Join me for another trip into the vault, as we explore a classic from the turn of the century and one of Weekly Shounen Jump’s best series – Hikaru no Go.
I remember watching this at the height of its popularity and I think it was dubbed in Cantonese. It was really special, particularly the relationship between Shindou and Sai and I also loved the rivalry with Akira and Akira is one the best written rivals in a while. As you’ve mentioned, the characters’ personal growth and physical maturation are so convincingly and naturally portrayed that you don’t even notice.
I think Studio Pierrot got tarred with its early and frequent work on mahou shoujo series, but they were responsible for some of the monster shounen hits – Yu Yu Hakusho, Naruto, and Bleach – as well as Hikaru, which is the only one of the four I’ve watched. Their original producing credits seem to fade out recently, displaced by the dread “Production Committee,” but they were behind one of my all time favorite series, Akatsuki no Yona, in the mid-teens.
I watched Hikaru the anime first and then read the manga. I prefer where the anime stopped. Perhaps that was a function of publication schedule (the anime overlapped the manga), but it put the emphasis on the characters’ journey. It made Hikaru’s lengthy emotional setback (10+ episodes) and his eventual recovery the climax of the series, which is rare in shounen, and it put the symbolic closure of the Hikaru-Sai relationship as the capstone. The politically-weighted international tournament that ends the manga doesn’t add much, in my view.
I remember reading a chapter two chapters of this series in a translated print of a weekly shounen magazine when I was just a wee lad and I was immediately fascinated by the quality of the art style. Unfortunately I was never able to maintain access to future shounen magazines and so the series drifted away from me. Perhaps it’s time that I finally binge-watch this bad boy
This was one of my favorite series back when it was coming out, both in Manga and Anime forms. The art of the manga was fantastic, and the anime, while not of that quality in details, was more than adequate, plus I loved several of the music tracks. The voice acting was good as well from what I remember, I don’t think I had issues with anyone. This was the series that got me to try out Go, and while I never did super well (I think I peaked around 5Kyu amateur) I did enjoy the game. I do wish we got to see more of Hikaru’s journey post-Sai, I would have loved seeing him win a title, and really do think there was potentially years of potential left in the series. I do think that the series got less popular after he was gone, but I did really like the idea that this was Hikaru’s journey in the end. It is in the title of the series after all.
I just don’t particularly like where the Manga went for its final arc though, although I sort of got what they were going for. At the time and maybe still is, since I haven’t followed the professional Go scene in sometime, the rivalry of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese Go scenes were heating up quite a bit. This was after years of Korea dominating international tournaments, so I kinda get going with the international tournament thing.
Sadly the seiyuu who played Hikaru passed away some years back.
Agree about the ending (would rather not go into too much detail here). The direction the series choose vis a vis Sai is interesting, and I’d be lying if I said I found it wholly satisfying in real-time. But I sort of get it. And yes, the series just screams out for a sequel, but I don’t think Hotta ever even wrote another manga.
I binge watched this about two years ago and loved it. I did learn how to play GO (poorly but slowly improving) afterwards. Sai is such a wonderful character, and his relationship with Hikaru is very moving. I’d like to rewatch the series, but don’t feel quite ready yet to relive the emotions that come at the end in terms of Sai and Hikaru. I wouldn’t have wanted their relationship to conclude any other way but wow, it was quite emotionally wrenching.
I just had to comment on this because Hikaru no Go is one of my favourite manga/anime and I’m glad there’s still someone who appreciates it in this day and age.
Rewatched this during the lockdown phase of the early pandemic. Just as fantastic a show as I remembered it to be. The show could make you hyped up like you were watching something much more intense than a board game. I’d always be at the edge of my seat when it seemed like Sai was about to play a game, for instance. The reverence for competition itself I think would be another defining feature of the show that resonates with me.
God knows how many times I have rewatched this show, love it to pieces. It, and Slam Dunk, were my formative anime (with a nod to Naruto and Inu Yasha). I think one of the more interesting elements was the complete dedication to Go. Sure, it could easily have tacked on an unecessary romance or two, but instead chooses to focus on the obsessive nature of those that play the game.
When you think of the golden era of anime, from the 90s to 2010s (Touch, Maison Ikkoku, Pat Labour, Cowboy bebop, Trigun, NGE, Kenshin, Slam Dunk, Initial D, Bleach, Naruto, etc.) it stands out as something completely different, beloved by all. Its hard recommend an anime like it, since none really come close. When you think of its impact on the game of Go, how it helped revitalise it in japan, you truly see how far-reaching it was. Great to see it covered, and perhaps fitting in an era when so many anime have become strait jacketed by committees.
Snowball
February 27, 2022 at 8:45 pmI remember watching this at the height of its popularity and I think it was dubbed in Cantonese. It was really special, particularly the relationship between Shindou and Sai and I also loved the rivalry with Akira and Akira is one the best written rivals in a while. As you’ve mentioned, the characters’ personal growth and physical maturation are so convincingly and naturally portrayed that you don’t even notice.
