Isumi makes a remarkable comeback. He embarks on a journey to China, where he engages in intense battles against young professional players.

During his time there, he gets embroiled in a fierce fight with a particular player, which leads him to decide to prolong his stay. As he interacts with the local players, he not only makes friends but also gains rivals. Through these experiences, his skill level steadily grows.

Meanwhile, everyone is left completely baffled by Hikaru's unexpected decision to quit. He is resolute in his stance and refuses to play unless Sai returns. Neither Waya, nor Yuki, nor any of the middle-school go team members, and not even Akira can sway his determination. However, upon Isumi's return from China, in a challenging encounter with Hikaru, he discovers that Sai still lives within him.

This discovery has the potential to change everything for Hikaru and set the stage for a new chapter in his go-playing career.

The plot is extremely interesting. In the past, it was Hikaru who "created" changes in Isumi.

This time, the match against Isumi becomes the foundation of Hikaru's strength to continuously "bring to life" Sai on the Go board.

It is truly touching!!

Hikaru's journey in the world of Go is filled with excitement and challenges. His encounter with Isumi not only tests his skills but also deepens his understanding of the game.

As the game progresses, Hikaru discovers that he can draw strength from his memories of Sai and use them to overcome the difficulties in front of him.

This connection between Hikaru and Sai adds an extra layer of depth to the story, making it a truly engaging and heartwarming experience for the readers.

Overall, the plot of this story is a masterful blend of action, drama, and emotion, leaving the audience eager to see what will happen next.

# Program BUBU

Program BUBU is an innovative and exciting initiative. It aims to bring about positive change in various aspects.

This program offers a wide range of opportunities and resources. It provides educational materials and courses to help individuals enhance their knowledge and skills.

BUBU also focuses on community building. It organizes events and activities where people can come together, share ideas, and build relationships.

Moreover, the program is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to all. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced professional, Program BUBU has something for you.

In conclusion, Program BUBU is a remarkable program that has the potential to make a significant impact. It offers a platform for growth, learning, and community engagement.

So, if you are looking for a program that can help you achieve your goals and connect with like-minded people, look no further than Program BUBU.

Can Shindo get his groove back?

Shindo has been facing a bit of a slump lately. His once confident and smooth style seems to have taken a hit. But the question remains, can he find that lost rhythm and regain his former glory?

Maybe it's a matter of getting back to the basics, rediscovering what made him great in the first place. Or perhaps he needs to look for new inspiration, explore different avenues and take some risks.

It won't be easy, but if Shindo is determined, he has the potential to turn things around. With a bit of hard work and a sprinkle of that old magic, he could once again be in the groove and shining bright.

Only time will tell if Shindo can truly get his groove back and become the force he once was. But one thing is for sure, everyone is watching and rooting for him.

The build-up of confidence is a crucial aspect of personal growth and success.

When we have confidence, we are more likely to take risks, pursue our goals, and face challenges with determination.

It allows us to believe in ourselves and our abilities, enabling us to perform at our best.

However, distractions can often hinder the process of building confidence.

In today's fast-paced world, there are countless distractions vying for our attention, such as social media, television, and smartphones.

These distractions can pull us away from our focus and prevent us from fully engaging in the activities that build confidence.

To overcome distractions and build confidence, it is essential to set clear goals and prioritize our time.

We can also create a distraction-free environment by turning off our phones, closing unnecessary tabs on our computers, and finding a quiet place to work or study.

By eliminating distractions, we can focus on the task at hand and gradually build our confidence over time.

I've read and reread this series no less than 4 times already.

Each time I go through it, it manages to touch my heart in the most profound way.

By the end of this particular volume, I found myself shedding tears.

I have an unwavering love for this series, whether it's in the form of the anime or the manga.

The story is so engaging and the characters are so well-developed that it's impossible not to get emotionally invested.

If you've never given sports manga a try, I highly recommend that you do.

You might be surprised at how much you'll enjoy it.

It offers a unique blend of excitement, drama, and inspiration that can truly move you.

So don't hesitate, pick up a sports manga today and discover a whole new world of entertainment.

The alteration of focus enables other individuals to sparkle within this narrative. Shindo's non-appearance casts an intriguing shadow over the Go world. Isumi's difficulties mirror Shindo's problems in diverse manners. I was reminded of the parallels between the East and the West in most Olympic sports (and chess) upon seeing the Chinese Go association. How can one compete against someone who lives and breathes Go almost every hour of every day, in contrast to a "regular" schedule?

It makes one wonder about the level of dedication and commitment required to truly excel in the world of Go. The Chinese players seem to have an almost obsessive passion for the game, which gives them an edge. But does this mean that those with a more balanced lifestyle have no chance?

Perhaps not. There may be other factors at play, such as natural talent, strategic thinking, and the ability to adapt. It will be interesting to see how Isumi fares in this highly competitive environment, especially without the presence of Shindo.

This volume is extremely Isumi-heavy. Isumi endeavors to acquire confidence and experience in China by competing against young Go professionals.

At first, he fears that he might be achieving the opposite, but he persists through the struggle, and the experience proves worthwhile. Then the focus returns to Hikaru, who is still resisting Go to the extent of refusing to assist his former Go club friends. Isumi returns to Japan and challenges Hikaru to a rematch, during which Hikaru breaks down in tears, exclaiming, "I couldn't find Sai anywhere I looked...and now I found him here." (In a move he played against Isumi.)

