Who would have thought a manga about a board game, the Japanese equivalent of
chess, would be so riveting? It's a masterclass in detailed art, dynamic
paneling, and engaging characterization. My favorite character is either Sai or
Isumi. Isumi really knew how to pick himself up, put himself together, and get
back into it! And Sai is just so cool and uh, I hate to say this, but cute. I
was a little shota back when Shonen Jump came to the United States and I first
read portions of Hikaru no Go (up to volume 4 or so), and I refused to believe
that Sai or Akira were boys. It made no sense. They were obviously girls! Well
to this day I still think that and don't care what anyone else says. Also
Kurata was pretty cool. Big fat guy who was really talented and smart. Reminds
me of someone I knew at a group home I lived in, named Lorenzo.
Tell me that isn't a beautiful lady
I miss the Go Club arc a lot. Kimihiro, Tetsuo, Yuki, and later Akari and the
others were really cozy. Later arcs where Hikaru makes new friend groups are
also great but it makes me sad how little he cared about his Go Club. And by
the end of the manga we get nothing! No closure! At least Tsutsui Kimihiro did
make an appearance at the Hokuto Tournament, so he was still following Hikaru
as a friend and amateur go enthusiast. But there's no Akari or Tetsuo or Yuki
development and it plain SUCKS! All the insei and later pro characters got lots
of development, even the small fry like Nase and Honda. The ending of this
manga is by far one of the worst things I've had to read. It was painful in an
emotional way because I had grown so attached to all these characters due to
the quality writing. Was it rushed and they just had to kill the series fast?
I'll have to look into it. I mean, where was the Divine Move? What's all this
ridiculous international global nonsense? Hikaru realized at the end that he's
meaningless in the grand scheme of things, which completely and utterly negates
the entire manga before that, including Sai's lessons! It's just
maddening how awful the ending was! And for that reason I give it as a very sad
and unfortunate 6, maybe 7 out of 10. I haven't read a ton of manga so maybe
its place will change in relation to others.
I guess if you asked me whether you should read this manga (or watch the anime
which I haven't), I would say only do so if you're really into getting teased
by a beautiful and intelligent girl then having your nuts stepped on. I wish
I had quit reading when Koyo Toya Meijin retires from go.
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