Hikaru no Go

Hikaru no Go is a coming of age manga series written by Yumi Hotta and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, which was also adapted into a 2001-2003 anime. It centers on a boy named Hikaru who becomes an outstanding Go player with the help of a ghost inhabiting his mind.

Sai: To the gods I offer my gratitude. For once again I can finally, I can finally return to this world.

---

Hikaru: Who are you?

Sai: I am Fujiwara no Sai.

---

[Through Hikaru, Sai makes a meaningless move]

Akira: That's... that isn't the best move. It's not even a good move. He played it to see how I'd respond. It's like he's testing my strength. He's measuring my skill from a level far above mine.

Sai: There was no such rule during Shusaku's time.

Hikaru: Hmm, it never crossed your mind that black might have an advantage?

Sai: Now that I think about it, I've never lost playing black.

---

Sai: [referring to the television Hikaru's watching] Hikaru, what is this device? People are playing Go inside that little box.

---

Akira: Hikaru!

Hikaru: Akira?

Akira: I found you. I finally found you, Hikaru Shindo!

Hikaru: I saw kids in there even younger than me. And they were all so intense. It was really kinda cool.

Akira: Kinda cool? Haven't you ever felt the intensity of the game before?

Hikaru: Intensity?

Akira: Can I take a look at your hand?

Hikaru: My hand?

Akira: His fingernail isn't worn down or anything. It doesn't look like the hand of a Go player.

Hikaru: What are you doing?

Akira: Uh sorry. Are you going to become a pro?

Hikaru: Pro? Me, a pro? I've never even thought it. Uh, are you gonna become a pro, Akira?

Akira: Of course I am.

Hikaru: Well if that's what you want to do. Say, do professional Go players make a lot of money?

Akira: The winner of the Meijin title gets ¥36,000,000. The Kisei title has a prize of ¥42,000,000.

Hikaru: Uh, how many Go titles are there? And how much money do you get if you can win them all?

Akira: There are 8 titles in all, so your total winnings could reach about ¥180,000,000.

Hikaru: ¥180,000,000?

Hikaru: [to Sai] You went too far! You took control of my body, didn't you?

---

Akari: I just came from your house and you weren't there. What have you been doing all this time?

Hikaru: I've been playing Go.

---

Hikaru: Look, I want that book, so give me the hardest one you've got.

Kimihiro Tsutsui: Whoa, you want the hardest one in the book? OK then. If you can solve this one, you're at Akira Toya's level.

---

Kaga: Go's a game for losers. That's what I think of Akira Toya too. Know why? Cuz I've already beaten him at Go.

---

Hikaru: [to Kaga] You probably started playing Shogi after you ran away from Go!

Hikaru: Sai, where were you? Why didn't you say anything? You could've at least told me about the clock. I looked like a fool.

Sai: Regrettably we did not have such things in Shusaku's time.

---

Kaga: [after Hikaru makes another bad move] Listen, stop messing around.

Hikaru: But I'm enjoying myself.

Kaga: You aren't realizing your true potential and you know it. Did you just come here to have fun or what?

Hikaru: Yeah, to have fun.

Kaga: What?

Hikaru: Look at this. There, you see? There are nine star points on the Go board. Just think about that for a moment. It's like a universe. And with each move, with each stone, I'm adding stars one at a time. The sky is at my fingertips. It's as if I were a master builder. Do you see where I'm getting at? I get to do it. I get to design my own universe on this Go board.

Sai: Sometimes Hikaru has an amazing instinct which guides his potential. But just as often his immaturity causes him to play impulsive, disappointing moves.

---

Sai: We will summon our collective will and win. Wipe the tears from your eyes and focus your mind.

Akira: Why is a player with your ability wasting his time in a middle school Go club? You're never at the Go Salon these days and I'm always down there. I have to be honest. It doesn't matter who I play against anymore. Every minute of every game you're always in the back of my mind tormenting me. I just keep wondering to myself, how would Hikaru counter this play? What would Hikaru do? Well, it's your move.

Hikaru: No way. I'm not gonna compete with you.

---

Akari: It's not my fault you lost the game!

Hikaru: Don't you ever stop talking?

Akira: It isn't him, it's me. I'm the one who's scared. I'm the one who's running back. If that's your plan, then i'm going to do the same thing.

Akira: Look at all these old magazines and game diagrams. Some of this material dates back to the early Showa period. This book is so old!

