Hikaru no Go

Hikaru No Go, a wonder piece of a much simpler time of anime It revolves around Hikaru, a seemingly normal boy despite his hair color typical of anime protagonists, and his discovery one day of a relic from the past, a go legend and master Sai. Go is a board game that has been around for ages and the spirit, sai is a go master who once was good enough to be a tutor for the emperor himself. Art Despite, its art being taken aback compared to modern day standards, it's refreshing and not typical, even for its time period. Sound Every battle in Go is narrated with different sound effects to keep us attentive, it's not as though it's boring, but the music does help. Each move and emotion is represented through the sound, an upbeat I can do it if I try tempo at sometimes and the wallowing shadow of itself depressing piano at others. It's one of the most effective uses of sound I've heard, despite being a musician myself and an avid listener of music trends over the ages. Each key note is played at a precise, pristine moment elevating its track to something you'd like to listen to whenever you are feeling anything really, it has a full range of emotion covered in its sadly short in my eyes and ears 75 episode series. Character Hikaru starts out a weak and unskilled player as we all do. Through the assistance of his friends and other interesting side characters bursting with their own aspirations and goals for go, he grows and develops into a monster to be held with high regard. His rival or antagonist is Toya, a Go prodigy and son to the Japanese go Meijin title along with three others. It's a battle of wits, between the two, each striving to do their best, bolstering each other skills through their grandstanding rivalry. By the end of the story, Hikaru, a boy who didn't even realize how to play go at one point, becomes a professional. It's like having a child in my eyes, you go through the struggles of overseeing their growth, rooting for them at every challenge, trying to consolidate them at each falter, but you gotta realize that they are their own person and let them grow, and Hikaru does just that, developing from as bratty, impatient Go novice into a still agressive, but mature Go professional. Overall You think Go right, and imagine what is depicted in the animal a silent competition lacking in flare and entertainment. You couldn't be anymore wrong. Each second of the battle, a fierce bout of spirits, a collection of enthusiasm and wanderlust that sucks you into their pace. What's even more shocking than that is how little you can understand the game but enjoy the anime. It does what few animes do nowadays, do what only an anime can do. Go by many regards can be seen as boring, even I fell asleep trying to play online go, though the narrative is totally different in the eyes of the anime, it's a thrilling battle for each move and will definitely reside in my head for years to come.

Do not let the title intimidate you: this anime is much more than a story about board games. In fact, I started this anime with absolutely zero knowledge about Go (and ended with barely any knowledge as well) but thouroughly enjoyed it. Shounen fans will enjoy this manga for the Naruto-ish underdog theme and its comical moments in each episode. Those who enjoy a bit of angst and profoundness will find themselves immersed in the relatable and emotional trials the main character, Hikaru, goes through in order to achieve his goals.

This isn't your typical fighting anime with swords and cool moves. This anime is based off a board game called Go. I had never heard of it until this but this anime teaches you about the game as you play it so you understand more and more as the anime progresses. The fighting in this game takes place on the board with 2 people going at it trying to win. The way they build it up and pull you into this sucks you into this anime. By the time you finish it, you'll be wanting to play Go so badly you'll have to go out and play it on your own. It's hard to believe an anime could do that but it has that appeal. I really wish it wouldn't have ended and they had made more.

~This is my first review, so lets see if I can write this~ Hikaru No Go. What can be said about this anime. When I first saw this anime I first thought aww man, I don't know a damn thing about Go. Then this anime got much deeper as things progressed. And in all honesty, it was not fully the storyline that grabbed me. I will only be focusing on two things: "Soundtrack" & "Progression" I will first explain the soundtrack. The good and the bad. Now don't get me wrong, for 75 episodes the music can get a little bit dull after awhile (but that did not stop me from finding the soundtracks). But there are definite times when it comes in at the right time. It is absolutely riveting and the music makes it feel like it is more than just these kids just playing these games. This anime has sorrow, pain, strength, and it is followed up beautifully with the musical scores. Now for progression. Without giving really anything away in this anime, "Hikaru No go" does what so many anime that have LONGER series/episodes fail to do with the number of episodes given. That is actually show progression of their characters. (They are not stuck in the same time bubble for 200 episodes or so) I literally sit on the edge of my seat when I see one of the pieces fall or when you see the shock on someones face when they are stuck on thier move (do I have any Idea what the hell is going on in the game? In all honesty, hell no.) But watching *most* of the characters develop and see them change throughout the series is definately a rewarding feeling because there is again, progression. I honestly found no problems with the progression of this anime along with the story, art, sound, characters and find this series highly enjoyable and I am watching it again right now as I type up this review. I would go more in depth for this anime, but until I can do in depth reviews (WITH spoilers), this is pretty much what I am limited to. Hopefully soon, I will try to have another review out soon. I give Hikaru No Go a overall 9/10 and recommend those who enjoy those aspects I mentioned in anime to watch and check it out. You might find it as rewarding of an anime I did.

