Hikaru Shindo is your average run-of-the-mill student who comes across a blood-stained go board while searching his grandfather’s attic. Trapped inside the go board is a ghost named Sai, a go instructor born in the Heian Period. Sai’s love of go and his desire to play the “Divine Move” made his spirit unable to move on. And now Sai's become a part of Hikaru's consciousness! Go is everything to Sai, but the same can’t be said for Hikaru...at least not at first. However, as Hikaru grows as a go player, he also grows as a person.

In the beginning of Hikaru’s go career, he doesn’t care about go at all. In fact, he only plays to please Sai and to make money. And then he meets Akira Toya, a young player on his way to becoming a professional. Using Hikaru as medium, Sai plays Akira and wins. Mistaking Sai’s strength for Hikaru’s, Akira chases after him, believing Hikaru is the worthy rival he’s been searching for. However, he's disappointed when Hikaru shows utter disrespect for go.

After seeing Akira’s disappointment, Hikaru trains himself to understand the game and grows attached to it. He even starts to develop his own skills apart from Sai. As his skills develop, Hikaru respects the world of go and recognizes the strength and passion of other players. He encourages his friends to join the game and stops Yuki from cheating. Before he knew it Hikaru gains a new passion for go.

Soon Akira and Hikaru face off again and Akira wins. Akira is disappointed in Hikaru’s weakness and believes that Hikaru played him for a fool. The loss only fuels Hikaru to become a stronger player. To prove himself to Akira, Hikaru realizes that he must improve his skills so he trains as an Insei (young go players training to be pros). With the hope of defeating Akira and being recognized for his own strength and not Sai’s, Hikaru becomes more mature. He has come a long way from the kid looking for a quick buck, but his journey is not over yet.  

How far will Hikaru go? Will he be able to defeat Akira with his own strength? The only way to find out is to read Hikaru no Go on sale now!

Want a taste of this great manga series? Read a FREE PREVIEW of Hikaru no Go volume 1 at VIZmanga.com!

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by Katherine McGowan