This story is like a warm and cozy comfort food for me.

I find myself constantly drawn back to reread the book or rewatch the anime, yet I can't quite put my finger on the exact reason.

Certainly, my interest in the game of Go plays a significant role. There's something about the strategic depth and elegance of Go that intrigues me.

But it's not just that. I also really like that this is a generally positive story. It's about the journey of a person getting good at something, about their growth and development.

It shows that with determination, hard work, and a bit of passion, one can achieve great things.

This aspect of the story is truly inspiring and makes me want to keep coming back for more.

It gives me hope and motivation in my own life to pursue my own interests and strive for excellence.

Overall, this story holds a special place in my heart and I know I'll continue to enjoy it for a long time to come.

Hotta decides to take a break from the main storyline of Hikaru no Go and instead focuses on telling some short stories about the supporting characters.

Most of these short stories are set in the first year or so of Hikaru's adventures. They often occur just before or after a story that we witnessed in the early issues of the comic.

In these stories, there are no major revelations. However, they do offer some interesting character moments. The tone of the stories feels a little bit playful, as if Hotta simply wanted to go back and spend some quality time with the characters that she has a soft spot for.

From my perspective, this seems like a really good idea. It allows the readers to get to know the supporting characters on a deeper level and adds more depth and dimension to the overall story. It also gives Hotta the opportunity to explore different aspects of the characters and their relationships, which can be quite engaging and entertaining.

Volume 17 concluded with what was supposed to be the series finale.

Consequently, it becomes evident that volume 18, which consists of six "side stories" about secondary characters, is what Yumi Hotta devised to fill the void while attempting to determine what to do next.

None of these stories are of poor quality, and it is always pleasant to witness an author explore some of the minor characters or overlooked scenes that couldn't be incorporated into the main storyline.

However, none of the stories truly enhanced our understanding of the characters or had any impact on the series.

Therefore, it is very much a "filler" volume.

The six characters each having a short story are as follows:

Akira Toya: Similar to most of the stories, this one occurs way back during the first year of the series. We observe that Akira is a rather lonely child, being the only go player his age who can play at his level. Evidently, he has no interests outside of go. He plays against another kid, a "junior meijin" champion, who is no match for him, and then meets Hikaru. Basically, it's just a bit of an insertion prior to the events we already read.

Tetsuo Kaga: A minor character from the early part of the series whom I never found particularly interesting, the shogi club president who was also a go expert. We see him return to Haze Middle School, which is struggling to keep its go club alive now that Hikaru and all his friends have moved on.

Asumi Nase: One disappointing aspect of Hikaru no Go is that despite being written by a woman, female characters never have more than minor roles. Asumi Nase is the only named female Insei character we've seen in the series (and she and Akari are the only named female go players, period). So, I was quite excited to see that she actually gets a story of her own. It's actually one of the more interesting stories in this volume, if only because we've seen so little of Asumi before now. Basically, she decides to skip her go study group and ends up going on a date with a guy who thinks she's really attractive, until she takes him to a go salon and starts beating the pants off of older go players. He promptly abandons her, and poor Asumi decides she's better off sticking to go. It seems nobody in this series can be a go player and have a social life.

Yuki Mitani: This story was merely a retelling of Mitani's introduction in the series, when he was cheating at go to supplement his income until a "go shark" was called in to teach him a lesson.

Atsushi Kurata: Kurata 6-dan, the chubby professional go player we met later in the series, gets a story about his middle school days. It turns out that before he took up go, he was a genius at predicting horse races, much to the greedy delight of a student teacher who discovers his secret. This was one of the more interesting stories in the volume, even if Kurata remains a side character.

Fujiwara no Sai: Finally, a story about Sai and Hikaru. A story featuring Sai's earlier life, when he was actually alive, or perhaps when he was haunting Torajiro during the Edo period, would have been interesting, but Hotta hasn't shown much interest in truly doing anything historical. So instead, we get a story that has exactly the same plot as one we saw in an earlier volume, where Sai spots a sleazy merchant selling fake "antiques" and gets Hikaru to challenge the fraud to a go game. That's one of those plots you can use once, and after that it's just repetitive.

So, while the stories were all okay, I believe Hotta could have been much more creative with them.

Bonusgeschichten are additional stories that often offer extra entertainment or insights. They can be a great way to enhance the overall experience of a particular subject or theme.

These stories can come in various forms, such as short tales, anecdotes, or even mini-novels. They may be related to the main narrative in some way, perhaps providing background information, exploring different perspectives, or simply adding an element of fun.

Bonusgeschichten can be found in many different mediums, including books, magazines, websites, and even video games. They can be a welcome addition for readers or viewers who are looking for something more than the standard fare.

In conclusion, Bonusgeschichten offer a unique and engaging way to explore new ideas and experiences. Whether you're a fan of fiction or non-fiction, there's sure to be a bonus story out there that will capture your imagination.

# Program BUBU

Program BUBU is an innovative and exciting initiative that aims to bring about positive change.

It focuses on various aspects such as education, community development, and environmental conservation.

Through a series of well-planned activities and projects, BUBU strives to enhance the skills and knowledge of individuals, strengthen community bonds, and protect the natural environment.

The program involves the active participation of volunteers, who contribute their time and expertise to make a difference.

