Messages

　As President of the American Go Association, I have had the pleasure of working with Pandanet over many years and have seen firsthand the positive impact they have had on the global Go community. From their support of international competition to their innovative promotion of Pair Go—a format that emphasizes partnership, enjoyment, and social connection—Pandanet has consistently helped broaden the appeal of our game. In North America, their sponsorship of Pair Go events at the U.S. Go Congress and their support of the Pandanet City League have created meaningful opportunities for players of all levels to engage, compete, and connect.

　I am particularly excited to see Pandanet’s new partnership with Kumon, a name that is widely respected by parents and educators around the world for its thoughtful and effective approach to learning. Bringing Kumon’s structured, self-paced methodology—grounded in repetition, reinforcement, and steady progression—into the teaching of Go has the potential to open new pathways for students to develop their skills with confidence and consistency. Having had the opportunity to preview an early version of this program, I was impressed by how naturally these educational principles translate to Go, and how well the system supports motivated learners as they advance step by step.

　This collaboration represents a fresh and promising direction for Go education. By combining Pandanet’s deep experience in promoting the game with Kumon’s proven educational framework, this initiative has the potential to reach new audiences and inspire the next generation of players. I look forward to seeing how this effort develops and to the continued contributions of Pandanet to the worldwide Go community.