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TVGuide has every full episode so you can stay-up-to-date and watch your favorite show Hikaru No Go anytime, anywhere. Hikaru no Go (ヒカルの碁, lit.' Hikaru's Go') is a Japanese manga series based on the board game Go, written by Yumi Hotta and illustrated by Takeshi Obata.The production of the series' Go games was supervised by Go professional Yukari Umezawa. Dynon d10a user manual.

Watch Hikaru no Go Online: Watch full length episodes, video clips, highlights and more. Hikaru no Go is, in essence, an anime about the world of Go; about the game, the friendships and rivalries that arise in this world, the challenges, obstacles and feelings. This is a lot to actually live up to, and Hikaru no Go most certainly fills its role well. It starts out very simle, in a way you've probably seen before. 12 year old Shindou Hikaru is just your average 6th grader. One day, while searching through his grandfather's attic, he comes across an old Go board. Upon touching the Go board, Hikaru is possessed by the spirit of Fujiwara no Sai, and continues to be haunted by him soon after.

2002

Sore zore no ketsui
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Now that Haze Middle can 'officially' enter school tournaments, Hikaru, Yuki and Kimihiro are ready to win it all. First up is Iwana Middle, whom they beat in a sweep. After a quick lunch break, It's time for Akira to face the opponent he's been waiting for: Hikaru!
Sando me no taikyoku
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It's Kaio Middle School versus Haze Middle School. Yuki faces off against Kaio's captain, the arrogant Kishimoto while Hikaru takes on Akira for the third time. Who will win in this do-or-die Go Tournament?
Netto ni hisomu kishi
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With summertime around the corner, Hikaru and Akira find themselves traveling new paths on their journeys. Akira gives up the Kaio Go Club and decides to take the Pro Exam while Hikaru introduced to the world of Internet Go. With his newfound appreciation for online Go, Hikaru gives Sai a new outlet for playing the game he loves so much.
Sai ha dare da
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Between Hikaru's novice computer skills and Sai's strength at playing Go, they become the most unbeatable player in the world of Internet Go. From New York to the Netherlands, Sai's has players from all around the globe wondering who is this amazing player!
Tsuioku no ikkyoku
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At the World Amateur Championship, the air is abuzz with interest in Sai whom some of the participants have played online at one time or another. While some think he's a pro, others feel that he might just be the ghost of famed Go master Hon'inbo Shusaku, who Sai taught many years ago. But when Akira's name shows up onscreen, Hikaru gets ready for another rematch.
Akira tai sai
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Hikaru
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Eager to take on Sai, Akira doesn't even bother to show up for his first pro exam match. But Sai defeats him, leaving Akira to wonder if it's Hikaru on the other side of the board. When Ms. Ichikawa tells Akira that she spotted Hikaru at an internet café, his instinct turns to intense suspicion.
Hikaru no jitsuryoku
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Summer's winding down and thanks to all his internet playing with Sai, his game has gotten stronger. But there's no time to play at the internet café and with Sai's help, takes on Hikaru's grandfather so he can get the premium Go board and stones he desires.
Puro he no michi
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After a chance meeting in a bookstore, Kishimoto, the captain of the Kaio Go Club, takes Hikaru to a Go Salon to see what kind of player he truly is. Over a game of Go, Kishimoto tells him about Akira's goal of turning pro, sparking Hikaru's interest in chasing and catching up to Akira.
Hase chû igo bu
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Hikaru returns to the Go club to announce his intentions on becoming an Insei, which angers Yuki Mitani and disappoints the rest of the Haze Middle Go Club. As he breaks the news to the club, Kaga enters the room in an attempt to evade one of the teachers. Upon hearing Hikaru's new goal, Kaga forces him into a Go match that also includes Kimihiro and Yuki!
Insei shiken
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Even with his new-found love for the game of Go, Hikaru finds it nearly impossible to sit comfortably, let alone beat his opponent during the test. Luckily for him, he discovers that the game is not being decided on wins and losses, but on strength and is accepted as an insei. After the test, he reveals his rivalry with Akira Toya to a pair of skeptical insei, competitively friendly Waya and the contemplative Isumi.
Yûgen no ma
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Now that he's an insei, Hikaru's finding that winning is hard to come by. Starting off with six straight losses, Hikaru's at the bottom of the B-league with little hope in sight. Meanwhile, Akira has just become a pro and is gearing up for the Shinshodan Series, where newly-turned pros take on established veterans of the game.
Ôza vs Akira
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As the Shinshodan Series starts up, the Oza is taken aback by Akira's seemingly easy rise to the pros. Instead of playing a simple exhibition match against the young prodigy, he's going to challenge Akira with everything he's got. Since he's never seen Akira play anyone other than himself, Hikaru can't wait to see this match, if only he can finish up his own match first!
Tsuki tsuke rareta satame no ha
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Waya invites Hikaru to a study session with his teacher, Morishita-sensei. Hikaru learns about the Young Lions Tournament, where only the top 16 Insei in the A-league get to compete against newly crowned pros. Eager to face Akira once again, Hikaru vows to make it into the A-league and the Young Lions Tournament!
Hikaru saidai no kabe