---

Akira: If I am the best, then I should be able to beat you with my eyes closed. I'm going to accept your challenge. Call your first move.

Hikaru: [referring to his next match with Akira Toya] Sai, you should play him.

Sai: Are you sure? You were so eager to play in this tournament.

Hikaru: He's all yours. Good luck.

Akira: I used to think that you were capable of the Divine Move. I was wrong.

Hikaru: Look, it's Zelda! This guy's Japanese! And I think he might even be a kid.

Sai: Is he skilled?

Waya: Who's this Sai?

Hikaru: Well what do you think? Is this guy any good?

Sai: He's strong. Strong as any I've faced.

---

Waya: The whole world is looking for Sai and nobody can find him.

---

Lee: I am Rinshin Lee from China. I played Sai once but had to resign and lost.

Ogata: Really? He must be a pro.

Lee: I don't believe so. Sai is always online, and will play against almost anyone. Do you think a pro would really have that much free time?

Ogata: No.

---

Sai: So far, this game is exactly like our previous match.

Hikaru: Previous match? It must be him!

Sai: I agree. He's mirrored his opening moves from our second game. Do you remember that day? I struck him down with a single move.

---

Akira: [realizing Hikaru is Sai] It can't be...

Akira: I should've cut him off when I had the chance. Now he's able to control the center and the left side. My stones in the center are already dead. There's nothing I can do. The game is over.

---

Akira: [rushing to expose Hikaru as Sai] I hope he's still there. Is it him? Hikaru! Are you Sai?

Hikaru: If you're giving up you're supposed to say "I resign".

Yuki Mitani: I'm a lot stronger than you'll ever be! You shouldn't let one little compliment go to your head!

Hikaru: Handicap or no handicap, I just won the last game.

---

Hikaru: Now we can practice whenever we want to. This is gonna be awesome!

Sai: We have to play the game right now!

Hikaru: So are you going to tell me why I'm here?

Kishimoto: I want to see how strong you really are.

---

Kishimoto: You better start chasing after him. Toya's getting farther and farther away from you. He officially becomes a pro next spring and he's sure to advance faster than anyone else. If you wait until then it'll be too late. If you don't put your all into it right now, you'll never catch up to him.

Kimihiro Tsutsui: Hikaru just told us that he's going to be taking the Insei exam.

Kaga: Well I'm impressed. The Insei test is tough but you gotta go for it.

---

Kaga: You decided to go after Akira huh? He won't be easy to catch so you can't let anything distract you. You do know that right?

Hikaru: Yeah I guess.

---

Kaga: Think you can predict who's gonna win this match?

Hikaru: You are.

Kaga: Good for you kid. You've figured out how to count as you play now.

---

Kaga: It's like I said, playing a simultaneous game is a whole lot different from playing a regular game.

Hikaru: Am I really good enough to pass the Insei test?

Kaga: Even I couldn't answer that question.

---

Yuki Mitani: I hope you fail that dumb test.

Kaga: [hits him] You're such a baby! When is your whining ever gonna stop?

Hikaru's Test Instructor: Is it true that no one has been teaching you?

Hikaru: Uh well no sir. [To self] Actually I do have a teacher, and he follows me around like a dog.

Sai: What?! Did you just call me a dog?

Sai: A total of four times now.

Hikaru: Yeah, but we've never seen him play anyone else. And now he's playing the Oza! And I'm stuck here!

Sai: Hikaru, Hikaru! Why don't you let me play this game for you? I'll finish it off as quickly as I can so we can go and watch Akira's match.

Hikaru: Don't be silly.

---

Hikaru: [watching a replay of Akira playing a throw in] Whoa! He played there?

Waya: Yeah. Then white captured instead of cutting. The Oza's not taking any chances in this game. He's being real cautious.

Hikaru: I remember sensei being impressed with how I played 3 games at once. Maybe I play better this fast. Whoa, I won by a half a point! That's 2 wins in a row now.

Fuku: No need to rub it in.

Hikaru: Sorry.

[Later]

Waya: I resign.

Sai: You did it, Hikaru.

Hikaru: That's 3 straight wins. It was great. I thought I was on my way. But then I lost game after game and started to wonder if I was getting worse, not better.

Kuwabara: Did you get a good night's sleep? You well rested? [Ogata glares at him]

---

Ogata: [to Kuwabara] Time for the new generation to take its place.

Waya: You mean to tell me you've never played against adults in a Go salon?

Hikaru: Not really. I mean I've been to a Go salon, but I kinda just watched.

