Yet Another Great Volume!

By Barbara Kelley

This particular episode of Hikaru no Go is truly yet another remarkable volume. Hikaru has embarked on the Insei test and has successfully become an Insei. Meanwhile, Akira has already reached the professional level and is competing against Oza Zama, a highly skilled 9 Dan or above professional Go player in a tournament game.

It is also important to note that the Haze Middle School rendition of the Assassination of Nobanaga is a must-read. This skit was not included in the anime series, adding an extra layer of interest and novelty.

Overall, I was extremely impressed with this episode and毫不犹豫地gave it a full 5 stars. It continues to captivate and engage, keeping fans on the edge of their seats with its exciting storylines and well-developed characters.

Whether you are a die-hard fan of Hikaru no Go or new to the series, this volume is definitely worth checking out.

Hikaru passes the insei exam, astonishing the testing sensei with his natural talent and rapid growth after playing Go for just one year.

He also shocks his fellow insei by revealing that his goal is to defeat Akira Toya. Little do they know that previously, Akira's goal was to beat Hikaru.

At first, his peers are both scared and curious about his strength, given his relationship with Akira. However, after playing a game with him, they discover that he isn't actually that strong.

Hikaru climbs the ranks from B 25 to B 18. Meanwhile, Akira passes the pro exam with only one loss, which he deliberately takes so he can play an online game against Sai (Hikaru).

Akira's first game as a pro goes extremely well considering his opponent is a veteran. For a long time, Akira is in the lead, but towards the end-game, Zama-sensei defeats him.

After watching all of Akira's games, Hikaru returns to his old Go club at the middle school, where a game ensues between him and probably their best player. The outcome of this game remains unknown until the next volume.

Hikaru takes the Insei exam and, with the recommendation of a player who saw him play with Akira's father, he passes.

He realizes that this will aid his development and acknowledges the promise he holds. Reluctantly, the Insei school accepts him, and he joins them, only to lose every single game.

Meanwhile, Akira prepares for a life as a pro and starts off on the wrong foot by picking a battle with a title holder. His aggressive moves are actually intended as a message to Hikaru.

I don't quite understand some of the clichés the manga uses regarding the Japanese school, but I suppose I can still appreciate the volume without that. Overall, it's a good step forward for the story, with an unexplained sidelining of the girls in the old go club.

On the second reading, I'm even more astonished by the interactions within the school environment. However, I also love that Hikaru isn't a miracle worker at the Insei school. He's the 18th in the second group, one of the weakest players, as it should be. But after 10 consecutive losses, things start to turn around for him, and it feels great.

The intensity of Akira is, to say the least, interesting. I love the rivalry, even if it's unjustified. I love the challenge that Akira presents to Hikaru, and the way Hikaru is also pushed forward by this rivalry that, as many characters keep insisting, makes no sense in reality.

This is the one that started it all for me.

I was reading Shonen Jump back in 2006 and saw one of the chapters from this volume. The characters played this complicated, odd-looking game on the pages. Even though I had no idea how to play at the time, I was completely mesmerized. I just had to know more about it.

Fast forward to 2023 and I've been playing Go for over a decade. Revisiting this same chapter all these years later is like taking a trip down memory lane. It's a huge dose of nostalgia. This series is truly special. It's so wholesome, yet at the same time, it's full of fire and excitement. The quaint Japanese streets and calm conversations in the story can quickly turn into intense battles on the game board. Each move that the players make tells a part of the story that is being written every time two players sit down together.

Also, Obata's artwork is simply incredible to look at. He is truly a master of his craft. His detailed illustrations bring the story and the characters to life in the most amazing way.

I mentioned in my review of volume 5 that I had a sense this series was headed in a direction I didn't like. I suspected that I wouldn't enjoy the next few volumes or perhaps even the remainder of this series. So far, my prediction of not enjoying it has held true, but it's still too early to determine precisely how the rest of the series will unfold. The chapters featuring the other insei were both boring and somewhat stressful. I eagerly awaited the return of Hikaru playing go with his school's go club. By the last chapter, when he finally does play go with his old club, it seems that he and his childhood friend Akari have drifted apart. In the beginning of the series, they were constantly together, but now she doesn't even know what he's up to and appears rather cold towards him.

As I stated in my volume 5 review, the reasons I have such a great fondness for sports anime and manga are the friendships among the characters, the teamwork, and the depth of their care for one another. Even though I'm not particularly adept in social situations and dislike working with others, I was hoping that this series would continue with Hikaru on a team, and we could follow their journey. However, it seems that instead, we will be following his individual path to becoming a pro and the team's progress without him. I understand that this is to maintain Hikaru's rivalry with Akira, but I don't prefer this direction.诚然, I adored Yuri on Ice, but I already anticipated that he would compete as an individual since it's figure skating. In Kuroko's Basketball and Haikyu, we witness the main characters improving both on their own and with their teams, participating in school tournaments, and later, some of the Haikyu characters become pros. That's precisely what I was hoping for and expecting from this series, but it doesn't seem to be happening.

Unfortunately, I have to read at least until volume 10 as I possess the first 10 volumes. If I end up enjoying the next few volumes, I'll purchase the remainder of the series. If not, I'll skip to the last arc and read it on the Shonen Jump app. I truly hope I'll enjoy it because I thoroughly relished the first 4 volumes, and I really like the cover of volume 22. The way Hikaru looks somewhat reminds me of Light from Death Note (even though I'm not a fan of Death Note), which makes sense considering Obata illustrated both manga series. I had no idea that go was so popular in modern times. Then again, these chapters were originally published in 1999, so a great deal could have changed in those 23 years.

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This tankobon commences with Hikaru Shindo barley scraping through the Insei Exam.

