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anakuroma 's review for:
Hikaru No Go, Volume 23
by Yumi Hotta
TW: use of an offensive and outdated word relating to Romani people
FINAL SERIES THOUGHTS: well, after plowing through this series in 3 days I have thoughts™ that I wish to share.
First, the good:
the characters: I don't know how it was done but the expert way the characters were written and drawn made the millions portrayed still easy to recognise not forgetable. That takes honest talent (especially for my brain).
The art: you honestly can see the growth of Obata-sensei's art. He expertly shows characters physical growth and changes so subtlety. It's a pleasure to see his style develop over these 23 volumes.
The rivalry: most anime and manga have the whole 'rivals' trope, and all too often it is spurred by annoying things like pride or vanity (or one of them clearly just being a jerkwad). However in HNG its done just right. The main reason for characters, especially Hikaru and Akira, to begin their rivalry is out of sheer passion for the craft. They don't want to gain bragging rights or a title, they just want to play go. They want to be better for the sake of the legacy of the game. Thus their rivalry is spurred on only to better themselves and out of pure mutual respect. I loved it and it honestly is incredibly heartwarming.
What I disliked:
The rushed ending: by rushed I mean it needed at least and extra chapter (or three) to really wrap things up; to show where the characters are now, their final thoughts, etc. Manga is notorious for unsatisfactory endings, often stopping or being run into the ground with no satisfying final act. I wasn't expecting anything different from a long running series such as HNG, but a petson can dream, right?
The way women are depicted and treated: Okay, I was seriously frustrated by this and the formula that the manga followed to a sickening degree:
1: women don't show up/have any bearing at all in the story
2: if they DO show up it's either to
A: serve tea or make or offer food to the boys
B: be told they don't get go as well as the boys do
C: on the rare occasion play go, do OK, then vanish into thin air.
It was just disappointing to see women only in servitude to men and not having the barest bones of even a subplot here and there.
I still don't understand how to play go:
Now I wasn't expecting to read this and be a master player, but I was hoping I'd have a little idea of how the game goes so I could watch a game. I did learn the beauty of its incredibly complicated and nuanced style. But when I read other sport focused manga, such as Eyeshield 21 or Chihayafuru, I usually come out of it with at least the basics to observe/play the game (albeit as a very bad rookie).
Overall:
I give the series a solid 3.5 stars. A good ol' classic that gets you interested in its subject and has wonderful characters. It's very much 'of its time' though and has frustrating aspects.
FINAL SERIES THOUGHTS: well, after plowing through this series in 3 days I have thoughts™ that I wish to share.
First, the good:
the characters: I don't know how it was done but the expert way the characters were written and drawn made the millions portrayed still easy to recognise not forgetable. That takes honest talent (especially for my brain).
The art: you honestly can see the growth of Obata-sensei's art. He expertly shows characters physical growth and changes so subtlety. It's a pleasure to see his style develop over these 23 volumes.
The rivalry: most anime and manga have the whole 'rivals' trope, and all too often it is spurred by annoying things like pride or vanity (or one of them clearly just being a jerkwad). However in HNG its done just right. The main reason for characters, especially Hikaru and Akira, to begin their rivalry is out of sheer passion for the craft. They don't want to gain bragging rights or a title, they just want to play go. They want to be better for the sake of the legacy of the game. Thus their rivalry is spurred on only to better themselves and out of pure mutual respect. I loved it and it honestly is incredibly heartwarming.
What I disliked:
The rushed ending: by rushed I mean it needed at least and extra chapter (or three) to really wrap things up; to show where the characters are now, their final thoughts, etc. Manga is notorious for unsatisfactory endings, often stopping or being run into the ground with no satisfying final act. I wasn't expecting anything different from a long running series such as HNG, but a petson can dream, right?
The way women are depicted and treated: Okay, I was seriously frustrated by this and the formula that the manga followed to a sickening degree:
1: women don't show up/have any bearing at all in the story
2: if they DO show up it's either to
A: serve tea or make or offer food to the boys
B: be told they don't get go as well as the boys do
C: on the rare occasion play go, do OK, then vanish into thin air.
It was just disappointing to see women only in servitude to men and not having the barest bones of even a subplot here and there.
I still don't understand how to play go:
Now I wasn't expecting to read this and be a master player, but I was hoping I'd have a little idea of how the game goes so I could watch a game. I did learn the beauty of its incredibly complicated and nuanced style. But when I read other sport focused manga, such as Eyeshield 21 or Chihayafuru, I usually come out of it with at least the basics to observe/play the game (albeit as a very bad rookie).
Overall:
I give the series a solid 3.5 stars. A good ol' classic that gets you interested in its subject and has wonderful characters. It's very much 'of its time' though and has frustrating aspects.