Hikaru no Go#Other media

{{Infobox animanga/Header

| image = Hikaru no Go 1.png

| caption = First {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volume cover, featuring Hikaru Shindo

| ja_kanji = ヒカルの碁

| ja_romaji =

| genre = {{ubl|Coming-of-age|Sports{{cite web|last=Sondhi|first=Jason|title=Hikaru no Go GN 1 - Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/hikaru-no-go/vol-1/by-jason-sondhi|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 24, 2018|date=October 30, 2004|archive-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806103349/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/hikaru-no-go/vol-1/by-jason-sondhi|url-status=live}}|Supernatural{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/hikaru-no-go|title=The Official Website for Hikaru no Go|publisher=Viz Media|access-date=November 4, 2017|archive-date=July 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720151254/https://www.viz.com/hikaru-no-go|url-status=live}}}}

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| author = Yumi Hotta

| illustrator = Takeshi Obata

| publisher = Shueisha

| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA=Viz Media}}

| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Shōnen}}

| imprint = Jump Comics

| magazine = Weekly Shōnen Jump

| magazine_en = {{English manga magazine|NA=Shonen Jump}}

| first = December 8, 1998

| last = July 14, 2003

| volumes = 23

| volume_list = List of Hikaru no Go chapters

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = tv series

| director = {{ubl|Susumu Nishizawa (1–15)|Jun Kamiya (16–58)|Tetsuya Endo (58–75)}}

| producer =

| writer = Yukiyoshi Ōhashi

| music = Kei Wakakusa

| studio = Pierrot

| licensee = {{English manga publisher|NA=Viz Media}}

| network =TXN (TV Tokyo)

| network_en = {{English anime network|US= {{ubl|ImaginAsian|Toonami Jetstream (streaming)}}

}}

| first = October 10, 2001

| last = March 26, 2003

|episodes = 75

|episode_list = List of Hikaru no Go episodes

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = tv film

| title = Hikaru no Go: Journey to the North Star Cup

| director = {{ubl|Junichi Watanabe|Kunitoshi Okajima|Masoho Itō}}

| writer = {{ubl|Michiko Yokote|Tetsuya Endo}}

| music = Kei Wakakusa

| studio = Pierrot

| network = TV Tokyo

| released = January 3, 2004

| runtime = 77 minutes

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = drama

| title = Qi Hun

| director = Liu Chang

| producer =

| writer =

| music =

| studio =

| licensee =

| network =

| network_en =

| first = October 27, 2020

| last = November 26, 2020

| episodes = 36

| episode_list =

}}

{{Nihongo3|lit. Hikaru's Go|ヒカルの碁|Hikaru no Go}} is a Japanese manga series based on the board game Go, written by Yumi Hotta and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The production of the series' Go games was supervised by Go professional Yukari Umezawa. It was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1998 to 2003, with its chapters collected into 23 {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes. The story follows Hikaru, who discovers a Go board in his grandfather's attic. The object turns out to be haunted by a ghost named Sai, the emperor's former Go teacher in the Heian era. Sai finds himself trapped in Hikaru's mind and tells him which moves to play against opponents, astonishing onlookers with the boy's apparent level of skill at the game.

It was adapted into an anime television series by Studio Pierrot, which ran for 75 episodes from 2001 to 2003 on TV Tokyo, with a New Year's Special aired in January 2004. Viz Media released both the manga and anime in North America; they serialized the manga in Shonen Jump, released its collected volumes in entirety, and the anime aired simultaneously on ImaginAsian.

Hikaru no Go has been well-received. The manga has had over 25 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series. It won the 45th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2000 and the 7th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2003. It is largely responsible for popularizing Go among the youth of Japan since its debut and is considered by Go players everywhere to have sparked worldwide interest in the game, noticeably increasing the Go-playing population around the globe.

Plot

{{see also|List of Hikaru no Go characters{{!}}List of Hikaru no Go characters}}

While exploring his grandfather's shed, Hikaru Shindo stumbles across a Go board haunted by the spirit of Fujiwara-no-Sai, a Go player from the Heian era. Sai wishes to play Go again, having not been able to since the late Edo period when his ghost appeared to Honinbo Shusaku, a top Go player of that period. Sai's greatest desire is to attain the {{nihongo|Kami no Itte|神の一手||"Divine Move"}} – a perfect move. Since Hikaru is the only person who can perceive him, Sai inhabits a part of Hikaru's mind as a separate personality although not always comfortably.