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It hasn't been easy, but Hikaru's moved up the ranks and out of the B-league. Now he's taking on a tougher group of opponents, including the mistake-prone Fuku, Waya's toughest opponent. In a discussion about Internet Go with Waya, Hikaru lets his tongue slip when he reveals a bit too much about Sai.
Tokidoki modoritai basho
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Feeling a bit nostalgic, Hikaru comes back to visit to Haze Middle Go Club, where things have gone from bad to worse. Since Yuki quit, the club cannot participate in school tournaments. Now no wants Hikaru around, fearing that his presence will push Yuki away even further away from rejoining the Go Club.
Waka shishi sen
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It's time for the Young Lions Tournament, where 16 newly crowned pros take on the Top 16 Insei in the A-League. While his other fellow Insei keep falling to the pros, Isumi takes on obnoxiously boastful Mashiba, a former Insei who never ceases to brag about his life as a pro. Will Isumi knock off him off his pedestal or continue to fall victim to his endless taunts?
Kuwabara honin bô
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As the Young Lions Tournament winds down, Hikaru loses his match to Murakami 2 -Dan. Anxious to know about how the entire match progressed, Akira presses Ogata Sensei, one of the spectators at the tournament, for answers. But Ogata's got more important things on his mind, such as dethroning Kuwabara-sensei for the Hon'inbo title.
Ogata vs honin bô
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In the lobby of the Go Association building, Kadowaki, a top College player, is looking to brush up on his game before taking the Pro Exam. Enter Hikaru, who with Sai's help, teaches this amateur how the game of Go is truly played. Meanwhile, the battle for the Hon'inbo title continues as Ogata and Kuwabara trade moves, as well as words, in order to psych each other out.
Puro shiken kaishi
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The Prelims for the Pro Exams are about to start! Hikaru starts off on an unlucky streak when he draws Tsubaki, a loud and overbearing biker who uses his time to think about his moves..on the back of his motorcycle. Will Hikaru let this boorish and ill-mannered opponent intimidate him into losing?
Yosen saishûbi
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After losing two games in a row, Hikaru's self-confidence is shaken. Does he have what it takes to make out of the prelims or will be eliminated from participating in the Pro Exam?
Chîmu kessei!
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In the hopes of helping Hikaru get over his fear of playing adults, Waya and Isumi take him to a Go Salon to take on opponents of a more mature nature. The three of them sit down for a team game and at Waya's urging, makes a bet to clean every stone if they lose. But when Kawai, a bushy-haired cab driver, discovers that Waya, Hikaru and Isumi are all insei, he decides to face Hikaru and see how strong a player he truly is.
Katte ha naranai
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At a local festival Akira is asked to play 4 players simultaneously including Kurimoto, a boorish and rude city councilman. To make matter worse, he's been asked by the festival organizers to let Kurimoto win. Meanwhile back at the Go Salon, Kawai and Fukawa, the Go Salon owner, have given Hikaru the task of playing his opponent to a draw!
Shôbi ha hitori
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On the recommedation of a fellow Go player, Hikaru, Waya and Isumi try out a new Go Salon that's different from the rest. There, Hikaru's ignorance about the strength of Korean Go Players is discovered. Insulted by that fact, Su-yong, a Korean insei, challenges Hikaru.
Ore no na ha
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After a contemptuous and intense battle, Hikaru triumphs over Su-yong, leaving his Korean opponent more determined than ever to take on Hikaru once again. At the end of the match, a face from the past lavishes praise on Hikaru, leaving Sai to feel apprehensive and unwanted.
Honsen kaishi
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It's time for the Pro Exam and Hikaru's starting off with six straight wins in a row. Can he keep his winning streak going or will his fellow insei knock him off his undefeated pedestal? Akira accepts an offer to tutor Ochi, an arrogant insei who's taking the pro exam with Hikaru.
Chôsensha tachi
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As the Pro Exam continues, Hikaru learns from his fellow opponents that the road to turning pro isn't as easy as it appears to be. Meanwhile, Ochi starts to get suspicious about Akira Toya's true intentions for tutoring him.
Ma no isshun
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Ready to take on an undefeated Isumi, Hikaru knows he's in for a tough match. But as the match progresses, it starts to look like Isumi's the one who's on the ropes. Can he beat Hikaru or will the pressure finally get to Isumi?
Shiroboshi no yukue
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With the pressure mounting, Isumi makes a wrong move forcing him to resign and forfeit the match. As a result of how the match ended, both Isumi and Hikaru's game head downhill as they both run right into a losing streak.
San shû de ha osoi!
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Determined to get his game back on track, Isumi takes on Ochi with a vengeance. But Ochi is more concerned with his final opponent: Hikaru. With only three weeks left until his match with Hikaru, he seeks some assistance from a particular source: Akira Toya.
Hitori me no gôkakusha
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Now that the Pro Exam is winding down, the stronger players are beginning to distinguish themselves from the weaker ones. The gruff Tsubaki gives his Hikaru a ride on a motorcycle, as well as his dying dream of becoming a pro. Meanwhile, Akira continues to tutor Ochi on how to beat Hikaru.
Hikaru vs yazuya
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Now that Ochi has passed the Pro Exam, there are only two spots remaining. With only two games left in the exam, Hikaru faces off against Waya. Can Waya overcome both the pressure of passing and from Morishita Sensei and defeat Hikaru?
Kishi kaisei
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List Of Hikaru No Go Episodes

