Hikaru no Go

2001·Show
75Episodes in3Seasons·TV-G
79
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.2Metacritic––Rotten Tomatoes––

Where to watch

Hulu

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Hikaru no Go fingerprint

Big heart, immersive world, a touch of humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension6
  • Fast Pace6
  • Spectacle5

Heart

Hopeful and wholesome

Much of it is about growing up.

  • Coming of Age9
  • Hopefulness8
  • Wholesome7

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay5
  • Situational Comedy3
  • Physical Comedy2

World

Sports, growing up, and games

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • Novelty9
  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability8

Craft

Standout characters, direction, and performances

  • Character Depth9
  • Intrigue9
  • Direction8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBinge-FriendlyComfort WatchPure EscapismThought-Provoking

Find more like it

Feel Good showsSuspense showsAtmospheric shows

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every show. Select a row to see all of them.

About

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 sell and pulls out an old go board. A ghostly apparition appears out of the board and tells Hikaru his sad story. His name is Fujiwara no Sai, a man who was a go instructor to the emperor of Japan a thousand years ago. However, because of the bad sportsmanship of his opponent during a game, Sai was accused of cheating and banished from the city. With no livelihood or any other reason to live, Sai committed suicide by drowning himself. Now, he haunts a go board, and wants to accomplish the perfect go game, called the "Hand of God" which he hopes to do through Hikaru. If Hikaru will be able to do it or not (or even wants to) will have to be seen.
Sports AnimeSupernatural DramaComing-of-AgeGo StrategyCharacter DevelopmentInspiringEducationalFriendship ThemesWholesomeIntriguing Plot

Crew

Directed by:
Tetsuya Endo, Shin'ichi Masaki, Katsuyoshi Yatabe
Written by:
Shikichi Ohashi, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Michiko Yokote
Produced by:
Taihei Yamanishi

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Hikaru no Go

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Hikaru no Go legally?

Hulu

Hikaru no Go is included with a subscription to Hulu in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Hikaru no Go worth watching?

79
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80/100 (IMDb 8.2). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Hikaru no Go rated?

TV-G

It's rated TV-G in the United States.

How many seasons does Hikaru no Go have?

3 seasons

It has 3 seasons with 75 episodes.

When did Hikaru no Go air?

It ran from 2001 to 2003 and has ended.

What language is Hikaru no Go in?

Japanese

It was made in Japanese. Produced in Japan.

In how many countries can I watch Hikaru no Go?

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GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Hikaru no Go in 7 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Hikaru no Go use?

Every Episode EndingSpeed StripesThe Bad Guy WinsSmart People Play GoSmug SnakeExact WordsDoes This Remind You of Anything?Hollywood Board GamesSpirit AdvisorPassing the TorchPublic Domain ArtifactMaster-Apprentice Chainand 92 more

TV Tropes lists 104 storytelling tropes for Hikaru no Go, including Every Episode Ending, Speed Stripes, The Bad Guy Wins.

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