Hikaru no Go: Hokuto Hai e no Michi
Japanese title: ヒカルの碁 北斗杯への道
Alternative titles: Hikaru no Go: Journey to the North Star Cup
Type: Special
Source: Manga
Episodes: 1
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Jan 3, 2004
Duration: 1 hr 17 min
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Studios: Pierrot
Producers: Dentsu
Themes: Strategy Game
Demographics: Shounen

Hikaru is given a phone call asking him to appear in the Japan/China/Korea Junior's Tournament but he finds out he will have to take place in a preliminary tournament to choose Japan's three contestants. Upon discussing this with Akira, he discovers that Akira has already been chosen for the tournament and will not be taking place in the preliminaries. Hikaru then decides not to visit Akira's Go Salon until he takes his place on the team with Akira. That may be tougher than originally planned, as not only does Hikaru have to battle with old friends for one of two coveted spots, but he may have a new challenger, in a promising player from the Kansai Go Institute. 

(Source: ANN)