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As Hikaru takes on Waya to advance towards the pros, Waya notices that his opponent's game bears a interesting resemblance to Sai. Meanwhile, Ochi's confidence cause Akira Toya much worry as Ochi has yet to face Hikaru.
Hikaru vs ochi
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Gearing up for the match, Ochi reveals to Hikaru that he has been studying with Akira Toya in the hopes of learning how to beat him in the pro exam. Does Hikaru have what it takes to beat Ochi or will Akira look to his bespectacled pupil as his new rival?
Puro shiken saishûbi
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It's down to the wire as to who will make it into the world of the pros. Will Hikaru upset Ochi, the newly crowned pro, or will Isumi sneak by with his four losses? As word spreads about the pro exam results throughout Haze Middle School, Hikaru eavesdrops on the Go Club and starts to feel left out.
Puro no sekai he
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Now that Hikaru's gone pro, he can't wait to play all the top pros, including Akira Toya and his father, Toya Meijin. On the flip side, Sai begins to sense that he's no longer needed by Hikaru.
Satame vs meijin
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The ever-busy Toya Meijin has finally decided to participate in the Shinshodan Series on one condition: his opponent must be Hikaru Shindo. But Sai sees this match as his only opportunity to take on Toya Meijin. Will Hikaru give up the chance of a lifetime so Sai can play in the match of a lifetime?
Sutemi no ikkyoku
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From newly-turned pros Ochi and Waya to Go-playing veterans Ogata and Kuwabaru Hon'inbo, everyone's got their eye on this match between Hikaru and Toya Meijin. But little do they know that it's really Sai playing as if he were behind by 15 points.
Fujiwara satame?
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In order to better understand why the spirits of Go have kept his soul on the planet, Sai reflects upon his life during the Heian Period as well as when he met Hikaru and faced Akira Toya.
Kurada rokudan
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Feeling the need to cheer up a depressed Sai, Hikaru takes him to an Amateur Go Festival, where they expose a local merchant selling counterfeit Go merchandise and meet Atsushi Kurata, a friendly, but overconfident pro who delights at giving by signing fans for his most devoted fans.
Hikaru vs akira
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All dressed up to receive his 1-dan certificate, Hikaru learns about the Oteai, a series of games that determine a player's ranking as well as who his first opponent will be..
Sai no kokuhaku
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Toya Meijin falls victim to a heart attack and is rushed to the hospital. Hikaru goes to visit him and discovers that he's supplementing his recuperation by playing Go on the internet. As a result, Hikaru begs Toya Meijin to play Sai on the internet which he reluctantly agrees to on one condition..
Takaburu kokoro
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Now that Toya Meijin is playing Internet Go, the world is abuzz with excitements, watching a professional champion play online. But little do they know, that a challenger of exceptional strength waits in the shadows..
Sai vs Toya Koyo
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The wait is over! Sai and Toya Meijin face off in a match that has the entire world glued to their computer screens. Who will triumph and discover the Divine Move?
Sennen no kotae
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With the Sai finally facing Toya Meijin, the entire world of Go sit on the edge of their seat. Who will triumph in this battle of epic proportions?
Sai to utasero
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Now that the match has ended, Hikaru tries to talk Toya Meijin out of his fateful decision. He offers Toya Meijin a rematch with Sai, but Sai's time seems to be running out.
Isshokugo
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After running into Kurata 6-Dan at Ramen Shop, Hikaru challenges him to game of Go. But when they discover they both have white stones, Kurata shows Hikaru a fresh new way of playing Go.
Tôya kôyô intai!
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Hikaru No Go Episodes Online

