Hikaru no Go

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First, there is story of me. When i stumble across Go game i found this manga as a reference of video about review on famous Go players. This manga is the one that keeping me interested at the game of Go. I imagining if, the manga chapter still going on maybe i also still playing the Go game. But unfortunately it all comes to an end with the last chapter and also my last Go game a few days after it. I just can't bring myself back to play the game again..

This manga story for me, really interesting. I can feels the emotion of the ... main character and the sad, joy and others. i feel the connection (idk y but im easy to built connection with fic char) with the main lead and the other characters as well, their ambition to reach the highest, their rendition on the Go game from their perspective in life. All's just too good for me.

I can't say enough but this is really good and wholesome sometime really.

THIS IS A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW

If you talk about classic Shounen-Jump Manga, a lot of fighting-shounen come to mind: “Dragon Ball”, “Naruto”, “Bleach” and, of course, the legendary “One Piece”. But in it´s long runtime, the magazine has always pushed different types of stories to be published. “shounen” is just an audience, not a genre, and “Hikaru no Go” is one of them.

Story – 9/10

The ancient Chinese board game “Go” has always been pretty popular in east asia, especially in China, Japan and South Korea. In the west however, there hasn´t really been a big boom in terms of popularity. This may be because the ... game is arguably much more complex than something like chess and the bar of entry is much higher. Even in Japan, it is mostly seen as a game for old men.
Hikaru, our main character, enters this world as a complete beginner and has to learn the basics, just like the reader. Slowly, the manga sets up character after character and introduces the reader to the complex structure of the Go world. Everything follows the classic sports anime formula: tournaments, training arcs and a big emphasis on character development. Seeing our main character slowly climb the stairs of the go world, from absolute beginner to professional should not be as intense and interesting as it is. Most of that excitement comes from the matches themselves.
They are highly intense and enjoyable and involve a lot of mindgames and overthinking. The author, Yumi Hotta is also not afraid to make our main character lose a lot of the time, only for him to come back stronger. This manga also deals with a lot of the pressure that comes with being a professional player. Every story arc perfectly flows in the next one, creating a highly addicting experience.
Honestly, this story is pretty much flawless and in terms of pacing and variety even better than some of my favourite sports manga ever, “Slam Dunk” and “Haikyuu”. So why is it not a 10/10?
Well, Hikaru no Go is infamous for having one of the worst endings in Shounen-Jump history and I can see where the disappointment came from. Right after one of the best and most thrilling tournaments, which showed amazing build-up potential for future arcs, the manga just...ends. Very abruptly too. I usually don´t weigh an ending as hard in the ratings if it is just okay, but this is just bad.


Art – 8/10

The art of this manga was provided by Takeshi Obata (“Death Note”, “Bakuman”) and the similarities between this and some of his other manga is glaring. His art style is just an absolute blast. Everyone looks distinct and the different expressions perfectly convey the tension during matches. What I also noticed is the different clothing styles. A lot of authors don´t put to much thought into something like fashion, but Obata mostly uses it to show a characters development, with Hikaru being the most prominent example.
While the start of this manga is more slice-of-life heavy, the art style was very simplified at the start, and you can see maybe a little bit of inexperience in the panelling. But as the manga went on and Obata found his style more and more, the art just got better and better up until the final chapters, where the character-designs veeery closely resemble his next big manga, “Death Note”.

Characters – 9/10

What separates this manga from something like “Slam Dunk” is the insane variety in the types of characters. This manga not only deals with teenagers, it also puts a lot of emphasis on the older pros and the other leading figures in the Go world.
Hikaru has certainly become one of my favourite main characters ever. The insane amount of growth between his humble beginnings as a complete scrub and his professional career at the end is very inspiring. His eternal rival, Akira Touya serves as the perfect motivation for him to improve and get better to finally beat him in a match. Another character we have to talk about is Fujiwara no Sai. What I like about him and his story is that, yes, it has supernatural elements, but the themes that the manga tackles with his character are very down-to-earth and relatable. His circumstances are a big part of what makes this story so unique and different.

Enjoyment – 10/10

This is one of the most fast-paced, intense and engaging manga I have ever read. I can safely recommend this manga to everyone. Even if you never heard of Go, or think it looks “boring” and “uneventful” I dare you to read this. This is what you have in mind if you think about the word “page-turner”.

- Marco_Yooo

FINAL SCORE - 9/10

hikaru no go's timeless premise elevates the game of go to levels higher than anyone could ever imagine. a game invented so long ago continuing to evolve to this day is a testament to its longevity and appeal. fujiwara no sai says it best: 'even after a thousand years, there are some things that never change. the snow, and the hot battle above the goban. each hand reveals what's in the heart of the player.'

the reception of the manga and subsequent popularity spike in go at the time of its release should speak volumes to its quality. the usage of go as a narrative ... device to showcase and elevate hikaru's growth here is unique in that you are watching a child grow up alongside his love for the game. hikaru starts as an abrasive, bratty child with no interest in playing go but eventually evolves into a young man whose passion for the game extends beyond comprehension and into the stars. it's one of yumi hotta's greatest writing strengths, spinning these dynamic characters and weaving them into and around one another. it really feels as though there is one massive go world at play here, with each and every prominent character working their way into hikaru's play style and remaining existent in his life. they're working ward the same as hikaru is, achieving their dreams alongside him whether that be from beside him or completely separate. it’s inspiring in a way that only a manga about a board game can be.

i thoroughly enjoyed my time with hikaru no go for its subversion of classic shonen tropes and its willingness to give readers something fresh. the genre of shonen is absolutely at its best when showcased in new ways and this is exactly what that is. even without muscular, testosterone filled heroes, the battles are still exciting and complicated and the art elevates them to another level. each placement of a stone from a careful hand feels like it determines life or death as the game advances and the feeling of excitement gained from each move never gets stale.

this manga has truly touched me in a way that i have not experienced in some time. it is not for its incredible themes, its complicated metaphors and symbolism. it's special because of go. the game exists as we continue to evolve around it. in this way, go will never stop being played. maybe that says something about this manga. that the story of hikaru, searching for the hand of god, will continue to reinvent itself as the game continues to be played.

(note: i thought sai was a girl for about fifty chapters. he is still a girl in my mind)