Apart from the boards and stones, it could have been an English class. I chatted with the secretary and a few of the teachers for a bit. They did not offer classes for adults and were a bit surprised I was even asking about that. When I asked for suggestions on public playing spaces, the head teacher said that in our city people play in private groups, 1duan and above only, and that if I could demonstrate that level of ability to him he would gladly invite me to some of his regular haunts.

It was a pleasant, if somewhat disappointing, experience.

It wouldn't bother me a bit to sit in a weiqi class with elementary-aged children if the content was appropriate for my level, but they tend to meet in the early afternoon when I am still in the office so as of yet I continue to study on my own.

[goTony]

Drew thank you for the response. What an interesting encounter you provided. I chuckled at the line you are welcome if you are 1d or above.

[gowan]

I have no experience with CHina or Korea but I've lived in Japan (50+ years ago) and visited more recently. In any of the bigger cities, go salons are easy to find. In smaller ones, there might not be people who are comfortable with English. In Tokyo or other branches of the Nihon Kiin, the manager of the salon will find opponents at appropriate levels, even kyu levels. I've had good experiences in several types of playing places in Japan, perhaps because I speak Japanese, but I've seen reports from people who had good experiences and do not speak Japanese.

[nukeu666]

Go in the wild
https://forums.online-go.com/t/playing- ... tures/2653

[Bonobo]

Go in the wild
https://forums.online-go.com/t/playing- ... tures/2653

But this is in the USA, in a Japanese Noodle House, though, but I’d not call that “Asia”

[Go_Japan]

Drew thank you for the response. What an interesting encounter you provided. I chuckled at the line you are welcome if you are 1d or above.

It is not uncommon. In Japan also, some days or some clubs will refuse anyone who is not 1d or higher. I went to a club in Tokyo and was told this exact thing.

Just to add, I have never seen anyone playing Go in public in the 10+ years I have lived in Japan. Majong is seen as gambling in Japan and is kept hidden behind parlors with blacked out windows for the most part. Go clubs are open, and pretty much exist in every city in Japan. I don't know much about Shogi clubs. There are enough places to play that people don't usually play in public in parks or cafes.

[oren]

Just to add, I have never seen anyone playing Go in public in the 10+ years I have lived in Japan. Majong is seen as gambling in Japan and is kept hidden behind parlors with blacked out windows for the most part. Go clubs are open, and pretty much exist in every city in Japan. I don't know much about Shogi clubs. There are enough places to play that people don't usually play in public in parks or cafes.

I have seen some Shogi in public. Except for the occasional large planned event, I haven't seen much public Go.

In Japan also, some days or some clubs will refuse anyone who is not 1d or higher.

This would really surprise me to see. It is certainly very rare.