It's truly hard to believe that this outstanding series is going to come to an end with the next volume.

However, this penultimate book does an excellent job in laying the groundwork for the grand finale.

The amount of tension and action packed within the panels on each page is simply amazing.

I can't help but wonder how all of this would have been translated into the Anime version.

With Sai no longer being a part of the storyline, Shindo and Toya manage to carry the story forward quite nicely.

The artwork is once again beautifully presented, with some really excellent background renderings.

As an added bonus, there is the complete game between Kiyoharu Yashiro (black) and Hikaru Shindo (white).

This is the famous game where black opened on the 5-5 point and white responded with Tengen!

It makes for a truly captivating read and leaves fans eagerly anticipating the final volume.

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What a volume!

I will keep this review short because the only thing stopping me from beginning the final volume of Hikaru No Go is what you are currently reading.

The series has been such a pleasant read. I am so glad that I got my daughter into it as well. We are reading together, and this may be the first time all year I am out ahead of her on a volume. That's how enjoyable this one was for me.

It all comes together in this volume. The storylines intertwine beautifully, and the characters continue to develop in interesting ways. The Tournament is in full swing, and the battles promise to be fierce.

We get to see Hikaru and his friends face off against some tough opponents, and the tension is palpable. The art by Obata is一如既往地出色, bringing the characters and the Go games to life.

Hotta and Umezawa have done an excellent job of creating a world that is both engaging and immersive. I can't wait to see how it all ends in the final volume.

One more volume.

The deciding match against Ko Younha and at the same time, the elimination of Shusaku's position within Hikaru.

This upcoming encounter holds great significance. Hikaru is determined to prove himself and overcome the challenge posed by Ko Younha. The battle will not only be a test of their skills but also a crucial moment for Hikaru to break free from the shadow of Shusaku. As the two opponents step onto the battlefield, the anticipation in the air is palpable. Everyone is eager to witness the outcome of this intense showdown. Will Hikaru be able to emerge victorious and assert his own identity, or will Ko Younha prove to be the stronger adversary? Only time will tell as the drama unfolds in this exciting volume.

This one was truly intense.

I found myself completely engrossed and simply couldn't put it down.

The performance of Team Japan was truly remarkable. They looked so cool on the field.

Every move they made was filled with confidence and skill. Their teamwork was seamless, and it was a pleasure to watch them in action.

Their determination and focus were palpable, and it was clear that they were a force to be reckoned with.

Overall, it was an exciting and unforgettable experience to witness Team Japan's performance. I can't wait to see what they do next.

Suyong suspects that Ko Yong Ha did not diss Shusaku and goes to him to confirm this.

It turns out to have been a terrible mistranslation. However, Yong Ha decides to roll with it and publicly needle Hikaru some more.

Hikaru, in response, begs to be first in the match against Korea, even though he knows Akira is the more likely choice.

Kurata says he'll do it if Hikaru can impress him against China. He figures this will fire Hikaru up enough to help him win.

In Japan's match against China, Yashiro loses, Akira wins, and Hikaru loses (but makes his opponent fight to the very end).

Kurata decides to let Hikaru be first against Korea despite his loss, shocking everyone but Akira, who wonders what Hikaru's connection to Shusaku is.

Hikaru's mom attended the China game! Which went disappointingly. Dang it.

After so many less focused volumes, it was nice to have one solely devoted to a single tournament. This volume really ramped up the tension and kept the focus on the series' younger characters.

I just wish things had gone better for Hikaru. I know that, story-wise, he was due for some losses, but right near the end of the series wasn't really the best time for it.

Akira was so very close to figuring out the whole Hikaru and Shusaku thing on his own. He even remembered that, in his first game against Hikaru, Hikaru used a few archaic moves.

And at the end of the volume, Hikaru came so close to explaining why he got into Go and why Shusaku is important to him. Publicly, even! Akira was visibly disappointed that Hikaru was cut short. Me too, Akira, me too.

Additional Comments: In this volume, Hotta mentions the existence of something called the Hikaru no Go Gorgeous Characters Guide. The translation made it sound like it was previously only available in Japanese but had since been made available in English. If that was the case, it's out of print and unavailable now. I came very close to buying a copy of the Japanese edition (on Amazon it's $5-8 including shipping!) but reminded myself that I'm currently at negative shelf space and don't have room for something I can't even read.

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

Finally, some Go heroics!

The highly anticipated Hokuto Cup is about to commence. The first player from Korea makes a bold decision. He refuses to apologize for his previous statement regarding Shusaku. Instead, he has the audacity to express his intention to irritate the Japanese team by proclaiming that he would defeat Shusaku effortlessly.

This puts Hikaru in a difficult position as he desperately struggles to be the first player for his team. However, he faces an uphill battle and cannot achieve this goal initially. Kurata, seeing Hikaru's determination, tells him that if he manages to win his game against the Chinese team, he will be given the opportunity to be the first when facing the Korean team.

Hikaru engages in a fierce battle with the Chinese player and unfortunately loses the game by a very narrow margin. But Kurata, deeply impressed by Hikaru's passion and dedication, decides to name him as the first player for the upcoming match against the Korean team anyway. This unexpected decision shocks everyone, including the Korean team themselves.