Hikaru no Go is a shining example that a fantastic shonen anime can be created without excessive violence, tragic backstories, or the world-saving hero trope. Instead, the characters engage in intense battles of intellect rather than physical prowess. If anyone ever claims that board games are boring, this series will prove them wrong. The Go matches in this anime are not only well-executed but also highly captivating, keeping the spectator on the edge of their seat. The central theme of the series revolves around pushing oneself forward, confronting new challenges, and embracing difficulties head-on. An intriguing aspect of Hikaru no Go is the focus on character development and personal growth rather than defeating a clear antagonist. Characters strive to improve themselves and surpass their rivals, leading to compelling and dynamic interactions. The series skillfully blends seriousness with humor, creating an engaging and enjoyable experience for viewers. The exceptional soundtrack of Hikaru no Go plays a crucial role in heightening the tension and drama, solidifying its status as a successful manga adaptation that stays true to the original source material.

What to know before reading this review: I will touch upon the story core theme/messages, and address whether the show has an open or closed ending. I made sure to not include any concrete story points that may count as spoiler, and there are no content warnings for this review! TL;DR? Here is some quick recommendation keywords: coming of age, engaging characters, great pacing, healthy character development, emotional, unforgettable music score, cathartic (open) ending. CW: one subtle reference to suicide. Otherwise, none that I am aware of. Story: 10 Hikaru no Go is a great coming-of-age story about a young boy named Hikaru, who we follow over multiple years on his grand journey of becoming a professional go player. The story will send us a heartfelt message about how we can't have everything the way we want, and that growing up means we have to make difficult choices. Hikaru never gets something for free: he has to work for it! The series takes place in 'modern day Japan' (at least, at the time of creation: we get reminded quite a few times that Hikaru's world is stuck somewhere in the early 2000s). We are introduced to several settings and 'factions' that occupy these settings, and it all feels very coherent. The power levels in the world in Hikaru no Go is quickly established, so we always have a clear idea of how our main character evolves in strength. Although the series stops at a point before the manga (and the manga also stopped before it got the chance to be completed), the anime stops at a very satisfying endpoint. Whatever comes after, you don't need to read it to get a nice story arc with plenty catharsis. And believe me, once you start watching, you'll reach the last episode in no time: the pacing of this show is probably the most impeccable I've encountered in a series to date. Every episode ends on a cliffhanger and I've had to struggle to put the series down almost every time. Character: 10 Hikaru starts out as a typical shounen protagonist: young, reckless, naive and an idiot. However, contrary to most shows with a character like this, Hikaru learns over the course of the story and becomes more mature. His weak points get adressed, such as his naivety, his egocentrism, and his pride. At the very start of the story, he will meet up with Sai, who acts as his mentor throughout the series. Again, Hikaru no Go does something remarkable compared to other series: despite Sai being a character who clearly fits the mentor archetype, he is never written as a tool for our main character to use at his convenience. Sai is a character with his own flaws, his own desires, his own agency. In fact, a lot of the characters in this series are very well-rounded and likeable, and have a clear purpose in the story. Where other long-running shows tend to just forget certain side-characters after their 'main arc' is over, in Hikaru no Go we revisit old characters in a meaningful way. Just when you think a character has 'lost its usefulness', this series surprises you and will give a whole other angle you had not even considered. Also, there's some slight BL undertones with the main character and his rival, which never distracts of the story. So if you're into that sort of stuff, I'm sure you'll enjoy that too! Art: 7. With the original manga art drawn by the same artist as Death Note, we get some decent character designs with very detailed hair. In all seriousness, the art and animation is just good, nothing super special about it. Some may think the animation is lazy at times because we mostly just see characters sitting or walking, or that a few designs look 'too shounen' or not very coherent. Though all designs feel believable: they are varied, recognizable, and fit each characters personality. So all in all, it does what it's supposed to do. That being said, Hikaru no Go is a series you would watch for the amazing story, not for the pretty art or amazingly animated battle scenes. If you're looking for that, look further. Sound: 10 "So how would they ever make those go-battles exciting to watch, if it isn't amazingly animated. Will it even have enough color to hold my attention?", some might doubt. Worry not, for this series has one of the most intense and unforgettable music scores out there. It sounds cheesy on paper: epic orchestral music supporting a board game, but it works surprisingly well! Hikaru no Go has a very strong OST list, with several pieces that you'll recognize immediately and which are able to convey mood so well. Certain OSTs will still make me feel intensely hyped, excited, or sad when I hear them again long after the show has ended. The voice acting is nice, most characters have very distinct voices and emotional ways of speaking, and its tone fits a shounen series perfectly. The opening and ending themes are also okay. But the OST is certainly the aspect that makes me rate it a 10 in the sound category. Enjoyment: 10 As I had mentioned before: I have yet to encounter a series with better pacing than Hikaru no Go. I was very invested in the series, its characters, and had trouble putting it down because each episode ends with me wanting to know what happens next. I've laughed and cried many times throughout this entire series, and it's become one close to my heart. Also, this manga and anime has obviously been created to make more kids interested in playing go. And believe me, it succeeds at that! I've shared this series as a recommendation to several friends, and most of them immediately wanted to learn how to play go as well. In my opinion, that's plenty proof that this series manages to bring joy and inspiration to many people! Overall: 10. Like I said before, the only thing I personally wouldn't rate a 10, is the art. But really, that's not why one should watch this series in the first place. The art and animation takes the supporting role, while the true strength of this show is its amazing coming of age story with well rounded characters that develop in a believable way throughout the series. Hikaru no Go sends a strong message about how to achieve something in life we have to make difficult choices sometimes. And that message resonates so deeply that I will never forget this series.

