Story: 9 / 10
Characters: 9
Setting: 9
Prose: 8

This was the very first anime TV series that I had ever watched. It was a moment that would change my life forever. That show, which I discovered 20 years ago, set me off on an incredible journey in pursuit of the best stories in the world. It was like a door had been opened, leading me into a world of limitless imagination and wonder.

Now, I find myself working as a ghostwriter. I use the skills and inspiration that I gained from that initial anime experience to bring other people's stories to life. I am constantly striving to create stories that are as engaging and captivating as the one that started it all for me. And although I may not be in the spotlight, I am proud to be a part of the process of creating great stories that will touch the hearts and minds of readers everywhere.

I read this manga for the second time in three years, and both times I ended up finishing all 191 chapters in one go. It's truly excellent. However, be cautioned that the ending is abrupt and incomplete.

The manga, which is based on the board game "GO," is character-driven. One will relish both the intense and the gentle pace of the story. The characters are unique and well-developed. They seem realistic (except for Sai). The emotions are skillfully portrayed, and the human relationships are vividly shown. The rivalry between the competitors is the best I have encountered in a manga.

The art is also outstanding and appears very realistic.

My only complaint is the abrupt/incomplete ending, but it remains one of my favorite manga.

I'm not going to add all 23 volumes, but indeed, I've read them all, not just once but multiple times. I've also watched the anime, which is extremely faithful to the book, and I've watched it multiple more times as well.

Yes, it's about a board game. It's yet another coming-of-age story framed by playing a sport, where we count board games and ballet as sports (Japan, you truly have some strange genres). But goddamn it, it's really good! It has the best characters, the best art (by Obata Takeshi (who also did )). (This guy has an evil sense of humor when it comes to 13-year-old formal wear). And the best arc.

Actually, a lot of people have issues with how the series wrapped. But let me point out that the series ends gloriously, with some serious thematic and plotwise closure, at the end of Vol 17. Yes, there are 5 more volumes, and then the series just cuts off. But I don't care! Just think of the last 5 as delicious fanfic written by the original author and illustrated by the original illustrator! Why would you complain about the existence of these 5 books??