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Fullfilling his promise to Hikaru, Koyo Toya resigns from playing Go professionally, sending shockwaves throughout the world. Meanwhile, Hikaru gets ready for his first match as a pro against a 3-dan player!
Sayonara hikaru
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Hikaru gets invited to a Go seminar and gets an unavoidable request from Ogata to play Sai, who senses that his time with Hikaru is rapidly coming to an end.
Satame ga kieta?
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The time has come for Sai to leave has come, leaving Hikaru angry and frustrated. He goes back to his Grandfather's attic and discovers that the Blood-stained Go board, where Sai's spirit once resided, is now clean. In his quest to find Sai, Hikaru takes off for Innoshima, where Sai first appeared to Torajiro, the young man who later became the great Hon'inbo Shusaku.
Hiroshima saikyô kishi
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Hikaru No Go Episode 1

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While in Innoshima, Mr. Kawai stumbles into a Go Salon where, as a result of a misunderstanding, he finds himself owing a lot of money to Shuhei, a formidable Go player who is enormous both in size and talent. But when this top amateur recognizes Hikaru from Go Weekly, he decides to take on this reluctant neophyte pro.

Hikaru No Go Episode List

Mô utanai

Hikaru No Go Dubbed Episodes

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Hikaru No Go Episode 1 Dub

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Hikaru No Go Full Episodes

Hikaru goes through old game records to find past matches with the great Hon'inbo Shusaku. While going through them, he becomes engulfed in guilt over not playing enough games with Sai and his subsequent disappearance.

Hikaru No Go Sai

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Alternative Titles

English: Hikaru no Go
Japanese: ヒカルの碁

Information

Episodes: 75
Aired: Oct 10, 2001 to Mar 26, 2003
Broadcast: Unknown
Licensors:Viz Media
Source: Manga
Duration: 23 min. per ep.

