Hikaru no Go

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.