Life In 19x19

Hello!

Just found out about this board while looking up information about Go. I'm no stranger to the game, but I'm quite weak and looking to progress.

A little about me: I'm a music teacher from America, although I am currently residing and teaching in Japan. I found out about Go when I was in high school and I fell in love with the game. I did not persist with it, because I could not find anyone that would play enough to challenge me.

There is KGS now, but I'm pretty intimidated by playing with people I can't see - not sure why.
Now that I live in Japan, I am interested in playing again since there should be some access to playing people in person. My Japanese is also very weak, so that is holding me back now. There is very little English information available for my area, and with the Japanese I do know I can't find any more info than addresses. I hope to make connections that will allow me to break into the Go scene (if there is one?) in my area.

Cheers!

Japan is a big country. Where are you looking to play? I've played in various places in Tokyo and Osaka and went to a go salon in Kanazawa.

Welcome. There are lots of people here with experience of Japan (alas, not I) and I am sure you will get plenty of advice.

oren wrote:Japan is a big country. Where are you looking to play? I've played in various places in Tokyo and Osaka and went to a go salon in Kanazawa.

Yes it is! That is part of the problem. I don't live near Tokyo or Osaka (Which I can find information on)

I live in Fukuoka prefecture - which is hardly the middle of nowhere. I live fairly close to Fukuoka city which has a population of nearly 1.5 million. It is a bit more removed from areas where foreigners are common though.

Welcome.

Virgil wrote:I live in Fukuoka prefecture - which is hardly the middle of nowhere. I live fairly close to Fukuoka city which has a population of nearly 1.5 million. It is a bit more removed from areas where foreigners are common though.

This would be my first try...

http://www.kiin-kyushu.jp/

http://www.kogaigo.com/

http://gokaisho.info/search/index.php?k ... 1%E7%9C%8C

See if any of these work for you. I'll be curious how it goes.

oren wrote:

Virgil wrote:I live in Fukuoka prefecture - which is hardly the middle of nowhere. I live fairly close to Fukuoka city which has a population of nearly 1.5 million. It is a bit more removed from areas where foreigners are common though.

This would be my first try...

http://www.kiin-kyushu.jp/

http://www.kogaigo.com/

http://gokaisho.info/search/index.php?k ... 1%E7%9C%8C

See if any of these work for you. I'll be curious how it goes.

Thanks!　

This one is within walking distance from my home! http://gokaisho.info/fukuoka/salon-895.html

There's not much info. I suppose I can ask a friend to go with me so it's less awkward. This area is a suburb so foreigners are a bit more surprising to people - especially at a venue like this.

Virgil wrote:There's not much info. I suppose I can ask a friend to go with me so it's less awkward. This area is a suburb so foreigners are a bit more surprising to people - especially at a venue like this.

I know the feeling. In general though there will be initial surprise and usually you'll get some people interested that you know Go at all and want to help you play. Usually it's surprise but very helpful afterwards.