Go players from China, Japan bond in Chongqing

As the white and black stones were placed quietly on the board, young Chinese and Japanese Go players shared their passion for the ancient board game as well as the friendship between the neighboring countries.

A friendship exchange activity between young Go players from Southwest China's Chongqing municipality and Japan's Shizuoka prefecture was held in Chongqing on Thursday.

Four young Go players from Chongqing and four from Shizuoka showcased their skills in mixed-doubles Go matches and 4 vs 4 matches at the event, which was jointly organized by the Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office, Chongqing Sports Bureau and Chongqing Board and Card Games Administrative Center.

"It's my first visit to Chongqing, and I'm impressed by the skill of the Chinese Go players," said 17-year-old Futoo Kojima from Oita Toumei High School in Shizuoka. The winner of last year's National High School Go Championship in Japan, he said he enjoyed matching skills with Chinese players, adding that he had played with friends in Shanghai before and has participated in over 4,000 online games with Chinese players.

Jiang Fangyi, a fifth-grade student from Shanhu Experimental Primary School in Chongqing who competed face-to-face with foreign Go players for the first time, expressed her delight to be a part of the exchange activity.

Go, a national intangible cultural heritage and one of the world's oldest board games, originated in China. It was introduced to Japan through the Korean Peninsula during the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-581), and later spread to Europe and America.

In 2010 and 2023, Go was selected as an official event at the Asian Games.

In August last year, to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the conclusion of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan, the first Sino-Japanese Friendship City Youth Go Exchange Conference was held in Tokyo, Japan, showcasing the important role of young people in Sino-Japanese exchanges.

"Even if the players speak different languages, they can communicate through Go, making it a suitable way to enhance cultural exchanges between Japan and China," said Kenichi Kato, leader of the Shizuoka delegation, at the opening ceremony of this year's event.

Shizuoka, known as the "hometown of manufacturing", is one of the leading industrial prefectures in Japan. It also has well-developed cultural and educational industries and has hosted events like the Shizuoka World Go Festival.

"I'm sure the young players from both sides will take this event as an opportunity to deepen exchanges, learn from each other and continuously expand the bond of Go exchanges between Japan and China," Kato said.

Zhang Xiaojun, deputy director of the Chongqing Sports Bureau, said there have been numerous Go exchanges between both sides.

In 2017, Japanese Go player Ryo Ichiriki represented Chongqing to compete in the National Go League. A former Japanese consul general in Chongqing, Nobuyuki Watanabe, also participated in various Go events in the municipality.

Exchanges between Chongqing and Shizuoka are also deepening in other fields. In March, a disaster prevention and reduction exchange conference, jointly organized by Chongqing, Sichuan province and Shizuoka, was held in Chongqing.

During their six-day visit to Chongqing, which started on Wednesday, the Japanese Go delegation will explore the city's landmarks, including the Shibati scenic area, an air-raid shelter memorial dating back to the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), Danzishi Old Street and Chongqing Zoo.

Contact the writers at dengrui@chinadaily.com.cn