---

Waya: Then it'll be like a team competition. You know, us against them.

Isumi: Team competition?

Waya: It'll be way more fun than us playing separately.

---

Hikaru: It's been a while since I've been in a team competition. I always seem to be number 3, in the Go club...

[Everyone realizes the supposedly bad move Hikaru made earlier was part of a long term strategy]

Suyong: I thought that move of his was a mistake, but now it's put him in a great position.

Isumi: That move Shindo made earlier wasn't a mistake at all. He was anticipating a battle for the upper left corner.

Yun: He was fully aware he was going to lose ground in the middle of the board. But now all of a sudden, Shindo has the advantage.

Isumi: I have to keep playing the same way I always do. Try to ignore them. I'm playing Shindo now, so forget about Toya and Suyong! [accidentally plays his stone in the wrong spot] I went to atari from the wrong side.

Hikaru: Sai, did he just move a stone? Sai, did you see it? Changing your mind after your fingers have left the stone means you have to forfeit the match.

Hikaru: Sai, did Isumi take his fingers off the stone before he moved it?

Sai: It did look as though that's what happened, but I can't say for sure. If he did move the stone he should be disqualified immediately. Hikaru?

Hikaru: He hasn't said anything. Is it because he didn't actually let go of the stone? Or is it because... no, we wouldn't. I have to know if his hand came off the stone or not. Do you think it'd be OK if I just ask him?

Sai: You are not really going to confront him, are you? Hikaru!

Hikaru: Isumi's still undefeated. I've got one loss, and only three of us can become pros.

---

Sai: Hikaru, just be careful that you don't-

Hikaru: Isu...

Isumi: I'm resigning. [leaves]

Hikaru: He knows he cheated, so he resigned. At least I won the game. This is a big win for me.

---

Ochi: How did he win? Isumi was in total control of the game. What happened?

---

Hikaru: The reason I lost my match today was all because of Isumi! How could he do that to me? He completely ruined my concentration. He ruined everything!

Sai: Hikaru, Hikaru!

Hikaru: I had given up. I could have won!

---

Ochi: Too bad. I was kind of disappointed. You were my biggest hurdle to getting through this exam undefeated, but not anymore. You haven't even recovered from that game against Shindo, have you? I don't know why I ever thought of you as a serious threat. My goal of staying undefeated is much easier now. Thanks to you-

Isumi: Ochi. Shut your mouth.

Ochi: He's managed to invade this deep already? If he does any more damage, I'm gonna lose territory. I'm not gonna let him take control that easily. He'll see.

Isumi: I've always known what a strong player Ochi is, but I never once thought he could beat me.

---

Isumi: Thank you, Ochi. You helped me refocus on my game.

---

Ochi: If this match shows the kind of level that Shindo's playing at right now, then 3 weeks won't be enough! It won't be enough time!

Akira: I think you've got plenty of time, especially now that I'm here to work with you.

Waya: If his stone stays there, he'll win. But if I eliminate it then I win, and I finally pass the pro exam.

Hikaru: Can I do it? Can I stay alive?

---

Sai: [referring to Hikaru] I can't believe that he once hesitated because he feared my moves.

[Hikaru has miraculously made his dead stones live]

Waya: How could I have missed it? Can he come back from here? No! It's impossible!

Ochi: No. That's not right. This isn't a simple counterattack. There's some hidden strategy behind it.

[Hikaru has just played a good comeback move]

Ochi: No! How... how could I have missed that? Shindo's stones!

Sai: 13-14. A cap.

Hikaru: A cap move?

[He makes the move, shocking everyone]

Akira: What's Shindo doing? I can't believe he started his attack! It's so early in the game!

---

Hikaru: I think he must have realized that we put our own handicap on the game. And it sounds like he somehow knew Sai was playing through me.

Toya Meijin: As we played, I could sense an intensity from you which is normally only found in veterans of the game. Next time we play, let's make it an even game.

Sai: Yes. Next time.

Toya Meijin: Now you'll see what my game is. The Meijin, a true master of Go. I will not fall back. I will win this game. And you will tell me your name.

Toya Meijin: We're approaching the final part of the endgame. By my calculations, if we play through to the end, I'm going to lose the game by half a point. Unlike the battle that preceded it, the endgame is just a one way path. The moves are still complex. But barring any careless mistakes, there's only one correct path to follow. This opponent will not make a mistake. He already knows how the game will end, and so do I. [resigns the game, shocking the world]

---

Sai: The reason my spirit has endured for a millennium is so I could show Hikaru this one game and guide him toward the divine move.

