Greetings from the Japan GO Federation
Taki Hiroko, President

I would like to extend my greetings on behalf of the recently established general incorporated foundation the Japan Go Federation (JGOF). The federation, which centres on three bodies, the Nihon Ki-in, the Kansai Ki-in, and the Japan Pair Go Association, and which is the only body representing the Japanese Go world internationally, was founded in October 2019.

Go is said to have been born in China about 4,000 years ago and to have been transmitted to Japan in the Nara period in the 8th century. It matured as a cultural pursuit in Japan and reached its present form. Beginning with its spread to Europe at the end of the 19th century, it has come to be played and enjoyed in over 150 countries and territories around the world, its spread having been assisted by the popularization of the Internet. Also, 30 years ago Pair Go, in which a male and a female player combine as a pair, was born in Japan. Pair Go has helped to popularize Go among women and children not only in Japan but all around the world and has made a major contribution to international friendship.

Together with striving to further popularize and promote the traditional cultural pursuit of Go within Japan, our federation will also make strong efforts to transmit the culture of Go and Pair Go that has been developed in Japan to the world.

Also, the International Go Federation (IGF), which has 77 member countries and territories, and the World Pair Go Association (WPGA), which has 75 member countries and territories, are continuing their efforts to achieve the goal of IOC recognition of Go and Pair Go as mind sports and to have them adopted as official sports at the Olympics in the future. Chess and bridge, which are fellow mind sports, obtained such recognition in 1990 and 1995 respectively. Go and Pair Go satisfy the qualifying conditions laid out in the Olympic Charter as necessary for Olympic participation with respect to competitive programs and the organization of sporting events. At the JGOF, we plan to campaign for adoption as official sporting events at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and thereafter at other Asian sporting events and at Olympic- and Paralympic-related events by strengthening our linkage with overseas Go organizations and by cooperating with the International Go Federation and the World Pair Go Association.

We would be very grateful for your understanding of the social significance of our body and for your cooperation.