Statistics

Ranked: #3792
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Members: 94,851
Ranked #379Popularity #1109Members 94,851
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Synopsis

12-year-old Shindou Hikaru is just your average 6th grader. One day, while searching through his grandfather's attic, he comes across an old Go board. Upon touching the Go board, Hikaru is possessed by the spirit of Fujiwara no Sai, and continues to be haunted by him soon after. Sai was once a great Go player, who committed suicide and continued to stay in the world as a spirit desiring only to play Go once again. Finally bending to Sai's pleas, Hikaru allows Sai to play Go through himself, unknowingly attempting the first game with the young prodigy Touya Akira. Time has finally started moving, as Sai's quest for the perfect game, 'The Hand of God', is set underway. Based on the manga by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata.

Background

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Related Anime

Adaptation:Hikaru no Go
Sequel:Hikaru no Go: Hokuto Hai e no Michi
Summary:Hikaru no Go: New Year Special, Hikaru no Go: Memories
Alternative version:Hikaru no Go: Sabaki no Ikkyoku! Inishie no Hana yo Sake!!

Characters & Voice Actors

Fujiwara no, Sai
Main
Chiba, Susumu
Japanese
Shindou, Hikaru
Kawakami, Tomoko
Japanese
Touya, Akira
Main
Kobayashi, Sanae
Japanese
Waya, Yoshitaka
Takagi, Reiko
Japanese
Isumi, Shinichiro
Supporting
Suzumura, Kenichi
Japanese
Ogata, Seiji
Supporting
Fujiwara, Keiji
Japanese
Mitani, Yuki
Asakawa, Yuu
Japanese
Kaga, Tetsuo
Supporting
Itou, Kentarou
Japanese
Fujisaki, Akari
Kakazu, Yumi
Japanese
Touya, Kouyou
Supporting
Tsuda, Eizou
Japanese

Staff

Nishizawa, Susumu
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard
Kamiya, Jun
Director
Takahashi, Hideo
Sound Director
Kosaka, Harume
Episode Director

Edit Opening Theme

#1: 'Get Over' by dream (eps 1-30)
#2: 'I'll Be the One' by HAL (eps 31-60)
#3: 'Fantasy' by Nana Katase (eps 61-75)

Edit Ending Theme

#1: 'Bokura no Bouken' by Kids Alive (eps 1-12)
#2: 'Hitomi no Chikara' by Mizuki Arisa (eps 13-30)
#3: 'Sincerely ~ever dream~' by dream (eps 31-46)
#4: 'Days' by shela (eps 47-63)
#5: 'Music is My Thing' by Dream (eps 64-74)
#6: 'Get Over ~Special Mix~' by dream (ep 75)