Urged by Sai, Hikaru begins playing Go despite his lack of interest in the game. He begins to execute moves that Sai dictates to him. Hikaru begins his Go career in a Go salon, where he defeats a young boy playing at a professional level, Akira Toya, twice by following Sai's instructions. He subsequently begins a quest to discover the source of Hikaru's strength, an obsession that will dominate his life. Hikaru becomes intrigued by the great dedication of Akira and Sai to the game and decides to start playing solely on his own. He is a complete novice at first but has some unique abilities to his advantage. For instance, once he has a basic understanding of Go, he can reconstruct a game play-by-play from memory. Through training at Go clubs, study groups, and practice games with Sai, he becomes an Insei and later a pro, meeting various dedicated Go players of different ages and styles along the way. He also demonstrates a natural talent for the game and remains determined to prove his own abilities to Akira, Sai, and himself.

Hikaru enters the Hokuto Cup, an international tournament for under-18 Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Go professionals. As the highest-ranking under-18 pro, Akira qualifies for the tournament, but Hikaru has to compete in a series of games to become one of the three Japanese competitors. His friends Waya and Ochi also enter the qualifying matches. He meets Kiyoharu Yashiro, a player from the Kansai Ki-in, whose style is as strange and offbeat as his own. Hikaru, along with Akira and Kiyoharu Yashiro, are selected to represent Japan, while Suyong Hong (a Korean Go player who was beaten by Hikaru earlier in the series) and two others represent Korea and three of Shinichiro Isumi's Chinese friends represent their country.

The captain of the Korean Go team, Ko Yong Ha, is interviewed and his remarks are translated for Japanese viewers. The translator makes an error which causes it to appear that he is disparaging the skill of Honinbo Shusaku, who, like Hikaru, was possessed by Sai. Although Ko Yong Ha later finds out, he refuses to correct the error and instead emphasizes it when he realizes that it enrages Hikaru, who takes it as a direct affront to Sai. Considering their achievements and skills, Hikaru is still slightly under Akira. Therefore, their team coach, Atsushi Kurata, chooses Akira to be captain. However, Hikaru wants to play against Ko Yong Ha to show him that Sai is the most skillful Go player in the game's history. Atsushi Kurata grants Hikaru's request when they play against Korea in the tournament because he sees the burning spirit in him. In the end, Hikaru loses by only half a point. Japan eventually comes in last, behind Korea and China. However, the Japanese team impressed both professionals from China and Korea because they did much better than expected. At the end of the game, Ko Yong Ha asks Hikaru for his reason for playing Go. With tears in his eyes, he answers with the line "To link the far past, with the far future". The hidden meaning of this line indicates the links and emotional relationships between Sai, Shusaku, and Hikaru. However, no one understands the context of this line besides Hikaru.

A bonus story, set shortly after the Hokuto Cup event, shows two Inseis ranked 14th and 16th, discussing whether Akira Toya or Hikaru Shindo is stronger. In the Young Lions tournament, they are each paired with Hikaru and Akira, making them change their minds about who is stronger. In the second round, Hikaru and Akira are paired against each other and begin a match but the conclusion is unknown.

