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What to know before reading this review: I don't blame anyone for not noticing the horrible messages in this show. However, they *are* there. If you liked this series and aren't identifying with the gross morals I relate to this show, I'm not talking about you, promise! I'm just very pissed off at this series and I hope you can forgive me for my bluntness. Also, I will refer vaguely to one spoilerish event that happens in one of the first few episodes. Content warnings: I will discuss misogyny and eugenics.

TL;DR: Here are some quick keywords: Pro-eugenics, misogynist but lacking fanservice, pseudo-intellectual, timeskips, Ayn Rand ... novel in disguise.

CW: Rather extreme misogyny, pro-eugenics, very infuriating writing.

Story: 2
Are you extremely misogynist? Do you believe Hitler was onto something when he was dabbling in eugenics? Then you and the author of this piece of garbage might have something in common! Even then, though, I would still not recommend you watch this series, because ignoring the gross core message of this series, it's just objectively poorly written. As other reviewers have already pointed out, the story is crammed into a few episodes. How did the screenwriters solve for this? One word: timeskips. Imagine you start watching a story: we are introduced to the main character who is thrown into an unknown world. We're being told that he's sort of competent, but he still has a lot to learn. We get our first scene where the stakes are getting high, but our MC overcomes the battle. However, he decides he needs to grow stronger if he ever wishes to obtain his goal. Cool! You're hyped, click the next episode, and then: SURPRISE, a timeskip! Apparently the anime decided that the most interesting part -namely the main character learning and developing into a hero- was not worth to show the audience. Instead, we skip straight to our MC all grown up and acting like a Gary Stu cardboard cutout. Any info he learned the last few years, we are informed of through infodumps. The story also features other flaws, like portraying complete racial segregation as a natural thing that shouldn't be questioned and several plot threads that lead nowhere -specifically one certain character dying a very anticlimactic death: they were there first, the next moment they were gone. Normally you'd think "oh, it's this old cheesy trope where this character is revealed to return and turned evil offscreen", but nope, apparently they actually died. That entire scene only existed to prove to us (?) that social Darwinism is valid.

Characters: 1
As I mentioned before, the main character starts out as mediocre, then becomes a straight up Gary Stu we don't feel any connection to because of a dumb timeskip. But, it doesn't end there! We also have two (!) somewhat 'important' female characters, both of which tie their entire self-worth to whether or not they can get babies with a strong man. I'm not even kidding, main girl who has a crush on MC must mention at least once in every conversation she has with him that she wants to make babies with him. But since the series goes for a serious vibe, we don't even get treated with the real fanservice. Jyu oh Sei: if you're going to be blatantly misogynist, then at least give us the hot sexy stuff as well. Alas, Jyu oh Sei as a story wishes to be pseudo-intellectual so there's no place for pandering that's *too* obvious.

Art: 5
The art is mediocre, I guess. It has some intriguing concepts here and there, but they never do anything interesting with it.

Sound: 5
It's been a while since I watched it, but I don't remember anything about the sound, so I assume that means it was quite forgettable. But I guess that's relatively impressive for this show. Well done Jyu oh Sei: you haven't offended me in the art and sound department. Too bad that won't influence my overall assessment.

Enjoyment: 1
Believe me, it takes quite some effort for me to get offended over my Asian cartoons. But I guess, Jyu oh Sei managed what no other show has managed before. It's the only series that has gotten the rating of '1' from me, out of all shows I've watched. It achieved this feat because not only was it objectively a very shitty series, it's also morally bankrupt.

Overall: 1
I couldn't be bothered to watch the last few episodes, but according to wikipedia and a few other reviews here, it only gets worse after I dropped. I guess you may enjoy this shit if you either are in search of an eugenics-themed power-fantasy, or you want to hate-watch a show with friends and wanna see which of them punches their head through their screen first. A shame though, because on paper, a nature-themed battle royale style story sounds sort of interesting.

What to know before reading this review:
I will touch upon the story core theme/messages, and address whether the show has an open or closed ending. I made sure to not include any concrete story points that may count as spoiler, and there are no content warnings for this review!

TL;DR? Here is some quick recommendation keywords: coming of age, engaging characters, great pacing, healthy character development, emotional, unforgettable music score, cathartic (open) ending.

CW: one subtle reference to suicide. Otherwise, none that I am aware of.