I finished watching and reading Hikaru no Go after starting it 6 days ago. Truly an old, but definitely not forgettable shounen show about something we westerner's have no idea about: Go. Let me be clear here, you really don't need to have any prior knowledge and require no research to watch Hikaru no Go. Some people say: "Don't judge a book by it's cover," but in my experience, the cover art of a book, anime, TV show, etc, tells a lot about the show. It showcases the art style, creativity, characters, and the overall feel of the show. To me, Hikaru no Go's cover art was sort of "meh," especially considering how old it is. But, the synopsis was interesting, it had good reviews, and I have enjoyed anime about things similar to Go, such as Mahjong and Shogi before. So after putting this show off for literally, 5 years or so, I finally gave it a shot. Hikaru no Go's old style isn't a detriment at all. Actually, it might be beneficial. The 90's style suits the show. It really does. The OST similarly, fits right in with the art style as well. You might the anime looks bad, but the OST and story pair with the art perfectly. Of course, the OST is kind of cheesy. But, it's unique, and it does grow onto you as the show progresses. The story? Well, like a lot of over very long anime series, this story is slow paced. But not boring. I never really skipped through any content, because the story was very interesting, and I was truly wondering what the characters were going to do. Just because it is slower paced than modern shows nowadays doesn't make it bad. It's something that's characteristic of some older shows, and Hikaru no Go is a well executed example of that these slower paced shows are still very good. But, it's still sometimes lags a bit. You wonder why the story is focused on these specific characters talking, since they just spent 12 minutes on it, and it turns out, it was really just nothing. The slow paced story is very good, but it definitely has some flaws. Rather than say that Hikaru no Go is unwatchable because it is old and less well polished or subpar compared to the standard today, Hikaru no Go instead has it's own charm that can only be accomplished because it is old. I'll make the comparison to March Comes in Like a Lion because they focus around Japanese board games that I don't know how to play at all, with other similar plot points in the stories. Both stories are about people aspiring/becoming professional players, while also having a pretty good chunk of the story being about coming of age. Granted, March Comes in Like a Lion takes a much more in depth approach to the coming of age than Hikaru no Go, which is where they diverge a bit. March Comes in Like a Lion is definitely character-driven. The story accommodates for the characters, and they are running the show. You watch/read March Comes in Like a Lion in order to learn more about how the characters interact and develop, rather than watching for plot. In contrast, other than a select few main characters, Hikaru no Go is very story driven. The story is the first priority, and many characters get used to progress that story, and sometimes become obsolete once their role is done. Honestly, Hikaru no Go surprised me with how many characters just became thrown away. However, March Comes in Like a Lion is definitely worse than Hikaru no Go, because despite it's strong beginning, I become less invested in the characters as the show progresses which led me to drop the show at somewhere around season 2. Contrast this to Hikaru no Go, where it caught my attention for an entire 75 episodes. And I'll admit. Hikaru no Go's story is very addicting. It makes you want to watch to learn more. You really want to know how a Go match is turning out, what Hikaru is going to end up doing, and what Touya is thinking. However, the mentality or practice of having characters fufil their role in a story, and scrapping in favor of newer characters is not good at all. That being said, the few main characters that do remain get quite the amount of attention and detail that a 75 episode anime ought to have. Characters are still, however, one of Hikaru no Go's biggest weak points. My biggest disappointment is definitely with Akari. A character that could have been not one dimensional and had the potential to be one of the cornerstones of the show. One that would have added to the much needed "characters that actually matter" pool. She would have built off Shindo, help him develop faster, and have more depth. I won't dwell on it too much due to spoilers, but it's just a shame. Lastly, I'll talk about the ending arcs. And I'll state it right now: I am glad the manga got axed. It actually went on way too long than I expected. Near the end of the anime, there is a plot point that happens that I won't spoil that makes it very clear that the show is ending very soon. However, it just keeps on going on and on and on. Definitely the slow paced story at fault. There was just no real reason for the show to continue after that point. Did you really think I would care about the story after that thing happens? It could have ended on a strong note, but in the end, the audience loses interest, I lose interest, the manga gets axed 50 chapters after the major plot point happens. The ending plot point also could have been executed a little better. It certainly wasn't bad, but with how much the story was building it up at the time, it wasn't up to standard. I know that all I did was basically rail Hikaru no Go on quite a few bad points, but that's just because I really didn't focus on the good points that much. The story makes up for the shoddy characters, and the first 90% of the story makes up for the disappointing ending arcs. A show you should definitely watch, as it's something uniquely 90's esque.

