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This above image is copied straight from a website. Can you guess what  kind of website it is? Maybe a girls’ fashion web magazine or a website sharing information about popular cafes among young girls? Well, the answer is “no”. Actually, this is the online version of a free magazine called “GOTEKI” for girls who love playing Go (or “igo”).

The cover page of  “GOTEKI” vol.4.
Looks deceptively like a girls’ fashion magazine! 

By the way, are you familiar with Go? According to Wikipedia, Go (igo) is is a game  “played by two players who alternately place black and white stones on the vacant intersections (called “points”) of a grid of 19×19 lines (beginners often play on smaller 9×9 and 13×13 boards). The object of the game is to use one’s stones to surround a larger portion of the board than the opponent.”

In Japan, Go is a game typically associated with older men, like those in the image below…(^^; So, it is quite surprising that so many girls are playing Go these days, and that such a cute free magazine really exists!!

"St Stev" some rights reserved. flickr

Now let’s sample the contents of GOTEKI.

 The page is for the igo one-point lesson.
A cute girl is getting hints and tips from  the Go-master.

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The page for a Go girl’s lifestyle. It certainly looks stylish.

GOTEKI also plans various events for young female Go enthusiasts, such as blind date parties (Go loving boys are invited), an international workshop held in English, and a fashionable year-end Go soiree. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?  😛 Before investigating GOTEKI, I knew next to nothing about Go, but now I am very interested in it. Maybe I should learn how to play Go during this winter vacation.

Source: GOTEKI &  netlab

This is JAPAN Style!