Anyway, I fucking love this series.

~~~

I actually opened this tab because I wanted to make some comments about my experience reading Chinese vs. English translations of manga, and maybe pontificate about 's treatment of ambition and selfishness, which I think is really compelling and really Asian. Maybe I'll do that later.

It starts out very ordinary, in a way you've probably seen before.

The main character, named Shindou Hikaru, stumbles around in his shed and by coincidence, encounters a paranormal apparition. Interestingly, only he can see it.

This apparition is actually the ghost of a highly skilled Go player from the Meiji times, Fujiwara no Sai. Sai has an intense desire to play a game of Go.

Consequently, Hikaru brings him along to a Go salon. There, he discovers a kid of his own age with whom he can play. Since only Hikaru can see Sai, he has to play the pieces for him.

Of course, fate throws a twist when the opponent turns out to be a prodigy almost strong enough to become a professional Go player. Sai completely defeats this kid, Touya Akira, effortlessly.

From here, a wild goose chase ensues as Akira chases Hikaru because he wants a rematch. Naturally, Sai manages to involve Hikaru in the game, and Hikaru eventually chases after Akira.

As a result, we have Hikaru chasing after Akira, who in turn is chasing what he believes to be Hikaru. It's a complex and exciting chain of events that keeps the story engaging and full of surprises.

The first manga I've ever read truly left a profound impression on me.

I'm extremely glad that it was this particular one. It has piqued my curiosity to such an extent that I'm eager to give another manga a try.

As a passionate lover of board games myself, I found myself completely captivated by this seemingly uber popular game in Japan that I had never even heard of in America.

The concept and the illustrations in the manga have made me imagine the excitement and fun that could be had while playing this game.

Honestly, I can't wait to get my hands on a board and actually play a game.

I'm looking forward to experiencing the thrill and strategy that this game might offer.

It's like a whole new world has opened up for me, and I'm eager to explore it further.

I believe that this manga has not only introduced me to a new form of entertainment but also sparked my interest in Japanese culture and its unique offerings.

I'm excited to see where this newfound interest will lead me.

This was truly quite interesting.

I really like the way it discusses various traditional games from Japan, such as Go and Shogi.

At first, I had the impression that it might be a mere Yu-Gi-Oh! rip off. However, it turns out not to be as much so as I initially thought.

In fact, it has a certain charm and cuteness to it.

The exploration of these traditional games adds a unique flavor to the overall experience.

It allows one to learn about the rich cultural heritage of Japan through the medium of games.

Whether it's the strategic depth of Go or the complexity of Shogi, each game has its own allure.

This makes the article not only informative but also engaging and enjoyable to read.

It broadens our perspective and introduces us to a world of traditional Japanese games that we might not have otherwise known about.

Overall, it's a great piece that combines entertainment and education in a delightful way.

I have a deep love for the Anime version of this series.

It is truly remarkable how faithful it is to the manga. This has led me to abandon the idea of collecting the entire series in manga form, which consists of around 23 volumes.

The music in the Anime is simply too captivating for me. As a result, I have decided to content myself with periodically rewatching the Anime.

The story is centered around a young Japanese child who awakens the ghost of an ancient Go master. This ghost can only be seen and heard by the child. Subsequently, the child becomes involved in the game of Go himself.

I must admit that I was so enamored with the Anime that at one point, I had the aspiration of learning to play Go. I went as far as purchasing a Go board, some stones, and several "how to play" books. However, I have not yet made much progress with them.

Nonetheless, my love for the Anime and the story of the young Go enthusiast remains as strong as ever.

I truly have a deep affection for this manga. It's a pity that not everyone is familiar with this series. Sadly, this series concluded a long time ago. However, I still have to admit that there are some really excellent aspects to it.

I would highly recommend this series to people of all ages. I must confess that I did shed tears in the last few chapters. My favorite character was Sai the spirit. I really yearned for a sequel or a second season, but unfortunately, that didn't happen.

Anyway, I wholeheartedly recommend this manga. Go ahead and read it right now. You won't be disappointed. It offers a unique and engaging story that will keep you hooked from start to finish. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. So, don't miss out on this amazing manga.

**"Rediscovering Hikaru no Go"**

It was in high school, when I had only read romances, dramas, and shonen action fantasy, that I had a brilliant encounter with Hikaru no Go and discovered the power of Japanese manga artists to make me interested in subjects that were initially far from my tastes. I return to it 20 years later thanks to the wonderful reissue by Tonkam that has finally been completed!

Hikaru no Go is the manga that revealed Takeshi Obata to us. The author, now celebrated for his drawings, deserved a new edition up to par. The small pocket formats of the first edition, in 23 volumes, were very nice, but nothing compared to the larger format edition, bound, with bookmarks, color pages, and redesigned covers that is now available. For any lover of beautiful objects and Obata, it's a must! Of course, I already had the first edition, but I willingly reinvested once this one was finished.

