Completed Anime
Hikaru no Go

“Boy possessed by ancient go spirit discovers passion for the game through rivalry with prodigy.”

Hikaru no Go

8.08
617 rank · 150,641 viewers · 2,593 favorites
Comedy Drama Supernatural School Strategy Game Shounen
75 episodes · 23 min per ep min · Fall 2001 · Studio Pierrot · PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
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Episodes · 75 75/75 aired
EP 01 ~2 ep / stripe EP 75

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Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...

However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...

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Synopsis

Boy possessed by ancient go spirit discovers passion for the game through rivalry with prodigy.

While searching through his grandfather's attic, Hikaru Shindou stumbles upon an old go board. Touching it, he is greeted by a mysterious voice, and soon after falls unconscious. When he regains his senses, he discovers that the voice is still present and belongs to Fujiwara no Sai, the spirit of an ancient go expert. A go instructor for the Japanese Emperor in the Heian Era, Sai's passion for the game transcends time and space, allowing him to continue playing his beloved game as a ghostly entity. Sai's ultimate goal is to master a divine go technique that no player has achieved so far, and he seeks to accomplish this by playing the board game through Hikaru. Despite having no interest in board games, Hikaru reluctantly agrees to play, executing moves as instructed by Sai. However, when he encounters the young go prodigy Akira Touya, a passion for the game is slowly ignited within him. Inspired by his newfound rival, Hikaru's journey into the world of go is just beginning.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

What people say

Community consensus

Derived from 58 sampled reviews

8.8 /10

What 58 viewers settled on.

97% recommend
Score distribution
median 9 mode 9 σ 1.43
1510
Agreement

Mostly aligned

σ 1.43 · some divergence

mixed
The polarity gap

6.0 pts

Recommenders 9.0 · others 3.0

Yes
No
Score over time

↑ 0.76

Running avg · Dec 2006 → Nov 2025

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Production slate

A Tv Production · Fall 2001

Studio Pierrot.
in association with

TV Tokyo · Dentsu

  • Format 75 × 23′ eps × min
  • Total runtime 28h 45m all episodes
  • Aired Oct 2001 – Mar 2003 Fall 2001
  • Source Tv media type
  • Rated PG 13 - Teens 13 or older
  • Ref. BS-0115 catalog

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