News

Thank you, Yuto!

Mr. Yuto Tajiri (“call me Yuto”), 5 Dan professional Go player with the Nihon Ki-in, visited Seattle Go Center, March 4 – March 7, and engaged in many activities with us.

Monday, despite several hours of airplane travel, Yuto took over Nick Sibicky’s DDK class, and reviewed a game vs. Hideo Otake, professional 9 Dan. Then Yuto and Nick played a demonstration game together and reviewed it.

Tuesday, Yuto met with Weiqi students at UW on campus at Red Square. In the warm sunshine, he played public teaching games on 9×9.

Then in the afternoon, with the stamina of a true professional, he played simultaneous games — then did it again in the evening!

Yuto Tajiri 5P playing simuls in the afternoon, and into the evening.

Wednesday, Yuto taught Go to 2nd-grade students at University Child Development School. These kids visit senior citizens living at Nikkei Manor — and now Go is one of the things they can do on their visits!

Smiling Go players face each other for casual and teaching games in a food court.

Wednesday evening, Yuto visited the Go Center’s long-running outreach project at the Uwajimaya food court.

1 Go player takes on 2 opponents while another watches.

Yuto played teaching games and simuls at Uwajimaya.

Thursday, Yuto taught Go at the McDonald International School Go Club. In the evening, one more lecture at the Go Center; then Friday, back to the airport.

Yuto Tajiri 5P with the instructors of McDonald International School Go Club

The Go Center is deeply grateful to the Nihon Ki-in and to Tajiri-sensei for the visit and so much hard work. Thank you!

–Mike M.

Introducing Go at Bellevue College Japan Week

Saturday, October 6, 2018, several volunteers from Seattle Go Center attended the Bellevue College Japan Week final day to demonstrate Go to attendees.  From 10 AM to 5 PM, volunteers engaged with approximately sixty people, furthering appreciation of this great game.

Volunteers teaching Go to children and adults

Teaching and Learning Go at Bellevue College Japan Week

Thanks to the great volunteers — Rodney Deacon, Bert Ortiz, Yulissa Lu Wu, Keyi Zhou, and Kyle Burg!

Game of Go Inside, Taiko Drums Outside

Go Center Volunteers at Bon Odori Festival

The weekend of July 21 and 22, 2018, volunteers from the Go Center conducted outreach at the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple’s annual Bon Odori festival. Over the two evenings, volunteers played go with several dozens of new players and a few veteran players.

Go players around a long table

Seattle Go Center volunteers teaching Go

Between shifts at the demo table, volunteers got to enjoy the Bon Odori festival!

Festival at night

Bon Odori dancers and onlookers

Japan Fair 2018 in Bellevue

Seattle Go Center had volunteers introducing the game of Go at Japan Fair 2018 in Bellevue, Saturday July 7 and Sunday July 8.  We saw old friends and made new ones, and saw many exhibits about Japanese culture.

Saturday, we got the booth set up, using some Hikaru no Go posters and hangings that continue to attract attention.  The kids who enjoyed Hikaru when it was new, now are adults with children of their own, curious about Go.

Posters decorate a convention booth

Seattle Go Center booth at Japan Fair

Two players arrange stones on a 9x9 Go board

Dave introduces Go at Japan Fair

Three experienced Go players face three new players on small Go boards

Kyle, Mike, and Dave on 9×9

Sunday seemed even busier than Saturday.  Frank Fukuda sat with us and taught for a while, and Connie Hayashi brought some friends.  Some people mentioned that they know about the Go Center, and wish they had more time to come play.  Others were surprised to learn the Go Center exists.  Hopefully, they will come visit soon!

Two men play Go, one with his daughter on his lap

Two old friends learn Go together; in the foreground, two experienced players, one with his daughter, strike up a new friendship

May 19 & 20: Outreach and Youth Tournament

We have lots happening on the weekend of Saturday, May 19 and Sunday May 20.  This includes two days of outreach at the U District Street Fair, a Saturday evening appearance at the new McDonald International School, the Youth 19×19 tournament on Sunday at 1:00, and the AGA chapter meeting at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.  For more information, please click on our calendar on the Events Page: events

Thanks To Our Volunteers!

We had two very successful weekends of outreach this month at the Sakura Con April 6-8, and the Cherry Blossom Festival April 13-15. At Sakura Con, a festival for Japanese anime and manga, our members provided 90 hours of instruction and teaching games. Dan of Bellingham, and the guy in the rabbit outfit also did a lot of teaching. The next weekend, we provided over 80 hours of instruction at the Center House of Seattle Center. Thanks to these efforts, we have some new faces at the Seattle Go Center, and we renewed our connections with old friends.

Sukura-Con Outreach

You do not need a pass or ticket to visit the Seattle Go Center room at the Sakura-Con festival, April 22-24. Just go to the 3rd floor of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, which is downtown at 7th and Pike, and you will find us in room 304. We have a good line-up of volunteers, but more teachers are always welcome at this busy and crazy event. You can find our schedule at this link: https://www.seattlego.org/events/.



Cherry Blossom Festival – Seattle Center

The Seattle Go Center will be teaching and playing Go at the Cherry Blossom Festival the weekend of April 1, 2, and 3.  On Friday morning, we will be teaching school groups.  All day Saturday and Sunday, we will be giving short lessons to visitors to our booth.  We also have a free AGA rated tournament on Saturday, and Children’s tournaments on Sunday.