April 19, 2012
Earlier today, the tax exempt nonprofit Seattle Go Center filed a Complaint against the Nihon Ki-in in King County Superior Court. The Complaint, which alleges breach of contract, violation of the obligation of good faith and fair dealing, conversion, and fraud, was filed in response to the Nihon Ki-in's decision, announced March 8, 2012, to sell the Seattle Go Center building in order to redirect these resources to the New York Go Center, which closed its building in November 2010.
The Seattle Go Center deeply regrets that we have been forced to take this action. We are very disappointed that despite more than a month of urging the Nihon Ki-in to enter into negotiations with us, the Nihon Ki-in has not yet done so. The cloud of uncertainty hanging over Seattle Go Center's future has severely impaired our ability to conduct fundraising.
The Nihon Ki-in has not given any reason for its decision to revive the New York Go Center at the expense of
During a January 23, 2012 Seattle Go Center board meeting which Executive Director Kobayashi personally attended, Kobayashi told the Seattle Go Center directors that the Seattle Go Center building had been purchased and remodeled with unrestricted funds provided by the Nihon Ki-in. We believe that statement was false. We believe it is clear that the Seattle Go Center's building was purchased and remodeled with restricted funds obtained as a gift from Kaoru Iwamoto 9P, in a location personally chosen by him on a visit to Seattle; and that the remodel was done specifically to create a street level commercial rental space which would provide the Seattle Go Center with a reliable, long-term income stream. Iwamoto-Sensei wanted to promote international friendship by providing a place where people of all backgrounds and ethnicities could enjoy learning and playing Go together. We think we are doing a great job of fulfilling that vision.
For more information contact: Seattle Go Center Manager Brian Allen manager@seattlego.org
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