Media

=Manga=

{{main|List of Hikaru no Go chapters{{!}}List of Hikaru no Go chapters}}

Written by Yumi Hotta and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, Hikaru no Go was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from December 8, 1998,{{efn|It debuted in the magazine's combined 2nd–3rd issue of 1999 (cover date January 8),{{cite web|script-title=ja:週刊少年ジャンプ 1999年 2・3合併号 |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M543372|language=ja|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=May 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220161825/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M543372|archive-date=February 20, 2021|url-status=live}} released on December 8, 1998.{{cite magazine|title=Contents|url=https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1229957975|magazine=Weekly Shōnen Jump|publisher=Shueisha|issue=1|year=1999|access-date=June 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625190350/https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1229957975|archive-date=June 25, 2023|language=ja|no-pp=y|page=Table of contents|quote={{lang|ja|次号, 新年No. 2・3合併号は 12月8日火発売!! 新連載第3弾!!「ヒカルの碁」ほったゆみ先生&小畑健先生の新コンビで登場!!}}|url-status=live}}}} to July 14, 2003.{{cite web|url=http://jump.shueisha.co.jp/henshu/backnumber/2003/33.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319115230/http://jump.shueisha.co.jp/henshu/backnumber/2003/33.html|archive-date=March 19, 2009|script-title=ja:週刊少年ジャンプ 2003年33号|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=May 8, 2020|language=ja}} Go professional Yukari Umezawa (5-dan) provided "supervision" for the series. The 189 chapters were collected into 23 {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes by Shueisha; the first published on April 30, 1999, and the last on September 4, 2003.{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-872717-7&mode=1|script-title=ja:ヒカルの碁 1|trans-title=Hikaru no Go, Vol. 1|language=ja|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=June 25, 2009|archive-date=August 6, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806194754/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-872717-7&mode=1|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-873504-8&mode=1|script-title=ja:ヒカルの碁 23|trans-title=Hikaru no Go, Vol. 23|language=ja|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=June 25, 2009|archive-date=December 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205130837/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-873504-8&mode=1|url-status=live}} A {{Transliteration|ja|kanzenban}} version was published in 20 volumes between February 4, 2009, and April 30, 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-782206-9|script-title=ja:ヒカルの碁完全版 1|trans-title=Hikaru no Go Kanzenban, Vol. 1|language=ja|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=June 4, 2022|archive-date=June 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605002310/https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-782206-9|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-782225-0|script-title=ja:ヒカルの碁完全版 20|trans-title=Hikaru no Go Kanzenban, Vol. 20|language=ja|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=June 4, 2022|archive-date=June 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605002308/https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-782225-0|url-status=live}} In 2012, the manga was published in a 12-volume {{Transliteration|ja|bunkoban}} edition between February 17 and July 18.{{cite web|url=https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-619328-3|script-title=ja:ヒカルの碁 1|trans-title=Hikaru no Go, Vol. 1|language=ja|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=June 4, 2022|archive-date=June 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605002312/https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-619328-3|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-619339-9|script-title=ja:ヒカルの碁 12|trans-title=Hikaru no Go, Vol. 12|language=ja|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=June 4, 2022|archive-date=June 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605002311/https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-619339-9|url-status=live}}

Viz Media acquired the North American English-language rights to Hikaru no Go in June 2003.{{cite web|last=Phillips|first=George|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-06-30/hikaru-no-go-licensor-announced|title=Hikaru no Go Licensor Announced|website=Anime News Network|date=June 30, 2003|access-date=June 27, 2015|archive-date=July 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703024932/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-06-30/hikaru-no-go-licensor-announced|url-status=live}} The series debuted in the January 2004 issue of Viz's Shonen Jump magazine, released in December 2003.{{cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Christopher |date=November 11, 2003 |title=Hikaru No Go starts in December |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-11-11/hikaru-no-go-starts-in-december |access-date=June 27, 2015 |website=Anime News Network |archive-date=July 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703011350/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-11-11/hikaru-no-go-starts-in-december |url-status=live }} However, after the April 2008 issue it was replaced by Slam Dunk.{{cite web |last=Loo |first=Egan |date=February 28, 2008 |title=USA's Shonen Jump Replaces Hikaru no Go with Slam Dunk |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-02-21/usa-shonen-jump-replaces-hikaru-no-go-with-slam-dunk |access-date=June 27, 2015 |website=Anime News Network |archive-date=July 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724024041/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-02-21/usa-shonen-jump-replaces-hikaru-no-go-with-slam-dunk |url-status=live }} They released all 23 collected volumes from May 19, 2004, to May 3, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.viz.com/manga/print/hikaru-no-go-volume-1/2320|title=Hikaru no Go, Vol. 1|publisher=Viz Media|access-date=June 27, 2015|archive-date=July 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721180840/http://www.viz.com/manga/print/hikaru-no-go-volume-1/2320|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Manry |first=Gia |date=May 3, 2011 |title=North American Anime, Manga Releases, May 1–7 |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-03/north-american-anime-manga-releases-may-1-7 |access-date=February 28, 2015 |website=Anime News Network |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403025204/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-03/north-american-anime-manga-releases-may-1-7 |url-status=live }}

=Anime=

{{main|List of Hikaru no Go episodes{{!}}List of Hikaru no Go episodes}}

Hikaru no Go was adapted into an anime television series by Studio Pierrot. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 10, 2001, to March 26, 2003, for 75 episodes. A New Year's Special titled {{nihongo|Hikaru no Go: Journey to the North Star Cup|ヒカルの碁スペシャル北斗杯への道|Hikaru no Go Hokuto-hai e no Michi}} aired on January 3, 2004.