Guardian Enzo
February 27, 2022 at 9:17 pmThose three characters are all A+ level. But I also really liked Waya, who didn’t get as much run but was a terrific supporting player.
Collectr
February 27, 2022 at 11:51 pmI think Studio Pierrot got tarred with its early and frequent work on mahou shoujo series, but they were responsible for some of the monster shounen hits – Yu Yu Hakusho, Naruto, and Bleach – as well as Hikaru, which is the only one of the four I’ve watched. Their original producing credits seem to fade out recently, displaced by the dread “Production Committee,” but they were behind one of my all time favorite series, Akatsuki no Yona, in the mid-teens.
I watched Hikaru the anime first and then read the manga. I prefer where the anime stopped. Perhaps that was a function of publication schedule (the anime overlapped the manga), but it put the emphasis on the characters’ journey. It made Hikaru’s lengthy emotional setback (10+ episodes) and his eventual recovery the climax of the series, which is rare in shounen, and it put the symbolic closure of the Hikaru-Sai relationship as the capstone. The politically-weighted international tournament that ends the manga doesn’t add much, in my view.
Guardian Enzo
February 28, 2022 at 7:34 amAgreed.
sonicsenryaku
February 28, 2022 at 5:34 amI remember reading a chapter two chapters of this series in a translated print of a weekly shounen magazine when I was just a wee lad and I was immediately fascinated by the quality of the art style. Unfortunately I was never able to maintain access to future shounen magazines and so the series drifted away from me. Perhaps it’s time that I finally binge-watch this bad boy
Guardian Enzo
February 28, 2022 at 7:38 amYes, it truly is.
Anchen
March 1, 2022 at 12:17 amThis was one of my favorite series back when it was coming out, both in Manga and Anime forms. The art of the manga was fantastic, and the anime, while not of that quality in details, was more than adequate, plus I loved several of the music tracks. The voice acting was good as well from what I remember, I don’t think I had issues with anyone. This was the series that got me to try out Go, and while I never did super well (I think I peaked around 5Kyu amateur) I did enjoy the game. I do wish we got to see more of Hikaru’s journey post-Sai, I would have loved seeing him win a title, and really do think there was potentially years of potential left in the series. I do think that the series got less popular after he was gone, but I did really like the idea that this was Hikaru’s journey in the end. It is in the title of the series after all.
I just don’t particularly like where the Manga went for its final arc though, although I sort of got what they were going for. At the time and maybe still is, since I haven’t followed the professional Go scene in sometime, the rivalry of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese Go scenes were heating up quite a bit. This was after years of Korea dominating international tournaments, so I kinda get going with the international tournament thing.
Guardian Enzo
March 1, 2022 at 7:52 amSadly the seiyuu who played Hikaru passed away some years back.
Agree about the ending (would rather not go into too much detail here). The direction the series choose vis a vis Sai is interesting, and I’d be lying if I said I found it wholly satisfying in real-time. But I sort of get it. And yes, the series just screams out for a sequel, but I don’t think Hotta ever even wrote another manga.
Riv
March 1, 2022 at 5:41 amI binge watched this about two years ago and loved it. I did learn how to play GO (poorly but slowly improving) afterwards. Sai is such a wonderful character, and his relationship with Hikaru is very moving. I’d like to rewatch the series, but don’t feel quite ready yet to relive the emotions that come at the end in terms of Sai and Hikaru. I wouldn’t have wanted their relationship to conclude any other way but wow, it was quite emotionally wrenching.
Guardian Enzo
March 1, 2022 at 7:53 amOne of my worst ever anime allergy attacks.
Cocopuffcereal
March 1, 2022 at 6:35 amI just had to comment on this because Hikaru no Go is one of my favourite manga/anime and I’m glad there’s still someone who appreciates it in this day and age.
Guardian Enzo
March 1, 2022 at 6:42 amI think a lot of people do! Thanks for your comment.
DukeofEarls
March 1, 2022 at 8:28 pmRewatched this during the lockdown phase of the early pandemic. Just as fantastic a show as I remembered it to be. The show could make you hyped up like you were watching something much more intense than a board game. I’d always be at the edge of my seat when it seemed like Sai was about to play a game, for instance. The reverence for competition itself I think would be another defining feature of the show that resonates with me.
DonkeyWan
March 3, 2022 at 7:09 amGod knows how many times I have rewatched this show, love it to pieces. It, and Slam Dunk, were my formative anime (with a nod to Naruto and Inu Yasha). I think one of the more interesting elements was the complete dedication to Go. Sure, it could easily have tacked on an unecessary romance or two, but instead chooses to focus on the obsessive nature of those that play the game.
When you think of the golden era of anime, from the 90s to 2010s (Touch, Maison Ikkoku, Pat Labour, Cowboy bebop, Trigun, NGE, Kenshin, Slam Dunk, Initial D, Bleach, Naruto, etc.) it stands out as something completely different, beloved by all. Its hard recommend an anime like it, since none really come close. When you think of its impact on the game of Go, how it helped revitalise it in japan, you truly see how far-reaching it was. Great to see it covered, and perhaps fitting in an era when so many anime have become strait jacketed by committees.