Story: 10 Art: 10 Sound: 10 Character: 10 Enjoyment: 10 Overall: 10 Now, I know what you're thinking. How can an anime about some kid playing some archaic board game for 75 episodes (76 if you count the New Year's Special episode) be worth watching? If you've been watching anime for as long as I have, you'll know that anime can make nearly anything interesting. It just so happens that Go is exceptionally interesting when placed into the world of anime. (Since the anime's so good, I'm betting that the manga's pretty dang fantastic too. I'll definitely buy a few volumes in the future.) Now, the story. We have the main story: Hikaru working to catch up to Touya, while Touya's working towards who he THINKS is Hikaru but is really Sai. And then, we've got all these little side-stories with all the other characters. The thing about this series is that it doesn't forget about these side-stories. We get to see how they end, and we even get to see what happens BEYOND these stories. I know this description doesn't do it justice, but Hikaru no Go does an exceptionally outstanding job at crafting a world with many stories which the watcher can follow with ease. The anime never loses sight of its main goal, and we are often reminded of this main goal. We as the watchers anticipate this, and the anime really does make us wait for it. Hikaru and Touya, destined rivals. Touya wants to know Hikaru's true strength, while Hikaru wants to catch up to Touya. The second I started this show, I was intrigued. I'll admit, I lost interest after a while since I didn't understand Go, didn't understand all the terms like "komoku", "hoshi" and "tsuke" and I found Hikaru pretty annoying as a protagonist at first. So, after a while of not watching, I watched the New Year's Special episode to refresh myself on what had happened, and from there, I was completely hooked. I watched the show everyday, looked forward to watching it whenever I got home and spent more time than I'd like to admit fangirling over every little scene. Take it from me, the story is amazing. The anime never loses sight of the stories, and the stories are bound to have you hanging off your seat. There's dozens of exciting little scenes in these 75 episodes, and you'll enjoy every single last one of them! The art. Some may disagree with me giving it a 10, but the animators pay so much detail to the way everything is animated. I personally love the art style; I love everything about it. From Sai's lips to the way their HAIR is even animated to move, it's clear to tell that careful thought was put into it all. It's not just still. We see movement. Cherry blossoms falling, curtains blowing and of course, the scenes where they're playing Go. Even if you're an absolute Go novice like me, you can appreciate the level of work that goes into the animation. I also love the character designs, since they suit the characters so well. Sai wears traditional clothing typical of the Heian era, while Hikaru dresses up all boyish. And then Touya wears suits, alluding to his serious nature. This anime puts so much thought into everything, and it even shines through in their artistic choices. Not to mention, you can even see how the characters age as the series go on. We see the characters grow over time, whether it be in their abilities or in their facial features, and the way the art captures that growth is simply exceptional. The sound. Now, this is where I'll mention my first negative. I wasn't a fan of the third OP near the end of the series (around the ~60 episode mark I think) and I found myself skipping it, but as for the other two, I liked them a lot. The EDs were good as well, quite befitting for the series. Now, what I love about this series is how it uses sound within the series. I LOVE the soundtrack. Absolutely love it. There's a certain song they play during intense scenes, and I always found myself bopping my shoulders to it whenever it came on. With quite a few anime, the soundtrack blends into the background, but this soundtrack demands to be heard. It demands for you to notice it, it TELLS you what to expect. This anime is a perfect example of how soundtracks should be used to enhance the viewing experience. It shouldn't just be in the background. It should ENHANCE, and that's exactly what Hikaru no Go does. It does an exemplary job with the sound. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Now, when I say Hikaru no Go does an astounding job at developing its cast of characters, IT DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB. Kuwabara-sensei is such a lovely old man, and then you've got the less-likable characters who eventually grow to become quite interesting and likable. Hikaru goes from being an irritating brat to being a slightly more mature person who doesn't spend his time yelling and crowing about every little thing. We get to see how the people around Hikaru influence him, and how they help him to become stronger. We'd be here all day if I told you about all the character development that went on, but trust me. This show does character development perfectly. As you can tell, I enjoyed this show immensely. I will most likely rewatch it again once I've watched enough anime to forget about how much I enjoyed this (so, it might be a very long while before that happens) but I hope that this review influences someone to go online and search up "hikaru no go ep 1". If that's you, I sincerely hope that you enjoy it! Know one thing: it'll be one of the best things you ever do.

