computer-go: Number of Go players in the world

[Måns Ullerstam <mans@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Is there anyone who has any figures on the number of Go players in the
world. How is it compared to Chess? I also wonder if the number of
players are decreasing or increasing. I get the feeling that the number
of young players are decreasing rapidly in both Japan and Korea. In
favor of computer games I guess. I am going to Japan this fall and I
have heard that the normal Japanese hardly knows about Go anymore, or
sees it as something strange and traditional that their grandfather
might play. Is this true? I have been to Korea before, where there are
Go clubs all over Seoul, but when I entered I was definitely the
youngest player around. Most people were over 60 years old.

The same question goes for researchers in the area of Go and Computer
Go. As it seems like the number of Computer Go tournaments are
decreasing, I am getting worried.

Sorry if this is the wrong list for questions like this, but I think it
is important for our field as well if people are actually playing the
game anymore.
/ Mans Ullerstam