I loathe to say this as I am aware that numerous people, especially professional Go players who have read this series, adore him, but Isumi isn't truly one of my favorite characters. I suppose it was pleasant to see him again, working hard to build up his confidence, and his struggles are likely far more realistic than Hikaru's or even Akira's experiences with Go. Nevertheless, it was a relief when the volume reverted to Hikaru, despite Hikaru's guilt and grief.

That being said, the harm Hikaru was causing to his professional Go career by continuously forfeiting matches made my stomach churn. At this rate, could he catch up to Akira? Could he be dismissed at some point, and how many more matches could he forfeit before that occurred?

But, man, that ending elevated the volume. Isumi often comes across to me as a "reliable big brother" type, so it was rather nice that he was the one to witness Hikaru's breakdown. While I adored that Hikaru discovered Sai in his own Go playing style, I still truly desire Sai's return...

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

As Hikaru is left reeling from Sai's sudden disappearance, we are treated to a brief respite in the form of an arc that focuses on Isumi in China. Isumi, who has always been a beloved character, is seen playing against the Chinese go professionals.

The dynamic among the Japanese inseis has always been fascinating, and it was truly heartbreaking to witness Isumi being left behind. Like all the other supporting characters, he seemed fated to fade away after only brief appearances. However, this arc gives us a glimmer of hope as we see him regain his composure and prepare to take the pro test once again.

At the end of the arc, Isumi returns to Japan and seeks out Hikaru. Their encounter turns into the most emotionally devastating moment in the entire series as Isumi confronts Hikaru about his recent habit of forfeiting all his games. The weight of their emotions is palpable, and it leaves the viewer on the edge of their seat, wondering what will happen next.

So, I was rather skeptical when the majority of this volume ended up being about Isumi, who had been a minor character until this point.

Isumi was one of Hikaru's fellow Insei. However, he failed the pro test and made the decision to journey to China to study go for a while. Now that Fujiwara no Sai has vanished and Hikaru has given up playing go, Hotta seemingly decided to focus on another character for a time. Although I had never paid much attention to Isumi before, he transforms into just as captivating a character as Hikaru. And being older, he is significantly more mature.

In China, he discovers that the level of play is far higher than in Japan. While attempting to build up his confidence and skills, he gets defeated not by one, but two bratty little 11-year-olds. Nevertheless, with some encouragement from other Chinese players, he recovers and returns to Japan, ready to take on the weiqi world.

This leads us back to Hikaru, who has been moping around for months, not playing go, forfeiting all his pro games, and leaving everyone wondering what on earth is wrong with him. Even his mother finally takes notice. (Hikaru no Go has some of the most ineffective parents ever, even for a children's series.) All of his middle school friends are still playing go, but he is being too moody to even reconnect with them. Seriously, this kid needs a wake-up call.

Basically, he has convinced himself that if he plays go again on his own, Sai won't return. Which is completely illogical - the last thing Sai would want is for Hikaru to stop playing go. But that's the mindset of a teenager for you.

Speaking of which, it's great to see that the characters are actually aging in this series. When the series began, Hikaru was 11, and now he's 15, or almost there, and he is being depicted appropriately older.

Now, when will he finally notice Akari? I mean, come on, regardless of how brooding or go-obsessed you are, a 15-year-old boy is still a 15-year-old boy.

Anyway, this volume was a bit of an improvement in the series compared to the rather average last couple of volumes. It concludes with Isumi returning to Japan, visiting Hikaru, and asking him to play one final game to clear the slate after their last game during the pro test. Hopefully, the next volume will commence with Hikaru snapping out of it and playing some go.

This volume offers us the least quantity of Hikaru in a series known as Hikaru No Go...at least until this stage!

This volume indeed functions as a catch-up volume for all the characters we encountered along the way and who have truly been overlooked. And don't misunderstand me, the characters are excellent, but I didn't miss them when the story was so centered on the main characters.

This is still a solid and necessary installment, yet it just didn't resonate with me in the same way as some other volumes did. Having said that, the story works extremely well and it appears to be reaching a crucial point at this juncture, so hats off to the creative team!

They have managed to maintain the overall quality of the series despite this volume's slightly different focus. It will be interesting to see how the story progresses from here and if the subsequent volumes will once again capture my full attention like some of the earlier ones did.

Overall, while this volume may not be my favorite in the series, it still has its merits and is an important part of the Hikaru No Go narrative.

In this volume, we closely follow Isumi as he embarks on a two-month study of Go at the Go Association in China.

During his time there, we witness some growth in him. However, after the Go test, he isn't as confident as he once was. Nevertheless, he manages to make some friends and even achieves victories against a few professional players towards the end of his stay.

I really liked that this volume put a strong focus on Isumi. It makes us wonder if he will be able to become a professional this year.

Back in Japan, Isumi asks Hikaru for a game. And it is precisely in that game that Hikaru finally discovers Sai.

The whole story is both beautiful and sad, leaving us with a mix of emotions and a sense of anticipation for what lies ahead.

Will Isumi succeed in his goal of becoming a Pro? And what will happen next for Hikaru and Sai? These questions keep us hooked and eager to find out more.