Hikaru no Go does enough to stand out of the norm for a shounen title focused around a board game. The show's prominent characters are given a great deal of depth over how the board game of Go plays a major influence for them in their growth and style of play thus they are free of the standard archetypes you would find in conventional titles. Unlike a number of other shounen titles focused around a game of sorts, outcomes aren't as predictable with Go matches as all the key characters within the series win and lose at various points, as well as having their occasional setbacks which serve as an opportunity for growth with the show's characters. Perhaps the biggest element that sticks out with the series is that rather than create a new fictional game, Hikaru no Go adopts an actual board game in the form of Go. Having been established in China over 2,000 years ago, the game in real life had a rather niche following in Japan before Hikaru no Go's airing helped to revitalize the popularity of the game with younger audiences. The series effectively makes itself into a series that allows one to better understand Go as a newcomer through main character Hikaru. From starting off as a casual player new to the game to being a skilled professional player through a two year period for the show's run, Hikaru no Go believably follows the growth of Hikaru's character as he comes to better understand areas to the gaming world of Go from strategies to the game's history to elements of the game's professional world which allows viewers to understand these areas through Hikaru's eyes as well. Adding to the show's animated developments with Hikaru, Hikaru no Go also has a live-action segment at the end of each of the show's episodes which teach you about basic elements and strategies to the game, game scenarios, a look into the real-life professional world of Go in Japan and its history. The series can be quite addicting to watch if you have interest in playing and learning about Go. Presentation-wise, Hikaru no Go is pretty standard in the visual department: scenery and character designs do their job with decent details on both ends while the show frequently relies on shortcuts with animation kudos to the show's long length. In terms of the soundtrack, it is a joy to listen to featuring insert tracks that do well to convey the mood of tense gaming scenarios and characters developments seen throughout the series mixed with upbeat OP and ED songs that get you in the mood with seeing the show, especially dream's "Get Over". Overall, Hikaru no Go made for quite the addicting watch for me as I became more familiar with elements to Go and got attached to the developments of characters like Hikaru as they struggled to become professional players. This is definitely one of the better shounen anime titles I've had a chance of seeing as of late.

I can see why this show might not appeal to some. It's about an obscure board game after all, but within that niche this anime tells an insanely compelling story to near perfection. Broader topics that anyone can relate to are illustrated through the narrow but focused lens of Go, and that lens is crafted with an attention to detail that shows an immense love for the game. I think anyone who has found a passion like that, which expands in your heart the more you explore it, will find Hikaru no Go's story just as entrancing as the proclivities themselves. It's entertaining, honest, and inspiring all at once. The editing keeps an engaging pace while conveying the nuances of the characters. The art direction is dramatic and inventive, using surrealism and realism tastefully in accordance with the story, which makes the final product feel both grand and grounded. The animation is surprisingly energetic for the subject matter, with choice scenes and movements really standing out. While it's no Demon Slayer level sakuga, it's clear they put in extra effort to engage the audience in each match through the use of animation. The characters are loveable and hateable, and loveable because they're hateable, and I could go on. But all in all, if you have even a passing interest in this show, as was Hikaru's while reluctantly playing his first match, just know that seeing it through to the end could change your life forever.

For me Hikaru No Go is one of my favorite anime/manga of all time. I first discovered Hikaru No Go when I was 10. I rediscovered the anime and had some of the best times of my life. For me the story of Hikaru becoming a professional Go player and the different obstacles he has to overcome is just phenomenal. This just resonates personally with me. It has some of the greatest story telling in anime. The characters are amazing and well written. The rivalry between Hikaru and Akira is just amazing.The art style is just fantastic, this might be my opinion but I prefer the lates 90s and early 2000s era the most. To top it off the great soundtrack, whenever there is a heartfelt moment the soundtrack just hits you emotionally. I won't go into depth because I want you to watch it and be amazed from the brilliance of Takeshi Obata and Yumi Hotta.

I'm here to tell all the people sitting on the fence, unsure about whether they should watch it or not, to jump off the fence and dive into Hikaru no Go because it is that excellent of an anime. I put off watching it for years because I was not won over by the synopsis, and only decided to watch it when I'd finished a lot of newer animes (which left a sort of bland after taste), because I was simply out of animes to watch! I didn't expect to find myself completely immersed in the world of Hikaru no Go, led forward gently episode after episode, each day feeling closer and closer to the characters in the anime. This is an anime where the characters lead the mangaka, and not the other way round. As a novice writer, I found that thrilling! I felt like I was truly watching the lives of real people, and not those in an anime. (though of course, not ALL the extras are fleshed out wholly). It is so easy to form a bond with the characters in the anime, whether it is Akira Touya, or Hikaru, or Issumi, or Sai, or Touya Kouyo because they have all been created to be distinct in personality. The mangaka has done a wonderful job of creating characters that feel alive because they make their own story. Hikaru no Go does not pander to the audience. No, it is the characters that take the lead and decide where the story is to go. If a character has a weakness, then despite how feel good it might be for the mangaka to have that character succeed, he does not. But this is made up by showing us how hard they either work or give up. Sometimes characters really do unexpected things. One of the other reviewers pointed out that they were surprised by how often characters were discarded in the story line. This feature is actually one of the aspects of the story that made sense to me and helped my immersion in the plot. As we advance in life, it is inevitable that scores of people are left behind or exit our lives. In some animes, the USP of the main lead is to be friendship and ties focused. This is not the USP of Hikaru or Akira. Hikaru no Go is about characters that have an obsession which drives everything else to the edge of their lives. Nothing is as important as Go. There is no romance here, there was a potential, but the mangaka did not build up on it. Good choice, since it made the anime feel even more real. There are some animes where the main lead is very nice, and has an equally nice love interest, and everything is very nice, and well, it ends nicely. But Hikaru no Go is not an anime like that. It is an anime with characters which happen to just be the way they are, and they're not willing to date or fall in love just because the mangaka insists that they have to have a muse of the opposite sex driving them on. However, the absence of romance is very natural and matches the flow of the story. If there's one consistent message in the anime, it is that hardwork is pivotal to success. Yet, facing our fears is easier said than done. In an anime where characters are alive, we can feel their struggles through the screen, we can sense their insecurities, their burning desires, and the weakness they feel in the face of challenge. When they decide to take a step forward, we the audience can feel the forces of insecurity push us back as much as the characters do. The anime ended earlier than it should have, but I have no regrets about it. The characters became too strong to survive within the screen. If they had continued to broadcast the anime in the high quality manner that they did for the first 55-60 episodes, highlighting each aspect of the journey in reasonable detail, they would've probably faced a huge wall which they'd have to scale. In fact, I felt it as a viewer too. While watching the anime, I learned so many things about the Go system in Japan that I knew that if the anime was to continue further in the detailed manner it had been going, the Anime producers would encounter a situation where they would have to recreate large complicated plots. Towards the end, (no spoilers don't worry) there were already a lot of competitions happening simultaneously, which if the story were to progress would have made for a complex storyline. If they had simplified it, the anime would've looked like a shadow of it's former self. Characters that were so alive would've been killed. So, in a way I am glad that the anime ended where it did, especially if the creators did not have the capacity to tackle the story. The characters I love are strong and powerful enough to survive the end of the anime and live on in the realm of fantasy. Yes, I can imagine the characters grow up into fine adults, though I can't read too far into the future, that is enough for me. Have fun watching Hikaru no Go!! I look forward to rewatching it. :)