[Hikaru running away with Akira chasing him]

Akira: Shindo, wait! Have you forgotten why you became a pro in the first place?

Hikaru: [thinking while running] Why did you have to leave me, Sai? Why?

Akira: You became a pro so you could play me! Hey, Shindo! Shindo.

Hikaru: [yelling] SAI...

Ms. Ichikawa: It must be tough knowing there aren't any kids who are as good as he is.

Akira: I don't care about a rival as long as I can play. Anyway, when I get older people like Mr. Ogata and my father are gonna be my rivals.

Akari: I think you owe me an explanation.

Hikaru: Go Weekly? Since when have you been reading that?

Akari: Since Koike gave it to me. There's something here I don't understand. You know they do a list of all the results of the professional Go games? By your name it says lost by default.

Hikaru: I told you I wasn't playing anymore, didn't I?

Akari: What? You were talking about playing me, weren't you? You thought I wasn't good enough for you now you're a pro! [Hikaru remains silent] You're serious about this, aren't you? Are you going to quit being a pro?

Hikaru: If Sai never comes back... I'm thinking about it.

Yuki Mitani: You selfish jerk.

Akari: Oh no. Mitani.

Yuki Mitani: I don't know what the heck is going on with you Shindo, but you left the Go club so you could become a pro.

Akari: You're not gonna be a pro, what are you going to do?

Hikaru: Entrance exams are coming up soon and I need to study for them. Akari, what are you doing after school today? You gonna study with me>

Yuki Mitani: She doesn't have the time to study with you. We gotta practice for a tournament!

Hikaru: Another tournament.

Yuki Mitani: Oh so it's just another tournament, huh? Who do you think you are? Have you forgotten how much you wanted to beat Kaio when you were part of the Go club? Back then it was more than just another tournament!

Hikaru: Mitani...

Yuki Mitani: I'm going to play in this next tournament. Natsume, Koike, and I are going to challenge Kaio.

---

Ochi: He asked Shindo if he was missing games because he was sick and offered the chance to take a leave of absence, but he didn't even bother to reply.

Waya: What an idiot.

Ochi: Think he'll quit being a pro?

Waya: I dunno.

Ochi: Looking at him now, it's hard to believe he was Toya's rival.

Waya: Having talent is a waste of time if you don't put it into practice.

Waya: Isumi! You don't look any different. I figured since you were spending all your time training, you'd have grown a beard or something. I was surprised when you called. So how was China? What was it like? What's wrong?

Isumi: Well if it isn't Le Ping! You've grown up fast.

---

Isumi: Yeah so after that, Le Ping followed me around, wanting to play against me all the time. I guess it was good he was working on his game, but I didn't get much time for myself.

Waya: He was a pest huh?

Isumi: I know he's just a kid, but he's really a strong player. In the end I enjoyed hanging out with him. He sort of became my best friend. once I gave him some Waya medicine.

Waya: Gave him what?

Isumi: You know that special medicine you take whenever you get a stomachache? Well one day Le Ping had a stomachache so I gave him some. I figured he looks exactly like you, so it was bound to work.

Waya: What kind of dumb logic is that?

---

Isumi: I've been wondering what happened. Is he sick? I mean, I want to see him again before I get started in the pro exams, but I- what is it, Waya?

Waya: This isn't the first time it's happened. He's lost more than once by default. He's lost a lot. It's been like this since May. Careful. I don't know why, but he's completely lost interest in playing Go.

Isumi: Look Shindo, we are going to play. I don't want to play because I'm worried about you. I need this. I need you to play me one more game. This is why I came to see you today.

---

Kuwabara: Listen Shindo. If you're looking for your rival, he's on the 5th floor.

---

Hikaru: I'm going to keep on this path forever! I had to tell you. That's why I'm here.

---

Kuwabara: It takes not one, but two people to play a game of Go.

Sakamaki: Of course I know that. Everyone does. It's obvious.

Kuwabara: No.

[...]

Kuwabara: You can't play Go by yourself, oh no.

[...]

Sakamaki: Didn't you hear me? I already said I know that.

Kuwabara: Yes but you're not really listening. A truly great game will never happen with only one great player.

[...]

Kuwabara: You see Mr. Sakamaki, You have to have two players of equal genius. Two. And when these two come together, anything is possible. Even the divine move.

