Hikaru No Go, Vol. 1: The Go Masters Descent
Based on a manga written by Yumi Hotta and drawn by Takeshi Obata that appeared inShonen Jump,Hikaru no Goran for three years on Japanese television. Hikaru Shindo is a normal 6th grader of no great accomplishments--until he encounters the ghost of Sai of Fujiwara, an exquisite Go master who lived at the Heian court 1,000 years ago. Sai committed suicide after being falsely accused of cheating, but his love of Go keeps him attached to this world. In return for enabling Sai to play Go, Hikaru gains a sort of built-in tutor to help him with history and social studies. But after his first few games as Sai's puppet, Hikaru becomes fascinated by the intensity of the players; he wants to learn to play on his own. Hikaru's new interest and preoccupied manner puzzle his friend Akari and his teacher, and earn him two foes: the icy prodigy Akira Toya and the rude Tetsuo Kaga.Hikaru no Gooffers all the elements of a classicshonen(boy's) anime series: a hero with untapped potential, supernatural influences, interpersonal rivalries, and a complex game, but it's refreshingly free of product tie-ins. Although no knowledge of Go is needed to enjoy the show,Hikarucould introduce American kids to that endlessly challenging game. (Unrated, suitable for ages 8 and older)--Charles Solomon