Viz Media acquired the North American English-language rights to the Hikaru no Go anime at the same time as the manga, in June 2003. The Ocean Group produced an English voice dub for the series. A "Sneak Preview" DVD of the first episode was included in the January 2006 issue of Shonen Jump (Volume 4, Issue 1) to subscribers. Viz began releasing the series on DVD on December 27, 2005.{{cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Christopher |date=October 14, 2005 |title=Hikaru no Go and Naruto Video Details |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-10-14/hikaru-no-go-and-naruto-video-details |access-date=June 27, 2015 |website=Anime News Network |archive-date=July 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703002522/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-10-14/hikaru-no-go-and-naruto-video-details |url-status=live }} However, only eleven volumes were released (covering 45 episodes) before they were officially discontinued in April 2008.{{cite web |last=Loo |first=Egan |date=April 21, 2008 |title=Viz Plans Hunter X Hunter Release in DVD Season Boxes |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-21/viz-plans-hunter-x-hunter-release-in-dvd-season-boxes |access-date=June 27, 2015 |website=Anime News Network |archive-date=July 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715094338/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-21/viz-plans-hunter-x-hunter-release-in-dvd-season-boxes |url-status=live }} Hikaru no Go debuted on ImaginAsian TV in the United States on May 2, 2006. Each episode aired in subtitled Japanese every Tuesday, before the English dub of the same episode was shown on Saturday.{{cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Christopher |date=April 28, 2006 |title=Hikaru no Go and Shingu on iaTV |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-04-28/hikaru-no-go-and-shingu-on-iatv |access-date=June 27, 2015 |website=Anime News Network |archive-date=June 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627013855/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-04-28/hikaru-no-go-and-shingu-on-iatv |url-status=live }} It premiered on the online streaming service Toonami Jetstream on July 14, 2006,{{cite web |last=Mays |first=Jonathan |date=July 14, 2006 |title=Toonami Rides Jetstream to Early Arrival |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-07-14/toonami-rides-jetstream-to-early-arrival |access-date=June 27, 2015 |website=Anime News Network |archive-date=December 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211072513/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-07-14/toonami-rides-jetstream-to-early-arrival |url-status=live }} and ran until the service shut down in January 2009 with only three episodes remaining.{{cite web |last=Loo |first=Egan |date=January 31, 2009 |title=Toonami Jetstream Video-Streaming Service Shuts Down |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-31/toonami-jetstream-video-streaming-service-shuts-down |access-date=June 27, 2015 |website=Anime News Network |archive-date=October 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027151832/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-31/toonami-jetstream-video-streaming-service-shuts-down |url-status=live }} The entire series was added to Netflix in 2011.{{cite web |last=Manry |first=Gia |date=April 1, 2011 |title=Netflix Streams Inuyasha, Hikaru no Go, Naruto, Bleach |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-04-01/netflix-streams-inuyasha-hikaru-no-go-naruto-bleach |access-date=June 27, 2015 |website=Anime News Network |archive-date=July 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703011333/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-04-01/netflix-streams-inuyasha-hikaru-no-go-naruto-bleach |url-status=live }}

=Video games=

A series of three Go video games based on the series were created by Konami for the Game Boy Advance, released from October 25, 2001, to March 20, 2003;{{cite web|script-title=ja:ヒカルの碁|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M754573|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=June 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629145821/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M754573|archive-date=June 29, 2023|language=ja|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:ヒカルの碁2|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M754578|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=June 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629145941/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M754578|archive-date=June 29, 2023|language=ja|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:ヒカルの碁3|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M754579|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=June 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629150328/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M754579|archive-date=June 29, 2023|language=ja|url-status=live}} the third was also released on the GameCube. Hikaru and Sai also appear as support characters in the Weekly Shōnen Jump crossover game Jump Super Stars.

