7.2/1028 votes#1 - The Preliminary Starts
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 5/15/2002
Hikaru takes the prelims to qualify for the Pro exams whereas Waya/Isumi are admitted straight to the finals being among the top 8 of the Insei program. Hikaru is intimidated by Tsubaki, a really loud and brash guy, who turns out to be his first opponent. Tsubaki plays mind games with Hikaru and won the match. For Hikaru, the loss highlighted his inexperience with playing with adults since starting go and it represents a hurdle he has to overcome to reach his goal.
Director: Kunitoshi Okajima
Writer: Michiko Yokote
7.3/1029 votes#2 - The Last Day of the Preliminaries
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 5/22/2002
Hikaru is overwhelmed in playing go with adults and his second loss placed him at a precarious position (third loss means an ousting). As desperation climbs, he becomes more determined than ever by drawing his inspiration from Akira. Fortunately, his third match with Fuku started him on a winning roll. While Waya/Isumi were practicing at a Go salon, a customer gave them the address of another Go salon where there're supposedly many experts. Waya/Isumi decided to drop by the Institute to check on the gang and are dismayed to find out about Hikaru's performance. Hikaru won his last match by default and gained entry to the pros exams. Waya decided to bring Hikaru along on their Go salon visits after hearing about his encounter with Tsubaki.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/1032 votes#3 - Team Formed!
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 5/29/2002
This is a very fun episode where Waya, Isumi and Hikaru form a team to go around challenging the patrons of the various Go salons. The bet being that they won't have to pay the admission fees in event of a win and Waya raises the stakes even higher by allowing a few moku handicap in subsequent games, much to the protests of Isumi/Hikaru (since they have to wash all the stones if they lose). Hikaru becomes friendly with a particular go salon named 'Heart of Stone' and its patrons. Through this exercise, Hikaru manages to overcome his weakness in playing go with adults.
Director: Setsuo Takase
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
7.5/1028 votes#4 - Don't Win
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 6/5/2002
At a Friendly Go festival, Akira was invited to play a 4-way game with a council member and his three assistants. Though originally told to lose the game, Akira decides otherwise when the council member shows disrespect to Go by placing a cup on a Go board. Akira displays his amazing prowress by forcing a draw on all 4 players. Ashiwara feels that Akira should take it easier by just participating in the pro games but Akira just mutters to himself 'But he passed the prelims to the pro exams'. Meanwhile, Hikaru grows his mastery of go at the Heart of Go salon where he learns how to force a draw in 2-way/3-way games.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/1030 votes#5 - There Is Only One Winner
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 6/12/2002
Isumi, Waya and Hikaru decides to go to a recommeded Go Salon and Hikaru bumps into a rude young boy at the convenience store. Sai advises Hikaru not to pursue the incident as he senses that the young boy had some issues with himself. Upon entering the salon, the trio realised that it's a Korean Go salon (Koreans are known for their strength/domination in the Go world)and that the rude young boy is the owner's nephew called Su Young - a Korean insei-equivalent. Back at the institute, the editorial team was discussing Japan's poor performance in the world stage and Korea/China's domination. When Hikaru challenges Su-Young to a match, it turns into a Korean Vs Japan fight-out. The owner recounts Su-Young's history to Isumi. Su-young has been a very promising young talent who rose quickly through the ranks but a losing streak demoralises him to the extent of almost quitting Go and his parents sent him on a holiday to Japan. As the game starts, Hikaru vows to win and let Su-Young remember
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.1/1031 votes#6 - 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
7.6/1030 votes#7 - The Pro Exam Begins
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 6/26/2002
The Pro Exam has finally begun, and the intensity reaches new heights after the pairings are chosen. Everyone seems so tense, except for Hikaru, who is unusually calm. Thanks to Waya and Isumi, Hikaru has learned how to handle the pressure. However, could their actions have turned Hikaru into a real threat?
Director: Katsuyoshi Yatabe
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
7.6/1030 votes#8 - The Challengers
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 7/3/2002
Hikaru and Tsubaki must face each other in the Pro matches, and Akira begins teaching Ochi in an attempt to learn how strong of a level Hikaru is playing at.
Director: N/A
Writer: Michiko Yokote
8.0/1031 votes#9 - 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
7.9/1030 votes#10 - 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
7.5/1030 votes#11 - Three Weeks Isn't Enough!
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 7/24/2002
Realizing that Hikaru is getting stronger, Ochi swallows his pride and decides to ask Akira for help. When Akira tells Ochi about the game Hikaru played against Su-Young, Ochi realizes that Hikaru is a serious threat and that three weeks might not give him enough practice. However, Ochi still doesn't understand why Akira is obsessed with Hikaru, forcing him to show Ochi the match at the Go Salon from two years ago, the game where Hikaru destroyed him!
Director: N/A
Writer: Michiko Yokote
7.8/1030 votes#12 - 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
7.9/1030 votes#13 - 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
7.6/1029 votes#14 - A Desperate Life
Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 8/14/2002
As the match between Hikaru and Ochi draws near, Ochi becomes more and more annoyed with Akira's obsession of Hikaru. Therefore, Ochi demands that Akira recognize him as his rival and permit him to join Toya Meijin's study group if he beats Hikaru. Akira agrees to the condition, but when Ochi mentions to Hikaru that Akira is teaching him, Hikaru realizes that Akira will officially recognize him as a rival if he beats Ochi.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.1/1031 votes#15 - 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
7.8/1029 votes#16 - 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
7.9/1030 votes#17 - 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
7.9/1029 votes#18 - 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
8.2/1031 votes#19 - 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
6.6/1027 votes#20 - Fujiwara no Sai
Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 9/25/2002
This episode is basically a recap of Sai's past journeys, from playing Go in the palace and his eventual suicide, playing Go through Shuusaku and then Hikaru. The second half kind of traces Hikaru's Go journey till the present - the first game btw Hikaru/Akira, set-up of Haze Jr's Go Club, Hikaru letting Sai practise through Internet Go and Hikaru's determination to catch up with Akira. Sai laments to God on why he let him came back through Hikaru and wonders if Hikaru will ever let him play again.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/1029 votes#21 - 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
7.4/1027 votes#22 - Hikaru vs Akira
Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 10/9/2002
All dressed up to receive his 1-dan certificate, Hikaru learns about the Oteai, a series of games that determine a player's ranking as well as who his first opponent will be...
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/1028 votes#23 - 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
7.2/1027 votes#24 - Excitement (A.K.A. Excited Spirits)
Season 2 Episode 24 - Aired 10/23/2002
Now that Toya Meiji is playing Internet Go, the world is abuzz with excitement. But little do they know that a challenger of exceptional strength waits in the shadows.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.7/1037 votes#25 - 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
The Best Episodes of Hikaru no Go Season 2
Every episode of Hikaru no Go Season 2 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Hikaru no Go Season 2!
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
Season 2 Ratings Summary
"The Preliminary Starts" is the best rated episode of "Hikaru no Go" season 2. It scored 7.2/10 based on 28 votes. Directed by Kunitoshi Okajima and written by Michiko Yokote, it aired on 5/15/2002. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Last Day of the Preliminaries".