Synopsis: Hikaru stumbles upon an old Go board that is haunted by a ghost named Sai. Prompted by Sai's request, Hikaru begins playing Go and meets Touya, his eventual rival. Hikaru no Go is one manga/anime series that I will always, always love no matter what. To begin with, it was one of the first shounen mangas I ever read then subsequently watched the anime. To this day, I'll still say that both the manga and the anime is worth the time to read and watch (I try to always read the original work first before watching any adaptions). In terms of content, HnG had some great character development, for our hero and the side characters as well. In the world of Go, finding friends, facing rivals, working through relationships, and so on, is such a pleasure. I'm pretty sure that for most readers and watchers, they aren't familiar with Go or can make any sort of initial connection to it. But that is what makes HnG so special. It takes a completely different and unknown subject and connects the readers and watchers through the characters. You, as the audience, become invested in the characters; their wins and losses, their troubles, and their connection to each other through Go. What I also enjoyed immensely (and this is what I love so much about shounen manga/anime in general) is the style/art development. Most of the time, especially with the shounen genre, the mangaka will have a (hopefully) long series with unending chapters. Unsurprisingly, you will find that mangaka's art changes, develops, gets better and sharper throughout the chapters. This occurs within the manga and also therefore within the anime. And I wont lie: I like eye-pleasing art and this mangaka's art definitely suits me. The musical track to the anime was well suited. It made moments full of unbelievable tension or incredible humor shine. And the voice actors (Japanese only (I never watch dubbed anime, personal preference), and yes, super important) were incredible in their roles. They matched their characters exactly! Bottomline: the story will capture you until you, like me, will regret when the adventure is over.

When I started this anime i had very high expectations because of the ranking it had on this site. Although I had my doubts because its about a board game called Go. Having just finished the series i have to say that I was very surprised at how good the series was. The soundtrack was great which makes this anime about a board game pretty exciting. The characters were also great to get to know, and there is defiantly no shortage of characters in this series. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone looking for a longer series that provides a good bit of humor, and a series that is able to incorporate that sense of "OMG I have to see the next episode". so definitely give this one a try. I'm glad I did.