Akari: The Haze Go club is changing and so are we. Even Hikaru, who decided to quit playing as a pro, has started up again.

---

Akira: The match is set. We're going to face each other once again.

Amano: I get a sense that there's a momentous change on the way, don't you? Something's about to happen in the world of Go.

Hikaru: I'm here for my study session with Morishita-sensei.

Kurata: I just saw the pairings for the Meijin tournament qualifiers. Your first match is against Akira Toya!

Hikaru: Yeah. And you know what? It's all thanks to you.

Kurata: Thanks to me? How?

Hikaru: The only reason he has to play in all the qualifying rounds this year is because you managed to beat him last year. He's made it to the finals in every other tournament, but not the Meijin. It seems like he doesn't want to come down to my level or something.

Kurata: [laughing] Well, what do you expect? He is Akira Toya after all.

Hikaru: I know, but he's so busy playing in other tournaments, our game hasn't even been scheduled yet. I should get going.

---

Hikaru: [thinking about Akira] I know that you've always wanted to play against Sai, but he isn't here anymore. Except he is in my game. He's in every one of my moves. But I can't expect you to understand that. I'll make myself strong enough to beat you! I'm gonna play at your level now.

---

Akari: You must get really nervous the day before a big game.

Hikaru: What do you mean?

Akari: I don't know. You've just got this serious look on your face.

Hikaru: This match against Toya is a big one, so maybe I'm a little bit nervous.

---

Hikaru: I've noticed a change in you too.

Akari: Really? You mean it? So tell me. How do you think I've changed?

Hikaru: Hmm... You've gotten shorter.

Akari: [angry] I haven't gotten shorter! You're taller!

Hikaru: We finally get to play each other again.

Akira: The last time the two of us played was in a school Go club tournament. Two years and four months ago.

Hikaru: It's been a long time since then.

Akira: I know. It's been too long.

Hikaru: Now it's your chance to see how strong I've become.

---

Amano: We All know of Akira Toya. But there's also Shindo. And Ochi. And with Waya and the others filling in the ranks, there's bound to be a huge burst of energy into the world of Go.

---

Akira: Sai. When we were playing this morning, I thought of Sai from the internet.

Hikaru: I'm sorry I'm not Sai, but I wish I was.

Akira: It is you.

Hikaru: What do you mean?

Akira: He's a part of you. There's another side to you. Another player. And the Hikaru Shindo I played when we first met, that was Sai.

Hikaru: Toya. Toya listen-

Akira: There's someone else within you.

Hikaru: Toya can see Sai. Until now, I was the only one who knew who he was. Sai, Toya has found you. He found you.

---

Akira: There's something you're not telling me. What is it?

Hikaru: Look, never mind. Forget it. Anyway, you're the one who told me my life was about playing Go and you're OK with that.

Akira: Well yeah I did say that but-

Hikaru: Then that's it. End of story.

Akira: Then why did you say you'd tell me one day?!

Hikaru: I didn't. I said maybe like way off in the future, dummy!

---

Hikaru: [to Sai] What were you feeling when you left me? Was everything OK? Were you upset about something? Or were you smiling when you left? I hope everything was OK.

---

[Hikaru storms out after a fight with Akira]

Man: You say he only became a pro last year and he thinks he's a match for Toya? That kid's got some nerve if he thinks he can challenge someone who's made it to the Honinbo league already.

Akira: [angrily] Why is that so weird? I'm only a 3 dan! No matter how strong you are, everyone has to start off as a 1 dan. And you can only move up the rankings one level at a time. Your Dan ranking has nothing to do with your strength. Shindo is only a 1 dan now, but nobody should underestimate him! [Storms off]

Man: Those two were fighting earlier, weren't they?

---

Hikaru: [Last line of the series] Sai, one day, you and I are going to play the Divine Move together.

Hikaru: Sai, I'll get stronger... And I'll definitely play the divine move one day... The divine move that you've been seeking the whole time. Just wait, Sai!

• I wanted to learn Go, so I paid a go school and started to attend classes once a week with a pro. He was mean, and never let the students win the teaching games. This was frustrating to me, because I was thinking "Why am I paying to lose all the time?" I wished that I had a guardian angel or a ghost that could help me beat him really bad. It was at that moment that Hikaru no Go was born.
  • Yumi Hotta, interview at the International Go Symposium, 5 August 2012.

• Hikaru no Go at the Internet Movie Database
• Hikaru no Go at TV.com