Story: 10
Hikaru no Go is a great coming-of-age story about a young boy named Hikaru, who we follow over multiple years on ... his grand journey of becoming a professional go player. The story will send us a heartfelt message about how we can't have everything the way we want, and that growing up means we have to make difficult choices. Hikaru never gets something for free: he has to work for it!

The series takes place in 'modern day Japan' (at least, at the time of creation: we get reminded quite a few times that Hikaru's world is stuck somewhere in the early 2000s). We are introduced to several settings and 'factions' that occupy these settings, and it all feels very coherent. The power levels in the world in Hikaru no Go is quickly established, so we always have a clear idea of how our main character evolves in strength. Although the series stops at a point before the manga (and the manga also stopped before it got the chance to be completed), the anime stops at a very satisfying endpoint. Whatever comes after, you don't need to read it to get a nice story arc with plenty catharsis. And believe me, once you start watching, you'll reach the last episode in no time: the pacing of this show is probably the most impeccable I've encountered in a series to date. Every episode ends on a cliffhanger and I've had to struggle to put the series down almost every time.

Character: 10
Hikaru starts out as a typical shounen protagonist: young, reckless, naive and an idiot. However, contrary to most shows with a character like this, Hikaru learns over the course of the story and becomes more mature. His weak points get adressed, such as his naivety, his egocentrism, and his pride. At the very start of the story, he will meet up with Sai, who acts as his mentor throughout the series. Again, Hikaru no Go does something remarkable compared to other series: despite Sai being a character who clearly fits the mentor archetype, he is never written as a tool for our main character to use at his convenience. Sai is a character with his own flaws, his own desires, his own agency. In fact, a lot of the characters in this series are very well-rounded and likeable, and have a clear purpose in the story. Where other long-running shows tend to just forget certain side-characters after their 'main arc' is over, in Hikaru no Go we revisit old characters in a meaningful way. Just when you think a character has 'lost its usefulness', this series surprises you and will give a whole other angle you had not even considered. Also, there's some slight BL undertones with the main character and his rival, which never distracts of the story. So if you're into that sort of stuff, I'm sure you'll enjoy that too!

Art: 7.
With the original manga art drawn by the same artist as Death Note, we get some decent character designs with very detailed hair. In all seriousness, the art and animation is just good, nothing super special about it. Some may think the animation is lazy at times because we mostly just see characters sitting or walking, or that a few designs look 'too shounen' or not very coherent. Though all designs feel believable: they are varied, recognizable, and fit each characters personality. So all in all, it does what it's supposed to do. That being said, Hikaru no Go is a series you would watch for the amazing story, not for the pretty art or amazingly animated battle scenes. If you're looking for that, look further.

Sound: 10
"So how would they ever make those go-battles exciting to watch, if it isn't amazingly animated. Will it even have enough color to hold my attention?", some might doubt. Worry not, for this series has one of the most intense and unforgettable music scores out there. It sounds cheesy on paper: epic orchestral music supporting a board game, but it works surprisingly well! Hikaru no Go has a very strong OST list, with several pieces that you'll recognize immediately and which are able to convey mood so well. Certain OSTs will still make me feel intensely hyped, excited, or sad when I hear them again long after the show has ended. The voice acting is nice, most characters have very distinct voices and emotional ways of speaking, and its tone fits a shounen series perfectly. The opening and ending themes are also okay. But the OST is certainly the aspect that makes me rate it a 10 in the sound category.

Enjoyment: 10
As I had mentioned before: I have yet to encounter a series with better pacing than Hikaru no Go. I was very invested in the series, its characters, and had trouble putting it down because each episode ends with me wanting to know what happens next. I've laughed and cried many times throughout this entire series, and it's become one close to my heart. Also, this manga and anime has obviously been created to make more kids interested in playing go. And believe me, it succeeds at that! I've shared this series as a recommendation to several friends, and most of them immediately wanted to learn how to play go as well. In my opinion, that's plenty proof that this series manages to bring joy and inspiration to many people!

Overall: 10.
Like I said before, the only thing I personally wouldn't rate a 10, is the art. But really, that's not why one should watch this series in the first place. The art and animation takes the supporting role, while the true strength of this show is its amazing coming of age story with well rounded characters that develop in a believable way throughout the series. Hikaru no Go sends a strong message about how to achieve something in life we have to make difficult choices sometimes. And that message resonates so deeply that I will never forget this series.