Thomas Hsiang has been selected to receive a 2020 Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation, after being recommended by the Nihon Ki-in for his dedication to the promotion of Go worldwide. The Commendations are awarded to “individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields, in order to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas.” Hsiang is the American Go Association’s longtime International Vice President, as well as the IGF Vice President since 2008. Among his most notable achievements are the organization of a number of international mind-sport events, including the World Mind Sport Games, and the establishment of the Iwamoto North American Foundation.
“I am honored” by the award, Hsiang said, adding that “The culture of Go has enriched the world civilization as a whole since its introduction from Japan to the West over a century ago. In recent years, Go and other mind sports are further shown to benefit the cognitive development of the youth and the cognitive maintenance of the senior citizenry. Promoting Go has thus taken on new significances beyond just being a great pastime.”
Hsiang noted that “My own contribution to this development has focused on promoting collaborations between the international Go organizations and on advancing Go as a member of the mind-sport family. The success that I have enjoyed was made possible with the great help from my friends and colleagues at the Nihon Kiin, to whom I owe a deep gratitude.”
