8.7/1036 votesLoading...#1 - Sai vs. Toya Koyo
Season 2 Episode 25 - Aired 10/30/2002
The wait is over! Sai and Toya Meijin face off in a match that has the entire world glued to their computer screens. Who will triumph and discover the Divine Move?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.6/1033 votesLoading...#2 - Akira vs. Sai
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/13/2002
Akira skipped his first match of the Pro exams in order to play the match against Sai on the net. Akira is perplexed over the identify of Sai which he thinks might be Hikaru while Ogata has his own thinking. Players all over the world are observing the match. Though Akira lost the match, he feels as though he had finally caught up with 'Hikaru'/Sai. When Akira heard from a Go cafe customer that Hikaru was sighted at an internet cafe, he races to the site thinking that he might be Sai. Hikaru denies he's Sai but gets ruffled when Akira seems to disregard him as a opponent. The episode ended with Hikaru saying 'If you keep chasing after an illusion of me, I'll pass by you eventually'.
Director: Tetsuya Endo
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
8.4/1029 votesLoading...#3 - The Thousand Year Answer
Season 2 Episode 26 - Aired 11/6/2002
When the match comes to a close, Sai is left the victor. However, when Hikaru discovers a flaw in the game that not even Sai was aware of, Sai finally realizes why he was allowed to return to the world of the living.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.2/1030 votesLoading...#4 - A Painful Match
Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 9/18/2002
Hikaru/Sai spends half hour to decide on the first move while the others are having a field day discussing Hikaru. With a 15 moku handicap Hikaru set for Sai, Sai decides to attack early by baiting a trap for Meijin (Touya Kouyou) but which the latter is too careful to fall into. However, the Meijin sense a formidable presence around Hikaru, similar to the pressure he feels when playing against a seasoned Pro. Though Hikaru lost the game, the Meijin indicates that he would like to play Hikaru again without any handicap. Hikaru and Sai had a mini-debate about when Hikaru' going to let him play again. Akira further wonders about who Hikaru really is when his father confirms he would like to play Hikaru again.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.1/1031 votesLoading...#5 - My Name is...
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 6/19/2002
Hikaru plays a Korean Insei-equivilant at a Go Salon.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.1/1030 votesLoading...#6 - Hikaru vs Ochi
Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 8/21/2002
Hikaru and Ochi finally face-off. Determined to prove his worth to Akira, Ochi goes all out against Hikaru, while Hikaru does the same. As the game continues on, Hikaru realizes that Ochi has the advantage and strives to a opening before it's too late.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/1031 votesLoading...#7 - The Dead Moment
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 7/10/2002
Isumi has gone on undefeated, while Hikaru has lost only one game so far. The time finally comes for them to play each other, and only one of them can win.
Director: Tetsuya Endo
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
8.0/1029 votesLoading...#8 - Waya vs Shindou
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 8/7/2002
Hikaru and Waya finally face each other, and both are desperate to win. However, Waya has other reasons for wanting to win besides just turning pro, but Hikaru needs to win as well! When Waya traps Hikaru in a situation where only one move can save him, can Hikaru figure it off?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/1028 votesLoading...#9 - Kurata 6-dan
Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 10/2/2002
Hikaru and Sai thwart the efforts of some con-artists trying to take advantage of unsuspecting amateur Go players, but one of con-artists is a Pro Go player.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/1027 votesLoading...#10 - The Confession of Sai
Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 10/16/2002
Toya Meijin has a heart attack and is rushed to the hospital. Hikaru visits him and discovers that he has been playing internet Go. Hikaru begs Meijin to play Sai online. He agrees on one condition.
Director: Katsuyoshi Yatabe
Writer: N/A
8.0/1026 votesLoading...#11 - Toya Koyo Retires!
Season 2 Episode 29 - Aired 11/27/2002
The Go World goes into a state of shock after Toya Meijin announces that he is retiring as Professional Go player. As everyone tries to find out why Koyo has given up his titles and his status, Akira begins to worry about Hikaru's progress.
Director: Toshiya Niidome
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
7.9/1053 votesLoading...#12 - Eternal Rival
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/10/2001
Sixth grader Hikaru Shindo stumbles upon a mysterious Go board with a blood stain on it. Before he knows it he's hearing voices, one voice to be exact. The voice of an ancient Go instructor, Sai of the Fujiwara. Sai occupies a space in Hikaru's mind. Hikaru is the only one who can see, hear, or talk to Sai. Sai's one and only desire is to play Go. But he can only do that via Hikaru's body. However, Hikaru has no interest in playing Go. Will Hikaru allow Sai to play? And who is this mysterious young boy, Akira Touya?
Director: Susumu Nishizawa
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
7.9/1032 votesLoading...#13 - The Most Inconsiderate Act
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/19/2001
The Go Sallon Yuki goes to doesn't mind giving him money for winning games, but they are tired of him cheating to get it. They hire a skilled player who pretends not to know anything about Go to teach Yuki a lesson. Unfortunately, Yuki falls for the trick and ends up betting 10,000 yen (about $90). Can Yuki manage to defeat this skilled player?
Director: Masakatsu Iijima
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
7.9/1031 votesLoading...#14 - Hikaru's Strength
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/20/2002
Hikaru is slowly, but surely, getting better as evidenced when he beats Mitani in a game though with a handicap as well as Tsutsui. To play go with Sai, now that they decided not to play internet go anymore, Hikaru tries to get his gramps to buy him a go board/stones. When Hikaru beats a strong opponent at the go school, even to the astoundment of the teacher, he finally understands that one can only judge how strong others are when he's strong himself. He bumps into Kaio's first board when he's browsing a bookstore and the latter pulls him away to a match.