With its unique approach and clear goals, Program BUBU has the potential to have a significant impact on the lives of many people and create a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Whether it's through teaching children in underserved areas, organizing community clean-up drives, or promoting eco-friendly practices, BUBU is making a real difference one step at a time.

Join us in supporting Program BUBU and be a part of this wonderful journey of positive change.

Filler filler filler

The original article was rather brief. However, with a shot of yuki which helps, we can expand it into a more detailed piece. We could describe the context in which the yuki appears. Maybe it's a cold winter's day, and the yuki is gently falling from the sky, covering the ground in a soft white blanket.

Perhaps the yuki has a special significance for the characters or the story. It could bring a sense of peace and tranquility, or it might signal a change in the situation. We could explore how the yuki affects the mood and atmosphere of the scene.

Adding more details and descriptions will make the article more engaging and interesting for the reader. It will allow them to better visualize the scene and understand the role that the yuki plays. With a little creativity and the help of yuki, we can transform a simple article into a more vivid and captivating one.

Filler filler filler

This volume commences with a flashback, which proceeds to offer us glimpses of past adventures that remained unseen when they originally occurred.

The first flashback is my personal favorite as it presents us with Akira's life events that led up to his life-altering encounter with Hikaru. I discovered it to be an extremely cool way to ease into the story, considering that volume 17 served as a great conclusion to a book.

The book encompasses numerous sections that enable the expansion of scenes from past stories, making it a delightful way to enhance the reading experience. I wonder, if the pages from volume 18 were integrated into the previous chapters of the book, would it enhance the narrative or simply not hold the same significance?

Yumi Hotta, Takeshi Obata, and Yukari Umezawa collaborate as a flawless team to produce volumes of such high quality for this remarkable book.

I truly adored this volume due to the captivating short stories it contained.

It was an absolute delight to take a trip down memory lane and revisit the familiar characters that had won my heart in the past.

The opportunity to witness a younger Hikaru in the company of Sai was simply heartwarming.

Their interactions and the development of their relationship added an extra layer of depth and charm to the overall narrative.

Each short story was like a precious gem, shining with its own unique光芒 and contributing to the rich tapestry of the volume.

I found myself completely immersed in the world of these characters, eagerly turning the pages to see what adventures awaited them.

This volume will无疑 hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to many more wonderful experiences with these beloved characters in the future.

While the side stories of the other characters are mildly interesting, I find myself rather irked by this particular volume.

It contains certain scenes that are simply inappropriate for the children's department. The idea of having a manga where people frequent go salons located above porn shops is just not something I feel comfortable presenting to kids.

I really hate the thought of splitting up the series in this way. It seems rather disjointed and goes against the cohesive nature that a series should have.

It's a real dilemma, as I do appreciate the overall story and the development of the characters, but these specific scenes are a major drawback.

I'm not sure what the best course of action is at this point, but I definitely can't ignore the fact that these scenes are a cause for concern.

Perhaps some sort of censorship or adaptation could be considered to make the content more suitable for a younger audience.

However, that would also require careful consideration to ensure that the integrity of the story is not compromised.

Overall, this volume has left me with a rather mixed feeling, and I'm hoping that future volumes will address these issues and provide a more enjoyable and appropriate reading experience for all.

A filler volume that comes with side stories about other characters is truly a wonderful addition.

It's great to witness the development of some of these side characters. This not only enriches the story's world but also adds more complexity and depth to it.

Moreover, it's really nice to see Sai make a reappearance through flashbacks, allowing us to catch a glimpse of some of Hikaru and Sai's daily adventures.

Among all the side stories, my favorite is the first one that delves into Akira Toya's background. He is absolutely adorable as a little kid, and as you see Hikaru and Akira's first meeting, there is a strong sense of nostalgia that washes over you.

This filler volume offers a unique perspective and enhances the overall reading experience, making it a must-read for fans of the series.

Nase Asumi's story was simultaneously my favorite and my least favorite.

On one hand, her story was the most interesting among all. It had elements that truly captured my attention and made me eager to know more. However, on the other hand, reading her story served as a harsh reminder of what I don't like about manga, especially those from the past like this one.

It's truly annoying that in my favorite manga series, female characters were treated so poorly. Not only by the author, but also by the other characters within the story. The fact that the best story for a female was only considered good enough to be a side story is really disheartening.

2001 wasn't even that long ago, yet this kind of misogynistic portrayal still existed. I can probably go on a rant about why bother putting in characters like Asumi or Akari in the first place, but at the end of the day, it is what it is.

Thankfully, this volume was a nice break after volume 17. Sai D;

This volume offers a fascinating exploration into the lives of six of the characters within the series.

Some of these captivating stories have been adapted into the Anime series. Notably, the one centered around Akira Toya is of particular significance as it builds up to the crucial moment when he is introduced to Hikaru.

The Kurata story, on the other hand, enriches the background of the character to a great extent. It delves deeper into his personality and experiences, thereby making him far more interesting and complex than he initially appeared in the Anime.

Overall, this volume serves as an interesting interlude. It provides readers with valuable insights and additional details about the characters, enhancing their understanding and enjoyment of the series. It acts as a bridge, connecting the previous installments with the upcoming ones and whetting the appetite for the resumption of the series.

It is a must-read for fans of the series who are eager to learn more about their favorite characters and gain a deeper appreciation for the rich and intricate world that has been created.