=Live-action drama=

A 36-episode Chinese live-action adaptation titled Qi Hun, directed by Liu Chang, was streamed on the iQIYI online platform from October 27 to November 26, 2020.{{cite web|script-title=ja:中国で実写版「ヒカルの碁」が完成|url=https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/402647|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=October 11, 2021|language=ja|date=October 29, 2020|archive-date=October 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181635/https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/402647|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=zh:《棋魂》大结局:时光参加北斗杯预选赛,洪河放弃围棋,悲剧结尾|url=https://k.sina.com.cn/article_5082974871_12ef80a9700101wlqw.html|website=Sina.com|access-date=October 11, 2021|language=zh|date=November 26, 2020|archive-date=July 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715094342/https://k.sina.com.cn/article_5082974871_12ef80a9700101wlqw.html|url-status=live}}

Reception

=Manga=

By May 2013, the manga had over 25 million copies in circulation.{{cite web|url=http://mantan-web.jp/2013/05/16/20130516dog00m200009000c.html|script-title=ja:ほったゆみ：「ヒカルの碁」原作者が8年ぶり新作「はじマン」連載自らマンガ執筆|work=Mainichi Shimbun Digital|date=May 16, 2013|language=ja|access-date=June 28, 2015|archive-date=November 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104132013/http://mantan-web.jp/2013/05/16/20130516dog00m200009000c.html|url-status=live}} Hikaru no Go won the 45th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2000;{{cite web|url=http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/rist.html|script-title=ja:小学館漫画賞: 歴代受賞者|publisher=Shogakukan|language=ja|access-date=August 19, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929094941/http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/rist.html|archive-date=September 29, 2007}} and the seventh Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2003.{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Christopher|title=2003 Tezuka Award Winners|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-04-24/2003-tezuka-award-winners|website=Anime News Network|access-date=January 3, 2021|date=April 24, 2003|archive-date=May 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508163922/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-04-24/2003-tezuka-award-winners|url-status=live}} In November 2014, readers of Da Vinci magazine voted Hikaru no Go 14th on a list of Weekly Shōnen Jump{{'}}s greatest manga series of all time.{{cite web|last=Green|first=Scott|date=November 13, 2014|title="Da Vinci" Magazine Asks Japanese Readers to Name Greatest "Shonen Jump" Manga|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/11/13-1/da-vinci-magazine-asks-japanese-readers-to-name-greatest-shonen-jump-manga|access-date=September 19, 2020|website=Crunchyroll|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010182152/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/11/13-1/da-vinci-magazine-asks-japanese-readers-to-name-greatest-shonen-jump-manga|url-status=live }} On TV Asahi's Manga Sōsenkyo 2021 poll, in which 150,000 people voted for their top 100 manga series, Hikaru no Go ranked 82nd.{{cite web|script-title=ja:テレビ朝日『国民15万人がガチで投票!漫画総選挙』ランキング結果まとめ！栄えある1位に輝く漫画は!?|url=https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1609599746&p=5|website=animate Times|publisher=Animate|access-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210103112636/https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1609599746&p=5|archive-date=January 3, 2021|language=ja|date=January 3, 2021|url-status=live}}