Hikaru no Go was a series that had remained imprinted in my memory, and I rediscover why with this rereading. Published in the late 90s in Japan, it is emblematic of that era in its way of presenting a young hero, meeting a supernatural figure who reveals himself to himself and everywhere in a quest that will transform him. With a simplicity bordering on genius, Obata, aided by Yumi Hotta in the script, offers us a story with a perfectly written and paced opening, which will only gain in power.

In this first volume, the drawing is still a bit naive, a bit young, a bit chubby, but it already exudes great mastery beneath its freshness. It also fits wonderfully into what was being done at the time by Yu-Gi-Oh, Togashi, or Adachi. And some characters are already very beautiful, I'm thinking especially of Akira and his cat-like eyes or Sai and his androgynous look. Not to mention the author's talent for composing and pacing the pages simply but effectively and giving the impetus needed at the right moment to make the liveliness and impact of the gesture felt. He already has all the makings of a great artist!

The same goes for the story. The beginning is just as classic with a junior high school student finding an old haunted goban (checkered board for playing go) in the attic, who will end up being possessed by the ghost of the latter, a go pro from the Edo period, who will push him to play, play, and play again. In his own quest for the "divine move," he will not stop stringing together games against interesting players who could help him get closer to it. All of this is already in the germ in this first volume, constructed in a very effective and impactful way, combining the freshness of youth, humor, duels, and mysteries. The narration is light, reflecting the age of its hero, with traits of good-natured humor, a bit of a capricious side, but the seriousness is never far when Sai takes the reins and we find ourselves facing Hikaru's opponents. There is then a fascinating transformation that takes our breath away!

The author thus manages, already in this first volume, very easily, to make us passionate about a game that we don't know and don't understand much about, while gradually distilling its rules and its mysteries. Excellent! We quickly become passionate about the friendly opposition that will be born between our novice Hikaru and his future long-term adversary Akira Toya, the son of the Meijin, the strongest go player of the time. It didn't take long for the author to set the scene and show the personalities of each: Hikaru's nonchalance and lightness, Akira's seriousness and more introverted side, the solidity and strength of the Meijin, and of course Sai's mischief and quiet strength. Go is not a well-known sport, but it already has a fascinating aura from the very first pages under Obata's pen and Hotta's script. What a talent!

So it is with great pleasure that I will reread this beloved series, so successful and exciting, with endearing characters who will grow and discover themselves under our eyes, through an obscure and ancient game, all in a wonderful edition that pays homage to Obata's drawings. I really want to cherish these volumes and these moments.

Full review: https://lesblablasdetachan.wordpress....

I read and reviewed Hikaru no Go vol1.

This manga belongs to the category of "Go" manga. Even though I didn't have a good understanding of "Go" initially, I was still able to enjoy it. This is because the manga incorporates an engaging plot and interesting settings.

The protagonists of this manga are "Hikaru" and "Sai". Hikaru is a three-dimensional character. At the beginning of the story, he didn't even know how to play "Go". However, due to some unexpected events, he finally decided to play "Go" with Sai.

I was truly surprised by the setting of Sai. Sai is an original character. He had already passed away, but he was revived from the Edo period to play "Go". I think there are many interesting character traits in this manga.

Therefore, even if you don't have a deep knowledge of "Go", you will still be able to enjoy this captivating story.

Hikaru Shindo has a truly remarkable encounter. He comes across a very old Go board that holds a mysterious secret. Haunting this board is the ghost of a master player named Sai.

As Hikaru starts playing Go, he discovers that he has an invisible companion whispering valuable advice in his ear. Thanks to Sai's guidance, Hikaru proves to be more than a match for professional players. He astonishes everyone with his newfound skills and abilities on the Go board.

However, as time goes by and Hikaru continues to play as Sai directs him, something unexpected happens. Hikaru begins to develop a genuine interest in the game of Go for himself. He realizes that he wants to make his own moves and explore the game on his own terms.

I absolutely loved the anime adaptation of this story. Now that I've finished watching it, I'm excited to work my way through the original manga. I can't wait to see how the story unfolds in its original form and discover more about Hikaru's journey in the world of Go.

Potential favorite alert! I have a partiality for chess, but I would truly love to learn go at some point in the future. This manga manages to capture the essence of what it feels like for a novice to fall deeply in love with the art of strategy board games. It takes the reader through the anticipation that builds up before a move, the complex tactics that one has to consider, the mind-boggling puzzles that need to be solved, the daring gambits that can turn the tide of the game, and the patience that is required throughout the process of playing.

Moreover, there is a part of me that kinda wishes I had my very own deceased chess grandmaster guardian angel who could whisper those professional moves into my ear. It would be like having a secret weapon, someone who could guide me and help me make the best decisions on the board. Just imagining that scenario makes me even more excited about the world of strategy board games and the potential that lies within them.