Statement from former IGF Director Umezawa Yukari
I hope that all of the WAGC participants had a good time. I really think that the WAGC, in which representatives of all the go-playing countries around the world, gather in one place is a magnificent tournament.
In the evening, I visited the playing room, where, despite the lateness of the hour, I found lots of people playing go seriously. It made me really happy to see how much everyone loved the game.
Without go, all these people from so many different countries wouldn't have met each other. People can enjoy go together even if they don't speak a common language. I believe that if you play go, the other player's feeling are communicated to you a little. Go might even lead the world to peace as a tool for people to understand each other.
For all these reasons, I hope that we can always continue to provide a venue for people of the world to gather together.
Umezawa Yukari
Director, International Go Federation, 2005-2007
Professional 5-dan Go Player
