About this season
Hikaru Shindo is like any sixth-grader in Japan: a pretty normal kid with a two-tone head of hair and a penchant for antics. His life completely changes when he finds an old bloodstained go board in his grandfather's attic. The ghost of an ancient go master named Fujiwara-no-Sai was trapped in the board and soon becomes a part of Hikaru's consciousness. Together Hikaru and Sai make an unstoppable go-playing team!
Episodes (15)
1. Sai is Gone?
Aired 11 December 2002 • 24 min
Hikaru discovers that Sai is missing and searches all over him. Unable to locate him, he travels to Inno Island to visit Shusaku's grave in an effort to find him. Is it true? Is Sai really gone?
2. The Top Player in Hiroshima
Aired 18 December 2002 • 24 min
The #1 Amateur Go Player in Japan, Shuhei, challenges Hikaru to a match while Hikaru is looking for Sai in Hiroshima.
3. I Won't Play Anymore
Aired 25 December 2002 • 24 min
Unable to locate Sai, Hikaru makes a vow to never play Go again without him.
4. Keichou Flowerpots
Aired 8 January 2003 • 24 min
This episode shows us a young Hikaru, back from 7th grade before the Insei exam. When Sai is disturbed by the owner of a pottery shop, with a face like a toad, Hikaru/Sai must beat the owner who turns out to be a 5dan to prove to everyone what a cheat the owner is. But can he turn around his own play, and win a game someone else has already resigned to help a young girl?
5. Isumi no Go
Aired 5 January 2003 • 24 min
Isumi and other semi-pro's from japan go to a good will competition against pros in china. although he starts off confident an early loss puts isumi into a tail spin of doubt and confusion over his skills. he is presented with a unique opportunity to learn with chinnese pros for a short while. in an overcrowded and extremly talented enviornment can isumi regain his confidence?
6. The Fated Encounter
Aired 22 January 2003 • 24 min
In this flashback before Akira Toya met Hikaru Shindo, a young children's Go champion challenges Akira to a game at the Go Salon.
7. Isumi tested
Aired 29 January 2003 • 24 min
Still in China improving his game, Isumi challenges Le Ping to a rematch. Meanwhile, Asumi encounters Hikaru and demands to know why he has stopped playing Go.
8. Forfeits
Aired 5 February 2003 • 24 min
Hikaru is still forfeiting his Go matches, and everyone round his is worried and confused. Can the young player's friends and familyconvince him to get his game back?
9. The Determined Visitor
Aired 12 February 2003 • 24 min
Isumi return from China, now a stronger and more focused player. When he hears Hikaru is losing his games by default he vows to investigate the situation.
10. Sai was here...
Aired 19 February 2003 • 24 min
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?
11. The First Comeback Match
Aired 26 February 2003 • 24 min
Hikaru has finally started to play Go again. He has found Sai within his moves, within his Go. But can Hikaru win his first comeback match against 2-dan Murakami? Everyone is watching. Meanwhile, what will become of the Haze Jr. High School Go club? After the year is over, only one boy will be left. Everyone else will graduate and move on.
12. And so they began to run
Aired 5 March 2003 • 24 min
The Go world is moving. Everything is changing. Hikaru has won his first comeback match and dives into his next one. Isumi is taking the Pro Exam and is on his way to becoming a pro like Waya, Hikaru, and Ochi before him. Akira is beating high level dans. Ogata has taken yet another title. The Go world is shifting; a new wave is coming with Akira in the lead. But Kuwabara will not allow them to surpass him just yet...
13. Shindou vs Touya
Aired 12 March 2003 • 24 min
The long awaited day has finally arrived. Hikaru Shindou V. Akira Touya! The two reminisce about the past and the last time they played. It was a little over two years ago. They have both grown stronger since then. They sit down. Hikaru places one black stone and Akira places five white ones. Hikaru is black and will go first. Akira is white and will go second. Hikaru places his first stone down on komoku. Both of them are excited and the match they have both been waiting for has finally arrived…
14. Forever Inside You
Aired 19 March 2003 • 24 min
The game between Hikaru and Akira wages on. They are both into the game and excited about it. Meanwhile, Amano tells news of a junior Japan, China, and Korea Go Tournament. It’s for experienced Go players under the age of 18. Everyone is worried because they have no one who could stand a chance against Korea, or even China, except for Akira. Amano says that they have Hikaru and the new wave that’s coming…
15. That Same Old Smile
Aired 26 March 2003 • 24 min
The match between Hikaru and Akira comes to an end. Hikaru tells Akira that one day, he will tell him everything. At night Hikaru has a dream, with a surprise visitor! At the end, the song “Get Over” is played as we see everyone throughout the series. The Go world is changing and a younger generation has arrived!