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dorinlazar's review against another edition
4.0
Nice setup for the follow-up to the main story - there is a new tournament between China, Korea and Japan under 18 - and there will be a tournament to decide who will join the team. Akira is seeded in the team, but the rest of the spots are under doubt.
In the mean-time, Akira and Hikaru tie a nice competitive friendship, in which they analyze games together. Even if they didn't play a game in a competition, they learn a lot from each-other and develop this healthy rivalry.
Isumi is scheduled to play his first game, and he's playing against the very old player (I always forget his name). There's a come-back of the crook 7dan player who is defeated by Hikaru. The main theme of this volume is how Hikaru is playing at shodan, but his level is actually way higher.
In the mean-time, Akira and Hikaru tie a nice competitive friendship, in which they analyze games together. Even if they didn't play a game in a competition, they learn a lot from each-other and develop this healthy rivalry.
Isumi is scheduled to play his first game, and he's playing against the very old player (I always forget his name). There's a come-back of the crook 7dan player who is defeated by Hikaru. The main theme of this volume is how Hikaru is playing at shodan, but his level is actually way higher.
tsitua's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
wanderer24's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
sonofthe's review against another edition
4.0
This story is comfort food for me. I can't quite put my finger on what keeps me rereading/rewatching this and the anime, but my interest in Go certainly helps. I also like that it's a generally positive story about getting good at something.
allyem_reads's review against another edition
Hikaru and Akira’s friendship has officially reached favorite levels for me! Their banter is actually the cutest thing in the world. But the whole time I was reading this volume I couldn’t stop thinking, they’re all so grown up now! I know that this volume is about three years after the beginning of the story, but you can really tell how much they’ve matured in this volume. I’m actually very sad that I’m reaching the end!
mergs_scribbles's review
4.5
Happy to be back to the main story this volume! As much as I enjoyed the side stories of the last volume, I really missed the tension. I love where Hikaru and Akira’s relationship is right now. Those two have grown so much since the first volume and it’s amazing to see.
familiar_diversions's review against another edition
3.0
Hikaru plays against other Shodan, even though he's far stronger than they are, and we're repeatedly reminded that everyone has to start at this point and work their way up. In his free time, Hikaru analyzes his and Akira's games with Akira. Akira is now playing against higher ranked players, and Hikaru wishes he could too. Hikaru's first higher ranked opponent is
This volume felt a bit scattered and lacking compared to some of the past ones. Even the short story volume worked better for me. The best parts were Hikaru buying himself a fan like Sai's (I was a little surprised that no one poked fun at him for what would have appeared to others like a sudden new affectation) and Hikaru and Akira arguing over Go. I could imagine them continuing to argue like that after having spent decades as friends and rivals.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Spoiler
Gokiso 7 Dan, who he beats. Hikaru finally learns about the Japan-China-Korea Junior Cup...and that Akira is already part of the team and won't need to try out. The volume ends with Hikaru doing a rematch against Kadowaki while Isumi is playing against Kuwabara.This volume felt a bit scattered and lacking compared to some of the past ones. Even the short story volume worked better for me. The best parts were Hikaru buying himself a fan like Sai's (I was a little surprised that no one poked fun at him for what would have appeared to others like a sudden new affectation) and Hikaru and Akira arguing over Go. I could imagine them continuing to argue like that after having spent decades as friends and rivals.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
declaired's review against another edition
4.0
Gosh it really makes a difference when you read a manga that doesn't actively hate you; I may have liked this volume of HnG more simply because it wasn't Descendants of Darkness.
HOWEVER it was also a great comeback out of the past 3 or so volume doldrums/Hikaru's mourning period, starting off with Hikaru and Akira apparently regularly playing one another in friendly (and with almost childish) competitiveness! The pace is upbeat and exciting, checking in briefly with all of our many widely spread characters (our friendly beginner dans are all swearing that they'll improve, Yuki is studying hard with Masako which i'm THRILLED about, Akari is pursuing her own dreams (runs off into the sunset thinking "fight fight fight!" to herself a++ chase your dreams Akari) and we're teasing a reunion with all our abroad kids! It's so nice to get back into the fun parts of Hikaru no Go.
Two other points of note:
1) It was incredibly pleasant to see a professional go tournament break include one panel with two women professional go players discussing child rearing, given how male-dominated the cast and background tend to be; the representation feels good man.
2) Yumi Hotta's mangaka notes were extremely wonderful this time around, just her geeking out about how she watches the anime every week and doesn't want to be interrupted, and how hard she has to try in the gameboy advance HnG games
HOWEVER it was also a great comeback out of the past 3 or so volume doldrums/Hikaru's mourning period, starting off with Hikaru and Akira apparently regularly playing one another in friendly (and with almost childish) competitiveness! The pace is upbeat and exciting, checking in briefly with all of our many widely spread characters (our friendly beginner dans are all swearing that they'll improve, Yuki is studying hard with Masako which i'm THRILLED about, Akari is pursuing her own dreams (runs off into the sunset thinking "fight fight fight!" to herself a++ chase your dreams Akari) and we're teasing a reunion with all our abroad kids! It's so nice to get back into the fun parts of Hikaru no Go.
Two other points of note:
1) It was incredibly pleasant to see a professional go tournament break include one panel with two women professional go players discussing child rearing, given how male-dominated the cast and background tend to be; the representation feels good man.
2) Yumi Hotta's mangaka notes were extremely wonderful this time around, just her geeking out about how she watches the anime every week and doesn't want to be interrupted, and how hard she has to try in the gameboy advance HnG games
kenyuen1's review against another edition
5.0
Hikaru's pro life has started in earnest! That said, some of these chapters are a little meandering. It's good that they followed up with Kadowaki's story though.