Hikaru no Go (Hikaru's Go) Obata Takeshi Images

Hikaru no Go started as a manga series created by Yumi Hotta and featured illustrations by Takeshi Obata. It was published by Shueisha starting December 1998 and ended July 2003 in Shonen Jump magazine. An anime adaptation was directed by Tetsuya Endo, Jun Kamiya and Shin Nishizawa under Studeio Pierrot and aired starting October 10, 2001 and ended March 26, 2003 on TV Tokyo. An anime special, Hikaru no Go: New Year Special, aired on January 3, 2004.

Hikaru no Go Plot

Hikaru was looking around in his grandfather's shed when he stumbled upon a Go board that is haunted by Fujiwara no Sai, a Go player from the Heian era who wishes to achieve the Kami no Itte (God's Hand/Divine Move). Because Hikaru was the only person who can see the blood on the board, it also meant that Hikaru was the only one who can see and hear him and proceeded to live within Hikaru's mind. Hikaru refused at first, but the appearance of a rival motivated and helped develop his natural talent for the game.

Hikaru no Go Characters

Shindou Hikaru - At the start of the story, he is a sixth grader who had no interest in Go. He was persuaded by Sai to at least learn the basics and let him play once in a while. His passion for Go was sparked when he encountered Touya Akira, a young Go prodigy who became Hikaru's rival throughout the story.

Touya Akira - He is the son of Touya Kouyou, one of Japan's best Go player. He is a progidy and Hikaru's rival. His interest in Hikaru started when they played a game together and was amazed by Hikaru's impossible strength. He became a professional Go player a year before Hikaru did.

Fujiwara no Sai - He was once a Go teacher for the emperor, but he was unable to reach his dream of being able to play the Divine Move when he was alive. He is the ghost that haunted the Go board that once belonged to Honinbo Shusaku, a famous (real-life) Go player whom Sai possessed before Hikaru. He holds a rivalry against Akira's father, Touya Kouyou. Throughout the series, he taught Hikaru his and pestered him to let him play Touya Kouyou to achieve his dream.

Hikaru no Go Similar Series
1. Saki
2. Chihayafuru
3. Hajime no Ippo

source: Zerochan; written by Bootan