Hikaru no Go dramatically increased the popularity of Go in Japan and elsewhere, particularly among young children.{{cite journal|first=Yoko|last=Shimatsuka|title=Do Not Pass Go|url=http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/nations/0,8782,132162,00.html|journal=Asiaweek|volume=27|issue=25|page=54|access-date=March 26, 2007|issn=1012-6244|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610073841/http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/nations/0%2C8782%2C132162%2C00.html|archive-date=June 10, 2007|df=mdy-all }}{{cite news|first=Charles|last=Scanlon|title=Young Japanese go for Go|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2164532.stm|work=BBC News|date=August 1, 2002|access-date=March 26, 2007|archive-date=October 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003175154/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2164532.stm|url-status=live}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z3zjBAAAQBAJ&q=hikaru+no+go+popularizing+go+board+game&pg=PT93|title=Manga: An Anthology of Global and Cultural Perspectives|last=Johnson-Woods|first=Toni|date=April 15, 2010|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA|isbn=9781441155696|language=en|access-date=November 28, 2020|archive-date=October 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019143915/https://books.google.com/books?id=Z3zjBAAAQBAJ&q=hikaru+no+go+popularizing+go+board+game&pg=PT93|url-status=live}} As a result, many Go clubs were started by people influenced by the manga.{{cite web|last=Martinez|first=Victor R.|title=Fueled by a popular manga series, the ancient game of Go is steadily capturing El Paso fans|url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/life/2015/04/15/your-move/30879415/|website=El Paso Times|access-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210103125946/https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/life/2015/04/15/your-move/30879415/|archive-date=January 3, 2021|date=April 15, 2015|url-status=live}} Go professional Yukari Umezawa served as the technical advisor for the anime and promoted the game on behalf of the Nihon Ki-in. She had a short one-minute special at the end of every episode instructing how to play Go.

Including it on a list of the best continuing manga of 2008, About.com's Deb Aoki wrote that Hikaru no Go "pulls off a pretty amazing feat" by taking a complex game most American manga readers have never heard of and making it "as fun, exciting and accessible as any competitive sport."{{cite web|last=Aoki|first=Deb|url=http://manga.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/2008BestManga.htm|title=2008 Best Continuing Manga List|publisher=About.com|access-date=July 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328183945/http://manga.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/2008BestManga.htm|archive-date=March 28, 2013}} Reviewing the series for the School Library Journal, Lori Henderson highly recommended Hikaru no Go as a "funny, touching, and slightly bittersweet" coming-of-age story. She praised Hotta's diverse and interesting characters who have rather complex relationships, and Takeshi's artwork, which "can make placing a stone on the board seem like a life or death situation." Henderson noted that, while some technical terms are used and explained, readers do not have to know how to play Go as the matches are more about the players than the actual mechanics of the game. She also noted that the ending of the series did not live up to its full potential.{{cite web|last=Henderson|first=Lori|date=February 5, 2013|title=Review: Hikaru no Go, volumes 1-23|url=https://goodcomicsforkids.slj.com/2013/02/05/review-hikaru-no-go-volumes-1-23/|access-date=July 23, 2022|publisher=School Library Journal|archive-date=July 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723202918/https://goodcomicsforkids.slj.com/2013/02/05/review-hikaru-no-go-volumes-1-23/|url-status=live }}

=Anime=

In 2004, Hikaru no Go came in 18th on Animage readers poll of their Favorite Anime Series.{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Christopher|date=May 12, 2004|title=Animage Awards|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-05-12/animage-awards|access-date=June 27, 2015|website=Anime News Network|archive-date=April 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422011305/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-05-12/animage-awards|url-status=live }} In TV Asahi's 2005 Top 100 Anime poll, the series came in 83rd in the nationwide survey of multiple age groups and 93rd in the online poll.{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Christopher|date=September 23, 2005|title=TV Asahi Top 100 Anime Part 2|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-09-23/tv-asahi-top-100-anime-part-2|access-date=June 27, 2015|website=Anime News Network|archive-date=July 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730225630/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-09-23/tv-asahi-top-100-anime-part-2|url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Christopher|date=September 23, 2005|title=TV Asahi Top 100 Anime|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-09-23/tv-asahi-top-100-anime|access-date=June 27, 2015|website=Anime News Network|archive-date=June 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621064503/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-09-23/tv-asahi-top-100-anime|url-status=live }} The following year, it came in 81st in the online poll.{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Christopher|date=October 12, 2006|title=Japan's Favorite TV Anime|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-10-13/japan%27s-favorite-tv-anime|access-date=June 27, 2015|website=Anime News Network|archive-date=June 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615044506/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-10-13/japan%27s-favorite-tv-anime|url-status=live }}

Notes

References

External links

{{Official website|https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/hikaru_selection/|Official anime website at TV Tokyo}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Official website|https://pierrot.jp/hikaru20th/|Official website for the anime's 20th Anniversary at Pierrot}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Official website|https://www.viz.com/hikaru-no-go|Official Viz Media's Hikaru no Go page}}
{{Anime News Network|manga|1898}}