More reviewsReviews

75 of 75 episodes seen
Stormy_77(All reviews)
324 people found this review helpful
Overall10
Story10
Animation10
Sound10
Character10
Enjoyment10
How on earth could anyone make a 75 episode anime about a school kid playing a 3000 year old board game? Surely there must be a lot of filler episodes. Those were my initial thoughts but Hikaru No Go had a great rating on Animenfo and I decided to start watching it.
The first thing to do is to collect the entire series of 75 episodes, the special and the Journey to Hokuta Cup before you start. One of the most amazing things about Hikaru No Go is it's ability to capture the viewer from the get go, once you start watching, it's like you don't want to stop. Every episode except for Story Arc endings is a mini-cliffhanger motivating you to start the next episode. This perfection of editing and pacing has not been achieved by many other anime.
The story centers around Shindou Hikaru, a 12 year old school boy. He's just had his allowance cut and was in the midst of rummaging through his grandfather's garage looking for something to sell for money when he picks up a "Go" board inhabited by the ghost of Fujiwara No Sai, a genius Go player from the Heian dynasty. Sai has unfinished business in this world, he wants to achive "The Divine Hand or Hand of God" in go. He possesses then haunts Hikaru ~ all he wants to do is play Go.
Initially Hikaru lets Sai play by moving the stones for him but he starts to fall in love with the game and starts playing himself. The series is a coming-of-age, maturing of new talent, exposure to the competitive world of Go and the beauty of the game. There's a nice large cast of supporting characters, all of which are fascinating in their own right.
The soundtrack is wonderful and fits the scenes well. The animation does have some frame reuse but it's done by the same artist who did Death Note and is good. As the series continues you can physically "see" the characters growing up, they get taller and their faces change.
One of the reasons Hikaru No Go is such a good anime is because Sai is the best anime character ever created (in my opinion). He's very loveable, smart, funny, honorable AND he's a Go genius.He shows amazing patience with Hikaru's moods and childishness, not just being his friend but also teaching and mentoring him from nothing to greatness at Go. Sai is just one of those characters you'll never forget. He has a big heart.
Having dated a nationally ranked chess player in my wild and mis-spent youth, I was amazed at how faithfully the series captures the world of competitive board game sports ~ rivalry, one-up manship, jealousy, excessive obsession with the game, psychological warfare, pushy teachers, they're all there and exist in real life. Even a person who doesn't play Go can understand it as it is presented in the anime.
The series has many layers of philosophy behind it that escape most people the first time around.
* How great is a person's desire for something?
* Can one live, obsessed with a game and winning?
* To achieve greatness there is always a price one must pay, in time, or friendships sacrificed by oneself or others. How far should one go?
* How should one deal with or live with regrets from one's past actions?
* Do people care about legacy and what should one try to leave behind?
* If a goal seems "unreachable / unattainable" is it still worth pursuing?
On surface the plot seems simple but in reality it's very profound, that's one of the reasons I consider this series a masterpiece. It could easily go on for another 75 episodes and I would want them all. Even after it ended, I was still thinking about it and craving more. I even started playing Go online. The manga sparked a resurgence of interest in Go in Japan, wih some message boards featuring posts by Go professionals stating that they wish they could play against Sai. For an anime to arouse this level of interest is amazing. Hikaru No Go deserves to rank much higher than it does, it is truly a masterpiece.
75 of 75 episodes seen
TheLlama(All reviews)
104 people found this review helpful
Overall9
Story7
Animation8
Sound9
Character10
Enjoyment9
Hikaru no Go is, in essence, an anime about the world of Go; about the game, the friendships and rivalries that arise in this world, the challenges, obstacles and feelings. This is a lot to actually live up to, and Hikaru no Go most certainly fills its role well.
It starts out very simle, in a way you've probably seen before. The main character, Shindou Hikaru, encounters a paranormal apparition by coincidence while stumbling around in his shed, and only he can see it. Said apparition is, in fact, the ghost of a skilled Go player from the past, Fujiwara no Sai. He really wants to play a game of Go, and as such Hikaru brings him along to a Go salon, where he finds a kid his age which he can play. Since only Hikaru sees Sai, Hikaru must play the pieces for him. Of course, fate throws a twist by letting the opponent be a prodigy almost strong enough to become a professional Go player. Sai, skilled as he is, beats this kid, Touya Akira, to a pulp. From here, a wild goose chase after the illusion of Hikaru starts. Sai of coruse manages to get Hikaru into the game, and he eventually chases after Akira. As such we have Hikaru chasing after Akira, who again is chasing what he thinks is Hikaru. Voilá, the stage is set for an intense anime full of emotions, drama and, of course, Go.
The plot from there is, for the most part, what I said above. Through tournaments, encounters at Go salons, school Go clubs, Inseis (aspiring professionals), and eventually the professional world of Go, we see these two chase after each other, and what remains in their wake. Quite honestly, the plot is very barebones, but that is completely irrelevant, because Hikaru no Go is in each and every way a character-driven series, which makes it in many ways more riveting and inspring than a plot-driven series.
