hi, i will be visiting japan from oct. 3 to nov. 13, and i thought it would be fun to see the commentary on a match, or get a few lessons, hopefully in a local community center or something, so inexpensive. i'm only a 12 kyu, so lessons from a pro would be pearls before swine (oink!). yes, these ideas come from reading hikaru no go. i'll be in korea for a week from oct. 17 - oct. 23, and i have the same questions for korea then. note: i've studied japanese for almost 8 years, so i want to hear commentary in japanese; i've only taken korean for a year, so i'm still pretty clueless in it, and english would be preferable. but i do plan to buy lee sedol's game commentaries in korean while i'm there.

Oh, the 8th Korea Prime Minister Cup International Amateur Baduk Championship will be held in that period, but sadly just before your trip to Korea (Specifically 10-15 October)

If by any chance, you are there earlier than expected, it is held at: Gumi city GUMICO (Chemdangieop 1-ro 49, Sandong-myeon, Gumi-si, Gyengsangbukdo)

When you get there, check with Nihon Kiin (at Ichigaya) for their pro tournament schedule. Usually there are plenty of such games every week; occasionally one or two might come with public commentary.

For a spectacular amateur event, you should go to Hotel Edmont in Iidabashi on November 2 and 3 for the International Amateur Pair Go Championship. In the afternoon of the 3rd, Michael Redmond will probably give an English commentary on one of the final games and someone else (Ishida Yoshio for example) will give a separate commentary in Japanese.

thank you both, nice ideas.