Let us help you make your media center more relevant to young users. Introduce them to the ultimate board game: Go. If you have an anime club or Asian study group of any kind, you have a likely starting point. Go was commended by Confucius in ancient times; today it is the star of its own manga/anime, Hikaru No Go, a coming of age saga in the classic "Hero's Journey" style.

FREE SET OF HIKARU BOOKS: Through a generous donation, complete sets of Hikaru manga (23 volumes) are available to your school or young adult library for the cost of shipping ($20). Click here to learn more about this special offer for libraries only.

Free Starter Set

The AGF provides the following equipment FREE to approved Go programs serving youth 18 and under in American schools, libraries and community centers.

  • 3 vinyl 9x9/13x13 boards and 3 vinyl19x19/13x13 boards
  • 3 full sets of plastic stones
  • 12 The Way to Go introductory booklets
  • 10 posters (5 each: 11x17 and 8 ½ x 11)
  • 1 AGA Starter CD loaded with shareware, commented games for beginners, and more
  • 2 sample issues of Go World magazine
  • 5 9x9 cardboard sets

NOTE: To receive the Classroom Starter Set or other AGF equipment, programs must submit the Project Application Form.

Go is played by millions of people all over the world; 1000's of them are playing on the Internet right now! Go is an ideal window on Asian culture as well as a way to improve cognitive skills. Like the martial arts, Go can teach concentration, balance, and discipline. Each person's style of play reflects their personality, and can serve as a medium for self-reflection and personal growth.

Go clubs in community programs can offer organized competition and the chance to compete online in The US School Team Championship and The US Youth Go Championship. Strong players can aspire to play in The Redmond Cup, and may even represent the US in the World Youth Goe Championship. Active student organizers can win The AGF College Scholarship. All who play derive unique benefits from their experience.

If you're thinking of starting a youth program, send us an e-mail with your "snail mail" address at mail@agfgo.org. We'll send you a FREE AGF Sampler including a CD with more than 300 MB of valuable material; an instructional booklet; a cardboard playing set; and more. Just mention the "AGF Sampler" in the subject or body of your message.

If you already have a few interested young potential players, send in a Program Application Form. As soon as your application is approved, you will be eligible for a free Starter Set, matching funds to stock the new "Go" section of your library, special vendor discounts, privileged access to The AGF Education Store, and more.

The applicant for an AGF Starter Set should be a teacher or advisor over the age of 18. Students who need help with starting a club will be assigned an AGF Mentor to help them develop their school Go program. E-mail us for help if you need it.

Click here to download and print out the application form in Word format.

Click here to download and print out the application form in PDF format.

Please e-mail the application to mail@agfgo.org If you are not able to attach the file, you may fax it to 212.662.5501

Free Book

Start the "Go" section of your library with a free copy of this unique description of the benefits of playing Go. Go As Communication by Yasuda Yasutoshi professional 9-Dan (Slate & Shell Press 2001) presents a whole new way of looking at the game of Go. When Yasuda Sensei became concerned about social problems among young people, he began visiting Japanese schools, teaching children a simplified version of Go, which he called "First Capture Go." Seeing immediate positive effects, he expanded his efforts to homes for the elderly and then to institutions for the mentally and physically handicapped. This book is the record of a surprising discovery, namely, that "First Capture Go" can have enormous educational and therapeutic value, even with senior citizens and those suffering from developmental delays and other disabilities.

The American Go Foundation will send a free copy of this inspiring book to any Go teacher who requests one. To submit your request, please send the following information by e-mail to mail@agfgo.org.

  • Name, address, phone, e-mail
  • Describe your past and current teaching activities - where do you teach? How many students?
  • Do you plan additional teaching activities?

We look forward to hearing from you! (We do not share our contact list with any other organizations, ever.)

HIkaru No Go for the Cost of Shipping

Hikaru No Go is a popular manga/anime, a coming-of-age tale in the "Hero's Journey" tradition in which the restless spirit of an ancient Go master needs a young boy's help to find the perfect move. Through the generosity of Winston Jen, an Austrialian annime translator based in Hong Kong, we are offering complete sets of Hikaru, all 17 volumes, to libraries for just $25 to cover shipping costs. To make this valuable addition to your lbrary, write to agf@usgo.org for morei nformation.

Matching Funds

The AGF provides matching funds for active Go programs in two categories.

  • $200 Grant For Books And Supplies: Approved programs can spend up to $400, send in the recipts, and receive reimbursement for 50% of their cost. Including vendor discounts (see below) and AGF matching funds, a $200 investment can bring in more than $500 of supplies, more than enough to start a robust "Go" section.
  • $1000 Teaching Grant: Instructors who are paid specifically to teach Go can receive up to $1000 in matching funds from the AGF.

    • Vendor Discounts

    Because Go is so little known in the West, most of the English language literature, especially advanced instruction, is produced by a handful of small publishers. Nonetheless, literally hundreds of titles are in print -- click here to learn more about them. As an approved program, you will be able to take advantage of special discounts with these vendors and others. Players can improve quickly with serious study, and the library can offer resources they could never afford for themselves, and won't find online.

    Online Store

    AGF-approved programs also gain exclusive use of the AGF's online AGF Education Store, with unique equipment and paraphernalia as well as excellent value on equipment for approved teaching programs only.

    Mentoring

    All programs receive guidance from an experienced organizer, who will contact you upon approval and provide support as needed.

    Fiscal Agency

    Local and regional organizers can secure funding for local programs, using our corporate structure to obtain funds not available to individuals.