After successfully passing the examination, he proceeds to meet some of the insei and accidentally reveals that Akira Toya views him as a rival.

Consequently, on his very first day as an insei, everyone anticipates a monster on the goban. However, they are surprised to find Shindo struggling at the bottom of the lower class.

Meanwhile, Toya passes his Professional Examination with only one loss. This is because he skipped his match to play sai online and is now preparing to play Zama Oza in his Shinshodan Game, which is essentially an exhibition game between a new pro and a seasoned title holder.

Shindo witnesses this game and is inspired by it, realizing that his rival is getting further and further ahead of him.

The tankobon concludes with Shindo making only minimal progress in his game. Nevertheless, he is invited by Yoshitaka Waya to join his study group.

As the group disbands, Shindo, filled with nostalgia, returns to the Go club at his school. However, he is eventually informed not to come back unless invited, just in case Yuki Mitani returns again.

Overall, this tankobon ends without a cliff-hanger, leaving me uncertain about what to expect in the next installment. The plot is advancing at a satisfactory pace, and the rivalry has been further intensified.

Nonetheless, it is the introduction of the other insei that has made this tankobon truly worthwhile. The art, as always, is remarkable, and I am eagerly awaiting the next tankobon in the series.

While I overall continue to have a great enjoyment of this series, and I am fully aware of who the actual target audience for this series is, I simply can't stop being bothered by the treatment of women, especially in this particular volume. I've stated it previously and I'll repeat it again. This series would be better off without any female characters rather than using them as a sign to the reader whenever Hikaru is facing a weak player. The fact that Hikaru loses to a girl Insei is merely to demonstrate to us just how he is truly starting from the very bottom.

That being said, at least he (and the people around him) don't belong to the same boastful group as the characters in Bakuman. This appears to be because the author herself is a somewhat overly (in my humble opinion) self-deprecating woman. This could very well be the reason why the female characters are so subpar. Although I'm just the most amateur of psychologists. This strikes me as more tragic than infuriating, which is probably another reason why I continue to read rather than discarding the whole thing in disgust. I don't know. We all read and enjoy things that we don't completely agree with or find entirely edifying.

Finally, Hikaru becomes an Insei student! Meanwhile, Toya reaches the first stage of the game as a beginner against Zama Ouza. Even so, this volume seems simple (of course, it's still interesting^^).

In the chapter set in the science lab, the presence of Mitani gives a rather bittersweet nuance. Hats off to Akari for still persevering along with the other two in the club.

And the special chapter is really interesting.

This story continues to unfold with various intrigues and developments. Hikaru's journey as an Insei is full of challenges and opportunities, while Toya is also making his mark in the world of Go. The relationships between the characters add depth and complexity to the narrative.

The science lab scene with Mitani brings a different flavor to the story, showing a side of the characters that we may not have seen before. Akari's determination to stay in the club despite the difficulties is also admirable.

Overall, this volume leaves us eager to see what will happen next in the lives of these characters.

Hikaru engages in Insei activities, and we are introduced to a new set of characters for him to interact with.

Additionally, we witness Akira Toya enter a match with someone who might truly be stronger than him for once (aside from Sai, of course). It is fascinating to see Hikaru embark on a path towards meeting Akira and gradually become more aware of the actual size of the gap between them.

I also adore the fact that Akira now refuses to view Hikaru as a rival, vowing to improve not to compete with Hikaru but to become someone that Hikaru cannot hope to reach. Their somewhat rivalry is the heart of the series that propels it forward, with both pushing each other to new heights for the oddest of reasons, even as the rest of the interesting supporting cast is reduced to guest appearances.

This dynamic between Hikaru and Akira adds depth and excitement to the story, making it a captivating read or watch.

Quite a few new characters are introduced in this context.

These new characters bring fresh elements and perspectives, adding more depth and complexity to the story or situation.

Moreover, I also delved deeper into the pro ranking system.

I discovered its various aspects, such as how it is structured, what criteria are used for evaluation, and how it impacts the professionals within the relevant field.

Understanding the pro ranking system has given me a better appreciation for the competitiveness and hierarchy that exists among the experts.

It has also made me realize the importance of continuous improvement and performance in order to achieve a higher ranking.

Overall, the introduction of new characters and the exploration of the pro ranking system have enhanced my knowledge and understanding in this particular area.

This newfound information will surely prove useful in my future endeavors and interactions within this domain.

In this volume, Hikaru has the opportunity to join the Insei.

He embarks on a journey of growth by playing Go against the members of the Insei. Through these intense battles, he hones his skills and deepens his understanding of the game.

On the other hand, Toya also makes significant progress. He passes the examination of becoming a professional and gets the chance to play against Oza.

This marks a new milestone in his Go career.

Both Hikaru and Toya are on their respective paths of development, facing different challenges and opportunities.

Their stories unfold, filled with excitement, determination, and the pursuit of excellence in the world of Go.

As the volume progresses, we can't wait to see how their skills will continue to evolve and what new adventures await them.

The main character was presented with a completely new cast to engage and interact with. However, the old middle school go club found themselves demoted to mere guest appearances, and this included Akari.

Akari had been there right from the start along with Hikaru. It was, after all, the two of them who had discovered the go board that was haunted by Sai. She truly deserved more in-depth character development. As the story advanced, this would become a recurring theme for the other supporting characters as well.

Each of these supporting characters had their own unique qualities and potential, yet they were often overshadowed by the new cast. It was a pity to see them being pushed to the sidelines when they could have added so much more depth and richness to the narrative.

Perhaps with a bit more attention and focus on their individual storylines, the readers or viewers could have gained a better understanding and appreciation of these characters and their significance within the overall plot.