And characters, we lack not. Aside the intense, heart-throbbing rivalry that develops between Akira and Hikaru, there are bucketloads of interesting side characters, who range from Go club members to hardened professionals who gaze as these two young players lead on a new wave of young and skilled Go players. Mostly everyone gets an acceptable amount of development, for example the challengers; why they play and what's at stake for them are usually revealed in a gripping way - I surely don't think I've ever rooted for ten characters when all of them posed as adversaries to the main character. The professionals and newspaper people's reaction to these up-and-coming kids, it all seems so real you kind of experience their surprise and excitement at this.
But of course, I can't get lost in the characters only; even though the characters are so good it's easy to forget the artistic qualities of the show, one must not at all forget the music and animation, which both play an impressive behind-the-scenes role in making this series what it is.
Let me ask you one question: When you were a teen, or if you're one now, have you ever looked at a picture from when you were two-three years younger? If so, the reaction 'Holy mother of love, did I look *that* young?' is probably a familiar one. And when you watch this series, you'll probably end up thinking the same. For this is indeed a coming-of-age anime, following Akira and Hikaru from sixth grade through ninth grade, or three years. Their growth, while seen mostly in their Go playing and their personalities, is also very much reflected in the animation. Towards the end of the series, I asked myself: 'Did they always look like that?'. When they showed us flashbacks to the beginning, I realized, they did not. While you can recognize them, it is actually impressively easy to spot that they were different. Their faces, so much more child-like, and their stature lower. Much lower. I commend Pierrot for doing such a great job of reflecting their growth physically, too. It was so smooth that I couldn't say from one episode to another that, 'hey, he looks older!', but on an overall basis, by skipping, say, twenty or so episodes at a time, I see that they gradually change.
Apart from that, the animators did an outstanding job. The next thing on the list is probably how they made the Go matches very interesting to watch. Just pain watching the stones being placed could've been very deterring, at least in the beginning. So instead they throw in a heap of special effects; lights, shadows, camera angles, intense effects when placing stones, even changing the background to make the game more in the center of attention, or even make a symbolic scape, for example the universe itself, symbolizing the 'world' that is the Go board, and even the so-called Divine Move.
In general, Pierrot did an awesome job of making the show pretty to look at. Now, even in 2002 you had better-looking series, but it does not change the fact that it looks really nice. And they improve as they go on. It looks only mediocre in the first episode compared to the final episode. Among the stronger points I can mention clothes, backgrounds and effects when playing Go. The weaker parts are a bit annoying, but are mostly fixed upon as they go along, creating a most aesthetically enjoyable series. One problem is faces, which look a bit weird - at times some details are a bit misplaced -, but they do a nice job of expressiions, while not going overboard with them either, keeping a fairly serious tone. And later on, when I saw the sheer intensity in their eyes, I just thought 'whoa!' and had to let a drop of sweat run down my cheek. The other problem is that sometimes when they placed stones on the board, the perspective was done entirely wrong, when the rest of the stones already there looked real nice. This, too, improved very much as the series went on, and in the latter stages I noticed very litte to none of this problem.
And now, the soundtrack, which was done quite nicely. No, that's an understatement. It was inspiring and evocative, all the while not taking over the series, doing a nice job behind the scenes to build up and strengthen the emotional impacts of the show. The intense feelings of the games, the sad feelings that happened occasionally between characters, it was all done with music that reinforced those feelings and made it enjoyable to the point where I felt this tingling feeling in my stomach. The opening and ending themes are quite nice, too. The first opening, 'Get Over' by Dream, especially; its synth-pop rythms and lyrics are very inspiring, but it doesn't completely outmatch the others; they were all very strong candidates for favoritism and defnitely a worthwhile watch. Not to mention the final ending theme, which is a ten-minute half-instrumental, half-original mix of Get Over. That was a masterful piece of music.
All in all, Hikaru no Go provides sufficient character-driven, intense and emotional entertainment, which most people would find interesting. And don't let the pretense of a baord game like Go deter you from watching; it is hhgly enjoyable, and though I didn't really care for the Go, it remained interesting throughout the whole series. And the more enjoyable aspects of the show will definitely overshadow it if it comes to that. And for new and seasoned Go players alike, this is a very interesting ashow to watch!
75 of 75 episodes seen
betsuniisan(All reviews)
50 people found this review helpful
Overall8
Story8
Animation7
Sound9
Character10
Enjoyment9
