Brunei benefits from the ASEAN Nihon Ki-in Go Camp
2017/12/8
The Nihon Ki-in Go Camp for ASEAN in 2017 was held in Tokyo from 14 to 20 November, sponsored by the Japan Foundation Asian Center. This camp was held for Go instructors or leaders of respective Go associations in ASEAN, to share and obtain knowledge and information on various teaching methods and techniques for promoting the game of Go.
≪From Nihon Ki-in≫
The Nihon Ki-in hosted the Camp for ASEAN in 2015, which included 10 participants from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. In 2017, the number of participants at the camp more than doubled to 22, and included people from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei. This was the first time that two participants joined the camp from Brunei.
On 15 November, the participants visited Aoyama Gakuin University to see a Go class being taught as part of a formal curriculum at the University. Students who take the course can get academic credits when the term ends.
Between 16 and 18 November, the Nihon Ki-in provided participants with lectures and workshops on the various teaching methods of the game, which were conducted by experienced professionals and senior staff of the Nihon Ki-in. The topic of the lectures also included the history and culture of Go in Japan.
During the last two days of the camp, on 19 and 20 November, participants from each country taking part gave presentations on their current view of the game and shared their teaching methods and experience.
The camp was a great success. Many of the participants reported that they had thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were grateful to the Nihon Ki-in for hosting the camp. They were also thrilled to have been given the latest teaching kits and materials of the Nihon Ki-in to use and learn from in the future.
The Nihon Ki-in has developed networks with national Go associations and communities across ASEAN since 2015 and is considering how best to continue developing the game in ASEAN, including Brunei, by providing professional support and staff to help each individual country.
≪From Participants≫
The two participants from Brunei, Mr CHIN Sin Voon and Mr SIA Kao Xiang, gave their impression of the camp.
“The Nihon Ki-in Instructor Camp was truly beneficial to everyone involved, especially the Brunei Darussalam Go Association (BDGA, newly established in 2011). It was truly an eye-opener to learn that Go is continuing bloom in every corner of Japan and throughout ASEAN countries.”
The camp was very informative and BDGA representatives learned about many aspects of Go, from teaching tactics to children, implementing a ranking system, promoting Go and understanding the history of Go in Japan. The BDGA representatives felt they gained more confidence and now possess a proper framework to conduct future demonstrations and classes in Brunei.
The camp provided an incredible opportunity for ASEAN Go leaders to interact and share their experiences, and possibly to partner with Nihon Ki-in for any future Go events in ASEAN; especially when Nihon Ki-in visit Brunei in 2019!
According to Nihon Ki-in and the International Go Federation, the World Amateur Go Championship and the Go Congress events will continue to be hosted in Japan in 2018 and 2019, to boost public awareness of the game and hopefully to attract the attention of the International Olympic Committee. Nihon Ki-in aims to include Go as one of the major events in the Olympic Games 2020, which the Brunei Darussalam Go Association look forward to as a very exciting prospect.
The Brunei Darussalam Go Association understands the importance of developing Go Instructors as opposed to simply increasing the number of players in Brunei. Unfortunately, as the number of people playing Go is still very low, holding Go workshops and seminars for Go instructors is not currently possible without significant support. However, despite the lack of local support at the moment, the association believes that holding a Go workshop may provide a good opportunity to promote and create awareness about Go locally, as well as encourage more people to learn how to play the game. It will also help to strengthen the bonds across the Go community in Brunei.
≪From Nihon Ki-in≫
The Nihon Ki-in hosted the Camp for ASEAN in 2015, which included 10 participants from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. In 2017, the number of participants at the camp more than doubled to 22, and included people from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei. This was the first time that two participants joined the camp from Brunei.
On 15 November, the participants visited Aoyama Gakuin University to see a Go class being taught as part of a formal curriculum at the University. Students who take the course can get academic credits when the term ends.
Between 16 and 18 November, the Nihon Ki-in provided participants with lectures and workshops on the various teaching methods of the game, which were conducted by experienced professionals and senior staff of the Nihon Ki-in. The topic of the lectures also included the history and culture of Go in Japan.
During the last two days of the camp, on 19 and 20 November, participants from each country taking part gave presentations on their current view of the game and shared their teaching methods and experience.
The camp was a great success. Many of the participants reported that they had thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were grateful to the Nihon Ki-in for hosting the camp. They were also thrilled to have been given the latest teaching kits and materials of the Nihon Ki-in to use and learn from in the future.
The Nihon Ki-in has developed networks with national Go associations and communities across ASEAN since 2015 and is considering how best to continue developing the game in ASEAN, including Brunei, by providing professional support and staff to help each individual country.
≪From Participants≫
The two participants from Brunei, Mr CHIN Sin Voon and Mr SIA Kao Xiang, gave their impression of the camp.
“The Nihon Ki-in Instructor Camp was truly beneficial to everyone involved, especially the Brunei Darussalam Go Association (BDGA, newly established in 2011). It was truly an eye-opener to learn that Go is continuing bloom in every corner of Japan and throughout ASEAN countries.”
The camp was very informative and BDGA representatives learned about many aspects of Go, from teaching tactics to children, implementing a ranking system, promoting Go and understanding the history of Go in Japan. The BDGA representatives felt they gained more confidence and now possess a proper framework to conduct future demonstrations and classes in Brunei.
The camp provided an incredible opportunity for ASEAN Go leaders to interact and share their experiences, and possibly to partner with Nihon Ki-in for any future Go events in ASEAN; especially when Nihon Ki-in visit Brunei in 2019!
According to Nihon Ki-in and the International Go Federation, the World Amateur Go Championship and the Go Congress events will continue to be hosted in Japan in 2018 and 2019, to boost public awareness of the game and hopefully to attract the attention of the International Olympic Committee. Nihon Ki-in aims to include Go as one of the major events in the Olympic Games 2020, which the Brunei Darussalam Go Association look forward to as a very exciting prospect.
The Brunei Darussalam Go Association understands the importance of developing Go Instructors as opposed to simply increasing the number of players in Brunei. Unfortunately, as the number of people playing Go is still very low, holding Go workshops and seminars for Go instructors is not currently possible without significant support. However, despite the lack of local support at the moment, the association believes that holding a Go workshop may provide a good opportunity to promote and create awareness about Go locally, as well as encourage more people to learn how to play the game. It will also help to strengthen the bonds across the Go community in Brunei.
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| A group photo of the Nihon Ki-in organisers with participants |
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| The workshop underway | LEFT: Mr CHIN Sin Voon, RIGHT: Mr SIA Kao Xiang |