Hikaru no Go is old, rough around the edges, and perhaps not about the most enticing of subject matters. And the game of Go itself appears to be plain and simple. For both, there is gold underneath the veneer. There's a reason why a 20 year old long running shounen with perhaps the least appealing art from anything made 20 years ago maintains it's 400 ranking on MAL. And indeed, why a game with only a few simple rules and one type of piece has been the longest continually played game in human history and remained relatively unchanged since it’s inception, with the 4000 year old legacy being carried by tens of millions around the world today. For Hikaru no Go to be good, Go would need to be good as well. Go is not quite like chess or shogi, games more than worthy of novelization and more than capable of being arenas for characters to be constructed within, as has already been seen. Go is unlike any other game. It is a sprawling universe of your own creation, and a universe at war with another. It is said that chess and shogi are conflicts of Man vs. Man. Go at first seems the same, as it is a player vs. another vying for control of a board, with multiple battles typically playing out. But it is not. "An honestly ranked player can expect to lose about half of their games; therefore, Go can be seen as embodying the quest for self-improvement"[1]. Man vs Self. And when you are a beginner, you will lose far, far more than half of your games. Go is pure hardship distilled. And so as expected- Go is complex and enormous in scope. "The number of legal board positions in Go has been calculated to be approximately 2.1 × 10170, which is vastly greater than the number of atoms in the known, observable universe"[2]. But the rules are beautifully simple and small in number. Any person can learn how to play Go extremely quickly. This polarized combination of simplicity and complexity is what first draws you in. There is a moment in Hikaru no Go early on where Hikaru first discovers the endless wonder of this game: as he's playing a match, he starts to feel as though every stone he places is a new star, a new galaxy, in a universe of his own creation. He loses the game, but it doesn't matter. It has clicked for him, and he has seen and felt what every player who loves the game has seen and felt. And this is where it becomes clear that Hikaru no Go understands Go. That the people who wrote it, understand Go. Hikaru no Go doesn't stop there. It constructs compelling characters and extremely compelling narratives in and around the world of Go. Outstanding arcs set within the context of this game. And individual games themselves, that are thorough and drawn out (as any real Go game is), and in the entire shows runtime they only become more and more engrossing and captivating. One example being when Akira (a very young pro player) is invited to play a match against a pompous influential public figure, and he must play the match such that it is exactly a draw (Go matches are determined by counting points at the end; Akira needed their point count to be identical, a Herculean feat). He was asked to lose by his colleagues, as the man held influence over funding for their Go association. But he didn’t want to for his own pride as a player. The ensueing match is so fun to see play out, the stakes are high, the characters involved are fascinating due to their motivations and the powers that they command. Another of Hikaru no Go’s unique narrative devices is that of the ghost Sai, who has toiled on this earth long after his mortal death in search of fulfillment within the game of Go. He plays through Hikaru, telling him which moves to make. A legendary player from times long past- his connection through Hikaru making waves throughout the Go world, with many key people witnessing Hikaru’s matches early on being able to recognize that this isn’t any ordinary kid playing. This seems like just a fun idea at first glance and not anything particularly special but it develops so much more- from just a sort of power fantasy device and into a rich arc unto itself, with unexpected developments and outcomes. Hikaru soon desiring his own agency as a player, rejecting the free power given to him from Sai in favor of his own fulfillment. Both of them learning and growing together as people, in and out of the world of Go. Their relationship is so interesting, and very sweet and wholesome, and seeing their arc over of the course of the series is an absolute delight. But the most affecting of Hikaru no Go's story is in the bitter-sweet portrayal of each best player of each generation passing along the torch to the next, and in the real world idea of “divine moves”. The best player of each generation enjoys their reign of greatness, but then watches as the next generation rises up to beat them- having believed that it was their destiny to remain at the top and coming to understand that it was instead their destiny to pass on their knowledge so that someone new can surpass them. In the real world of Go, this has been the pattern over the centuries, such that the current best players may be said to be the best players to have ever lived; every generation passed on it's knowledge to the next, lifted the next, so that the next could rise even higher, just as with all human pursuits. And in the divine move, a real term in Go, is the pursuit of a single moment of absolute pure greatness and genius, one above all moves in that game and in every game that player has played, so much so that it could only have come from some higher power, reaching down and guiding the stone onto the board. A move that when considered beforehand by onlookers it seemed to have been unwise but when then witnessing the rest of the game it could only be understood as being absolutely essential and changing the course of the match entirely. These two things are central to Hikaru no Go, and indeed, they were central to the single biggest moment in the real world of Go for our generation. The match between Alpha Go and Lee Sedol, where humanity reluctantly passed the torch to AI, which had in a single moment leapt several generations in Go development ahead of our species and defeated us calmly and bitterly. But where also, we saw a divine move like no other, played by Lee Sedol, in the only match of five in which he managed to defeat the unknowable force before him. A win that he called a "priceless win that I would not exchange for anything."[3] It is thus clear how much this show deeply understands and loves Go. Go is so much worth pursuing. Everyone deserves to see the universe that is contained within the board. Let Hikaru no Go show you the wonders of this game, and the universe therein. And if you’ve already seen that universe for yourself, Hikaru no Go is the perfect narrative to engross you further, reignite your passions, live in the world of Go. I revere Go. I am in awe of it, I fear it, I resent it. Whenever I play, whenever I play 20 or 30 games in a row and lose every single one of them, I catch a glimpse of the cathedral ceiling above me, the infinite stars in the universe that go out forever. There is nothing else like Go. Hikaru no Go does it more than justice. [citations]: [1]Pinckard, William (n.d.). "Go and the Three Games". In Bozulich, Richard (ed.). The Go Player's Almanac (2nd ed.). Kiseido Publishing Company (published 2001). ISBN 978-4-906574-40-7. Retrieved 2008-06-11. [2]Tromp, John; Farnebäck, Gunnar (January 31, 2016). "Combinatorics of Go" (PDF). tromp.github.io. Retrieved June 17, 2020. [3]: Yoon Sung-won (14 March 2016). "Lee Se-dol shows AlphaGo beatable". The Korea Times. Retrieved 15 March 2016.

