Hikaru Shindo is like any sixth-grader in Japan: a pretty normal school boy with a two-tone head of hair and a penchant for antics. One day, he finds an old bloodstained Go board in his grandfather's attic ¾ and that's when things get really interesting. Trapped inside the Go board is Fujiwara-no-Sai, the ghost of an ancient Go master who taught the strategically complex board game to the Emperor of Japan many centuries ago. In one fateful moment, Sai becomes a part of Hikaru's consciousness and together, through thick and thin, they make an unstoppable Go-playing team. Will they be able to defeat Go players who have dedicated their lives to the game? Will Sai achieve the 'Divine Move' so he'll finally be able to rest in peace? Begin your journey with Hikaru and Sai in this first volume of Hikaru no Go.
Volume 1 left off with Hikaru half-heartedly going to a school festival and finding a pick-up game of GO with Kimihiro Tsutsui. This sets off a chain of events that introduces Hikaru and Sai to a new world of people. Meet Tetsuo Kaga, a Shogi punk, the sophisticated members of the Kiao GO Club and the optimistic few of the Haze GO Club in this new volume of Hikaru No Go. As enticing as the GO games are, the upcoming tournaments and behind-the-scenes politics will also leave quite an impression.
Akira is beginning a new school year at Kaio Middle School. With his daunting reputation as the Toya Meijin's son, Akira finds he must prove himself to more than a few mean and jealous classmates. With the help of upperclassman Yuri Hidaka, Akira finds the confidence to persevere in his hunt to beat Hikaru. Meanwhile, Hikaru is having a hard enough time just trying to find a third teammate to play on the Haze Middle School Go Club. Then Akari, Kimihiro and Hikaru discover there is someone worthy enough to possibly help them win some Go tournaments.
Another tournament is underway. Three members of the cutthroat Kaio Go Club face three members of the budding Haze Go Club. As tensions rise, the antagonism between both teams culminates in a telling match between Akira and Hikaru. Who will win? Which team will win? Even if the answer surprises you, the ensuing drama won't. After the excitement of the tournament, there's nothing left for Hikaru and Kimihiro to do... except to learn more about Go! In the process, Hikaru finds a way to let Sai play all the Go his fluttering heart desires without everybody and their mother pointing and staring at Hikaru. Find out what Hikaru discovers in this volume of Hikaru no Go! A Rating
Sai's games on the Internet have Go players around the world guessing his true identify. Among them is Hikaru's rival, Akira, who suspects that Hikaru is hiding behind the screen name 'sai.' So intense is Akira's interest, in fact, that he skips the first day of his pro exam for a re-match. And on a rainy Sunday, the battle of wills begins anew... Rating: A
From the beginning, Go has been just fun and games for Hikaru. But now that Akira has turned pro, it's going to take everything in Hikaru's power to catch up to his old rival. Before Hikaru can even take the pro test, however, he must get into the insei school and defeat all the students. And by that time Akira may truly be out of reach! Rating: A
Hikaru faces the preliminary rounds of the pro test, during which he must eliminate not only his classmates at the insei school, but also any outsiders who want to take the test. One of them in particular appears to know how to exploit Hikaru's weaknesses, and poor Hikaru seems powerless to stop him. Rating: A
Practicing at Go salons is turning out to be more fun than Hikaru thought. But at one salon he meets his match in Suyong Hong, a sullen 12-year-old who is studying for the pro test in his native Korea. By mistake, Hikaru insults Suyong, and now the only way they can settle their differences is by playing a grudge match! Rating: A
The main round of the pro test has begun. Everyone's feeling the pressure - no one more so than Hikaru's friend Isumi - who has failed the test twice before! Fighting off his feelings of self-doubt, Isumi faces his next opponent, who turns out to be Hikaru. But a careless mistake lands the pair in an awkward position! Rating: A
Hikaru's career as a professional Go player begins! In his first game he must face veteran player Toya Meijin, none other than Akira's father. But to Sai, this round is personal. Then Sai attempts to teach a cheating Go player a lesson he'll never forget! Will Hikaru's ghostly master do him proud, or make him like an amateur? Rating: A
Hikaru and Sai are both scheduled for matches with their greatest rivals--Akira Toya and his father, Toya Meijin. How will Sai play without revealing his secret identity? And will Akira's father stand in the way of Hikaru's long anticipated rematch with his son...? The suspense is getting unbearable! Rating: T
When Hikaru convinces go master Toya Meijin to play Sai online, the meijin raises the stakes: if he wins, 'sai' must reveal his true identity, if he loses, he will quit the game forever!
Hikaru ignores Sai's pleas to let him play Go, and then one day Sai vanishes! Where has he gone? Will he ever come back? Will Hikaru be able to play without Sai's coaching?