This is somewhat of an anomaly. If you had told me that one of my favorite series was going to be a show about people playing go, I would've laughed and told you that you clearly don't know me. Yet, here it is.
Admittedly it's been a few years since I watched Hikaru. Working in the time to rewatch a 75 episode series isn't feasible when there's other anime to watch out there. However, that doesn't matter much as I will explain below.
Let's talk about the story first:
I rated Hikaru no Go an 8 on story because I felt like while it's exceptional, the story is pretty simply about Hikaru playing go. You might be wondering how a story can be exceptional with something so basic, but it isn't about the go games themselves (which I'll talk about in a few paragraphs) Rather it's about Hikaru and the people he meets as he learns to play Go. It's about his relationships with them and how he grows into manhood.
The fact this series takes place over several years is nice. In my opinion, there's no better time to see a characters development than when they're children. It's something we can all relate to in some regard. Also, kids tend to be more expressive of their emotions which makes it easier to know what they're thinking, which really helps in character development.
The number one reason you should watch this show is the character development. That being said, you might be curious to hear about the go aspect of the show.
Go is the primary focus of 90% of the characters you'll meet. If you have no idea how to play go, let me give you the absolute minimal stuff you need to know.
Go is a game about territory. You place down stones to create territory and the goal is to have the most territory in the game. If someone surrounds a piece (or pieces) they take those pieces and gain more of the board's territory.
That's all you really need to understand about the game to enjoy the series. While you're watching, I can almost guarantee you'll want to learn more, but as the series goes on, you'll find that it becomes too difficult to keep up with. Due to the fact that the game involves a deep sense of strategy once you move past the basics. But you don't need that knowledge to enjoy the tension. You don't need the knowledge to understand the joy of victory or the shock of defeat.
Give it a try if you really like character driven anime.
Art:
Hikaru no Go is a pretty old series at this point. 2001-2003 was over 10 years ago and obviously it wont compare to modern day animation. Nothing really bothered me about the art though, and so I don't think my rating here should matter. But I'll give it a 'good' just to say that I had no problems with it.
Sound: The music in this series was always great for creating the right atmosphere. To emphasize this, I sometimes experienced a fuzziness through my body whenever I started hearing the ending music start playing when the episode was wrapping up. It was like they were pumping me up and making me excited to see the next episode.
Character: Like I mentioned in the story section, this is why you should watch Hikaru no Go.
Enjoyment: If you're wondering if you'll enjoy the series at this point, then let me offer a piece of advice. Watch the first opening (try to find the best quality you can) If that doesn't convince you to at least watch an episode, then maybe it wont be your thing :x
75 of 75 episodes seen
Hiromi(All reviews)
49 people found this review helpful
Overall8
Story9
Animation8
Sound8
Character7
Enjoyment8
An anime about a grade school boy playing a board game. Sounds intense, huh? *cough*
That's what I thought when I first heard about Hikaru no Go. But how about something like this: A young boy is introduced to a board game unchanged through nearly three millenia by the spirit of a top player still yearning to complete what is called the 'Hand of God.' But then again, everything sounds good when you throw in big words.
Hikaru no Go is essencially the story of Shindou Hikaru as he is inhabited by Fujiwara no Sai - a genius go player from the Heian Period. As Hikaru is inducted into the world of Go as Sai's 'hands,' he sees for himself that an entire world built on the base of a board game exists almost secluded from reality.
As he watches Sai play, Hikaru develops a want to play himself. What makes this story reach out towards you is that not only do you watch on as Hikaru's will to play increases, but you yourself also want to play.
At times you'll be watching two players put down stones while dramatic music plays in the background. To an outsider, this may seem a bit odd and lame but when you truly watch it, everything feels correct. Hikaru no Go is not just the story of Shindou playing a game. Throughout the anime, Hikaru matures eventually realizing that the world of Go isn't just built on a game but the emotions -for the game- each player possess.
The animation proves to hold very consistent through the entire anime, peaking towards the end as Hikaru becomes older. There isn't much flash or bang to each episode but there's always a well done scene when needed.
Too many openings and endings to count. There'll be at least one that you enjoy - not to mention the OST is half decent, with a few tracks standing out (Honda vs. Izumi!).
You'll be introduced to a huge cast with only a handfull being quite important to the plot and even then a smaller handfull remaining important to the plot after their 5 seconds.
If you're interested in a story about a young boy pushing through the world as he experiences that you can't always do what you want and make the best situation of things, check out Hikaru no Go.

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    Poll: Hikaru no Go Episode 6 Discussion
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