A 75 episode sports anime about an ancient board game? From the early 2000's? Whatever I'm bored, this might be ok, can't be that good right? WRONG! This anime is a classic shounen sports anime, and now I understand why. It has everything you want in a typical shounen sports anime, and more. The board game aspect that is just black and white stones being laid on a wooden grid.That might sound boring but that's the great thing that every sports anime has in common. It takes something that you might not be as familiar with and it MAKES you interested in it and it makes you appreciate it. Hikaru no Go is no different in this regard My favorite character in this show is Sai, no question. At first I wasn't sure about this idea of a 1000 year ghost being the reason our young protagonist starts his journey but the way this character is used and how much value they get from his "warrior from another time" archetype elevates the entire anime. He is as good of a mentor type character as you can ask for in a typical heroes journey story. There are plenty of solidly written and entertaining characters aside from him scattered through this anime, ranging from rival archetypes, to teammates, to additional mentor characters and so on. Incidentally my least favorite character is Hikaru whose immaturity takes FOREVER for me to finally warm up to. His tendency for treating all of his friends like dirt gets on my nerves constantly and only at the very end of the series does he finally start redeeming himself in my eyes. Animation wise, this is a wonderful call back to well made early 2000's animation. It might look a little dated to some newer fans but to older guys like me this is a nice reminder of how enjoyable that style can be to watch and look at. Musically, this anime is solid, very good at setting up tension, hype and emotion in a scene. Not the the best I've heard but still very solid. Overall, this was a VERY enjoyable anime. If I didn't know already just how ridiculously difficult the game of Go is to learn I would go try my hand at learning it right now. Instead I'll just have to stand back and appreciate this anime for all of the young Go players that I know now it has inspired to learn the game. It is to the game of Go what Haikyuu is to volleyball. If you are a sports anime fan you already know how high of praise that is.

Great anime for children. Competitive drive is well portrayed and you learn life lessons about discipline. Not too bad for adults to follow in on while watching with family. Biggest disappointment is the show feels like it ended early and had a lot of life to reach the full potential of all characters and the children don't reach full adulthood, and a promised action never occurs (the special move explained in ep. 1.) The lack of this special move, the lack of highest tier GO play, and the dropping of many characters including main characters towards the end of the series and throughout takes the story from a 9 to a 4 and my overall rating from 10 to 7. Like, I really wish it went one more season to get to about 100 episodes and wrapped up the characters in a way that could tie everything together, even if the games were sped up and the focus shifted I would have felt a lot better with a completed show rather than watching this thing get torn by a tornado that seemed to suck up the creative talent in the writing for the end of the apparently abandoned plot. Engaging show, really underrated and impressive for its type (board game shows can feel very boring but this turns out to be pretty entertaining.) Although halfway through there is a particularly lengthy arc of Hikaru's attempt at becoming pro that distracts and feels a little boring, that itself is required to demonstrate discipline as is the failure that some people who have aged out and don't become pro must return to normal working jobs and school that shows the need for life discipline. This is a great focus of the show. The age focus feels like 5-12 years old yet despite being so young the ability to watch as an adult here is a profound gift the anime had that I wish were more common in children's shows. I can't watch Digimon or Pokemon or other dueling kids anime the way I can Hikaru no Go, even though it is also an ascending duelist anime.

For me, Hikaru No Go is the magnum opus in the world of anime or at least in its genre. The key to it, just like in any major work, especially from the technical point of view, is consistency. Everything is consistently good in this anime, the art, the storytelling, the sound, especially the characters, despite their abundance and amount of episodes. I am not the person that gets easily invested in anime, especially if its longer than 25 episodes. However Hikaru No Go dragged me right in. Producing such an engaging 75 episode story about Go does require a certain level creative craftsmanship, maybe a stroke of genius even. Some may find its weaker points by pinpointing certain misogynistic or xenophobic aspects but for me it just adds to its sensibility. Part of Hikaru No Go's attraction is its realism and the way it seamlessly includes some fantastical and comical elements as well. Characters are perfectly flawed like real life people are and I cannot think of any idealized tropes here. I'm not even dissatisfied about the ending as opting to find a solution to a certain predicament here is just a pleasant detour. Telling a story of lifelong journey, stretching much further than the last episode is what it is truly about. I was delighted to find such a subtle depth in a game/sports anime. Easily one of the all time favourites.

What makes this anime so interesting? At it's core, all Hikaru no Go is about a boy playing Go with a ghost. It shouldn't be enjoyable, yet it is. However, it's premise is not representative of the anime. Watching someone grow and mature, even if it's at a board game, is great. The author has taken such a simple premise and transformed it into something entertaining and gripping; it's very admirable. The first 15 or so episodes are casual and fun to watch, but it only kicks in when a certain goal is set. After that, you'll be constantly reaching for the next episode. My only wish is that it could've continued longer; it could've easily gone on for another 75 episodes with all the potential matchups. Strangely enough, it ended when a rivalry had only just begun. Overall, I enjoyed it's fast pace and the fact that they didn't drag things on like other sports animes. The characters were pretty good, the soundtrack added to the atmosphere and the story was very well done. I really enjoyed it, and I hope you will too.

If you love chess, you might fall in love with this anime. I didn't understand the game, but somehow I was drown to watch the next episode. I don't think it's easy enjoy the action that they try to create. However, I'm happy with the anime. I love to see more to know the end. and I'm still writing because they need a longer review. This is my first review and I am pretty sure it will be my last. So,, let me tell you something about me. I hate English. I hated it so much when I was in school, but to be fair, I love the leverage it gives me. Oh, Nice! it seems like I can finally submit my review ^_^ One last thought.. I'm learning Japanese now. Yappy. Keep smiling everyone..