This volume is extremely focused on Hikaru and Akira. There are numerous intense and engaging matches, as well as highly dramatic showdowns. One of the most notable is the encounter between Hikaru and Ko Yong Ha. Ko Yong Ha's arrogance exacerbates an already tense situation to an extreme degree. It makes the whole scene even more thrilling and captivating.

Now, the question is whether the next volume is truly the last. Frankly speaking, it doesn't give that impression at all. The story seems to have so much more potential and depth that could be explored. There are still many unresolved plotlines and character developments that could take place. It feels as if there is a whole new world of possibilities waiting to be uncovered in the subsequent volumes.

Overall, this volume has left readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating what will come next. Whether it's the final volume or not, one thing is for sure - the story of Hikaru and Akira continues to be a fascinating and enthralling journey.

The highly anticipated Hokuto Cup has finally begun.

This volume provides comprehensive coverage of the first two out of the three exciting rounds.

The competition has attracted numerous talented participants from various regions.

In the first round, the contestants showcased their remarkable skills and strategies, vying for the top positions.

The atmosphere was intense as each one strived to outperform the others.

As the second round commenced, the level of competition continued to rise.

The players demonstrated even greater determination and creativity in their gameplay.

The results of these two rounds have set the stage for an even more thrilling final round.

Stay tuned as we bring you all the latest updates and highlights from the Hokuto Cup.

Ko Yong Ha provokes Hikaru right before the first match of the Hokuto Cup. On the stage of the reception, he boldly proclaims that if Hon'inbo Shusaku were to show up here today, he would be no match for him. This blatant挑衅 deeply upsets Hikaru. As a result, Hikaru requests Kurata to change the lineup of the game against Korea. He desires to play in the first position against Korea's strongest player, Ko Yong Ha. Even though Japan suffered a loss in their first round against China, Kurata decides to let Hikaru take on Yong Ha the next day. This is because of his remarkable performance in the second half of the game against Wang Shizhen.

Slowly, the people around Hikaru begin to realize that Hikaru's sensitivity towards Shusaku is not merely based on his admiration for him. There seems to be something more profound and complex underlying his connection with the legendary Shusaku. Maybe it's a sense of destiny or a hidden longing to prove himself in the shadow of the great master. Whatever the reason, it is clear that Hikaru's determination to face Ko Yong Ha is not just about winning the game but also about something much deeper within himself.

The Hokuto Cup commences in this penultimate tankobon, with the first round featuring China vs. Japan. As Ko Yongha takes on the first board for South Korea, Hikaru Shindo earnestly pleads with Atshushi Kurata to let him be the first board for that match. His motivation? To avenge Fujiwara-no-Sai, who played as Honinbo Shusaku. Kurata is well aware of Shindo's connection as a Shusaku aficionado from their first encounter, and Akira Toya also knows that Shindo's Go closely resembles that of Shusaku. In the end, Kurata will make a decision after observing all their matches against China.

Thanks to Hon Suyon, Ko discovers the translation error from his previous interview and repeats what he truly meant. However, to his detriment, instead of permitting Hon to inform Shindo of what actually occurred, given that Hon desires everyone to be friends, Ko digs in his heels and further insults Shusaku in his statements during the Opening Ceremony.
Shindo's match against Wàng Shìzhèn gets off to a rough start. Due to the novel situation and pressures he is under - having never played Go in the International Area and never in front of a camera - he doesn't perform at his best. Nevertheless, he stages a remarkable comeback, and it is only in the end that anyone realizes Shindo narrowly lost. Despite Shindo's defeat to Wàng and Toya's victory over Lù Lì, Kurata decides to grant Shindo his request to play against Ko Yongha.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this tankobon. It was filled with tension, and I found myself wholeheartedly rooting for Shindo to prevail in his match against his Chinese counterpart, so that he could face Ko in the final round. In the end, he still managed to impress Kurata and was permitted to play against Ko. I am truly looking forward to his match and how the series will conclude in the next and final tankobon.

The penultimate volume!

I am truly in awe of how every single move in the games of go appears to be like thrilling action scenes, almost oozing with tension and drama.

I have a deep admiration for Yong Ha's eagerness to play the villainous role in order to bring out the absolute best in Hikaru. It's also fascinating to see how Hikaru's nerves give way to his intense passion for playing the game.

This tournament is a real treat as it brings back some of the older characters. Rivals like Akira Toya have now become characters that we wholeheartedly cheer for, simply because they are all on the same team.

What's especially wonderful is that it provides our protagonists with some peers. These are not just other pros or young up-and-comers, but the next generation of greats.

This entire series has revolved around Hikaru's desire to challenge Akira, and now they are teammates, equals. And here come the "Akiras" of China and Korea!

They are the same new wave of young players, not just good but exceptionally good. They are the ones who have the potential to change the future of the professional go scene and become the next title holders, battling it out for the world championship.

We've always known that Hikaru was talented and that he would ultimately earn the respect he rightfully deserves. Now that he is finally emerging as a true professional, he gets to face others who ignite the same passion in him that initially set this series in motion.

Hikaru has caught up to Akira and is now regarded as a rival. But can he also catch up to Yong Ha and prove himself in the same way?