Director: Shin'ichi Masaki
Writer: Michiko Yokote
7.9/1029 votesLoading...#15 - Whereabouts of the Win
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 7/17/2002
After losing to Hikaru, Isumi begins to break down and begins losing his matches. Hikaru is also having trouble concentrating, upset about pointing out Isumi's illegal move. As Sai helps Hikaru regain his concentration, Isumi faces off against Ochi. Perhaps this game will be enough to return Isumi to his old self.
Director: Shin'ichi Masaki
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
7.9/1029 votesLoading...#16 - To the World of the Pros
Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 9/4/2002
Having defeated Ochi, Hikaru has gained Akira's respect, and Akira is now awaiting their next match. As Hikaru wonders how his life will change now that he's become a Pro, Hikaru's mother confronts Waya's parents for advice on what to do. Also Sai begins to feel that he is no longer needed by Hikaru.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/1028 votesLoading...#17 - Sai vs Meijin
Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 9/11/2002
Hikaru got a call that the Meijin is to play him in the first new dan series. Hikaru denies Sai's request to play instead. Both Master Kuwabara and Mr Ogata were surprised by each other's interest in Hikaru. Orchi, Waya and Akira also came by the Institute to watch the match. Hikaru decides to let Sai play with a 15 moku handicap instead of the 5.5 moku handicap given to new pros. Hikaru/Sai took a unprecedented half hour to decide on his first move while Sai contemplates on how to play the game.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/1029 votesLoading...#18 - The Third Match
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/19/2002
Akira is quite tense at the fact that he is finally facing Hikaru, or rather Sai. All is going well, until Hikaru notices a point that he thinks should be played and Sai doesn't play it. Determined to find out why, Hikaru takes over and plays it. Sai reveals that the move might have worked, if Hikaru was good enough to back that move up. How will Akira handle the situation when he sees Hikaru really play?
Director: Mahara Gokyo
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
7.8/1030 votesLoading...#19 - The Match of Revelation
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/6/2002
Players who have been following Sai's net matches attended the 20th International Amateur Go Tournament in Japan. A commotion occurs at the mention of Sai's name as everyone is trying to who out who he is. The commotion caught the attention of Ogata and Akira. When Akira and Sai engaged in a match over the net, the former is reminded of his first match with Hikaru. Akira discontinues the match so as not to disrupt the ongoing tournament but fixes a date for a match with Sai which happens to be on the first day of Akira's Pro exams.
Director: Hideki Tonokatsu
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
7.8/1031 votesLoading...#20 - Ouza vs. Akira
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/27/2002
Although Ouza initally contemplated letting Akira win the match as a form of encouragement, he is angered by Akira's nonchalent attitude and decided to crush him completely. Akira forgot the safer strategy which could have won him the match, in order to show Hikaru his play. While the first snowflakes that mark the arrival of winter fell, Sai muses on the symbolic link between Hikaru and Akira and likened the presence of Akira as being placed there by God to help Hikaru on his path.
Director: Tetsuya Endo
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
7.8/1029 votesLoading...#21 - The First One to Pass
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 7/31/2002
The Pro Exam is nearing its end as the last three matches arrive. Ochi, Waya, and Hikaru are currently the top three, and Ochi is at the point where he'll pass even if he loses all of his matches. Hikaru and Waya must still be careful, as a loss or two could cause them to lose their spots.
Director: Setsuo Takase
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
7.8/1028 votesLoading...#22 - The Last Day of the Pro Exam Finals
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 8/28/2002
With all of the other matches finished, the final decision of the Pro Exams rests upon Hikaru and Ochi's match. Can Hikaru defeat Ochi, or will he be forced to play Isumi again for a chance at going pro?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/1027 votesLoading...#23 - Farewell Hikaru
Season 2 Episode 30 - Aired 12/4/2002
Hikaru continuously ignores Sai's worries of his leaving and ends up allowing Sai to engage a drunk Ogata in a Go match. The next day, Sai begs Hikaru for a game, but something happens during the game that will change Hikaru's life
Director: Tetsuya Endo
Writer: Michiko Yokote
7.7/1028 votesLoading...#24 - The Wakajishisen
Season 1 Episode 28 - Aired 4/24/2002
The top 16 in the A league all take part in the Young Lions Tournament. If Hikaru can manage to get past the first round, he'll finally get to face Akira again. Meanwhile, Isumi faces an old rival, and everyone wants Isumi to put him in his place. As Sai and Ogata monitor Hikaru's game, they become shocked when Hikaru turns a bad move into a good move. However, when the round ends, only 3 Insei will have made it to the next round.
Director: Tetsuya Endo
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
7.7/1026 votesLoading...#25 - Sai was here...
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 2/19/2003
After much convincing, Hikaru agrees to play Isumi. However, he will play him for Isumi’s sake, not his own. He will not enjoy the game or get into it. He can’t betray Sai. But when the game of Go becomes intense, is there anything that Hikaru can do? Hikaru ties hard not to betray Sai. He promised him that he would never play again. But can it be helped? Will Sai ever return to him?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Hikaru no Go
Every episode of Hikaru no Go ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Hikaru no Go!
Hikaru Shindō is just a normal 12-year-old boy, but one day he's rummaging through his grandfather's things to see if he can find something to...
Genres:AnimationSci-Fi & Fantasy
Network:TV Tokyo
Best Episodes Summary
"Sai vs. Toya Koyo" is the best rated episode of "Hikaru no Go". It scored 8.7/10 based on 36 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 10/30/2002. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Akira vs. Sai".