Hikaru no Go

About Hikaru No Go

Hikaru No Go is a compelling TV series that centers on the ancient board game of Go. Released in 2006, the series protagonists Hikaru Shindo, a young student with no interest in Go, but destiny have different plans for him. Hikaru stumbles upon a Go board haunted by Fujiwara-no-Sai, a Go player from Heian era. Sai then hil implants the passion for Go in Hikaru and triggers his journey for the mastery of the game.

Making / Production

The series was adapted from the manga series of the same name written by Yumi Hotta and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. Produced by Pierrot, it aired on TV Tokyo for three years

Actors

• Tomoko Kawakami played the lead role of Hikaru Shindo, infusing the character with a fiery passion for the game of Go.
• Yumi Hotta, as the voice of Fujiwara-no-Sai, brought an ethereal presence to the board, representing the game’s deep roots in the past.
• Sanae Kobayashi played Akira Toya, Hikaru's main rival, infusing the role with an obsessive dedication to the game of Go.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series has significantly boosted the popularity of the game of Go, particularly among young people.
• A surprising number of professional Go players admit to entering the profession because of Hikaru no Go.

Awards

While Hikaru no Go did not win significant international awards, it was well-received by fans and has achieved a cult-like status among Go enthusiasts.

Quotes

• "The divine move? It's a move that you want to play. That's all." - Hikaru Shindo.
• "There's no such thing as a game that doesn't mean anything." - Akira Toya

Music / Soundtrack

• "Get Over" by Dream—The opening theme for the series.
• "Hitomi no Chikara" by Mizuki Arisa—The ending theme for the first season.