The Totally Epic HikaGo Reread - Vol. 11

[effex]

~Volume 11 of Hikaru no Go~

Chapters 88 - 96

Comments

Grabs!

[onkoona]

42-2
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/29234.html

43-1
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/29656.html

43-2
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/29912.html

43-3
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/30044.html

44-1
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/30298.html

44-2
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/30661.html

45-1
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/30921.html

45-2
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/31050.html

45-3
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/31444.html


ep 46 coming up asap....

Re: Grabs!

[onkoona]

and here it is:
46-1
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/31539.html

46-2
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/31833.html

Hikaru vs Ochi

[onkoona]

I found the battle between Ochi and Hikaru a little nerve wracking. In a good way, but still.

I did like the methaphore of Sai and Akira standing behind Hikaru and Ochi. I do suppose that is what true teachers do; give their pupils enough ammo to win their battles.

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[effex]

oh yes, and that's the Best Thing about HikaGo - the way it makes you care [smiles fondly] And I love the teachers metaphorically standing behind their students! Hurray for good teachers <3

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[lacygrey]

To Ochi, Hikaru perhaps Hikaru doesn't appear to have a teacher. Difficult to guess what he's thinking by this, but a wonderful feeling of complicity for the reader who knows.

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[onkoona]

In Japan it's really cool to teach and to learn. I like that. I always liked learning, I'm thinking about taking a course in Japanese, come September, so I can actualy understand what our boys are saying!

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[onkoona]

That's something that always found a little iffy in this story; Hikaru is constantly commended on growing so fast. But nobody knows he DOES have a teacher and maybe if they knew he does, the fast growth would be viewed less spectacular?

Play till the end

[lacygrey]

The pro exam is a round robin, so everyone plays everyone by the end - unlike the Young Lions, which is a knockout.

By the end there are plenty of people who know that they cannot pass. That must really change the athmosphere.

I wonder if in reality there are people who drop out at this - and therefore default wins.

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[lacygrey]

Very true. He doesn't get the credit, for the teaching or for the matches he played.

Re: Play till the end

[onkoona]

I don't suppose the Go institute could stop anyone from dropping out, but I think that nobody did, and I also think it would probably go against the Japanese sense of honor to either drop out or truly waist your games, once you know you can't pass.

Also there is the matter of next year. Especially for those that are not insei, the level of the games that can play at this level must be considered nessesarely good practice. Not every-one can have pro players come over every night or even get a really good sensei.

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[onkoona]

Poor Sai, our unsung hero!

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[effex]

[nods] from the outside, especially for people who know he doesn't go to study groups or anything, it must seem miraculous. If they knew he had a teacher, and who that teacher was...he'd still be seen as a prodigy, I think, because Sai would take on nothing less. But a prodigy who's raising thanks to hard work and an amazing teacher. Which I think would be better for Hikaru, really.

Hikaru vs Waya

[onkoona]

I really likes this sequence; I think Hikaru actualy grew while playing this match. I'd not be surprised if Hikaru would have lost the last macht if he hadn't played this one first.

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[onkoona]

[nods] It would take a lot of undue pressure away too; of the lying and the subterfuge. All that lying still bothers me, but I guess Hikaru can take the pressure....

Re: Play till the end

[lacygrey]

Those who haven't passed are more relaxed, if not always kind to the others

[zanzando]

I don't really have all that much to say this time around.

I'll just wallow in the beauty of HikaGo. ♥

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[lacygrey]

The 'mysterious strength' is also a little self perpetuating, as it starts rumours and this undermines people's confidence. Throughout the whole pro exam we've seem people frightening themselves and each other over Hikaru.

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[lacygrey]

He's another example of his 'healthier' manga complexion (A colored page of the manga where Sai looks less ghostly)

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[onkoona]

What a snooty expression! (Sai and Hikaru both!)

[onkoona]

That's perfectly alright.
I, for one, am enjoying the hack out of first drooling over the Manga and after wards slobbering all over the Anime.



(I need to get a towel and clean up a bit, brb!)

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[effex]

Yes, I was just thinking this - the strangeness around his strength occasionally gives him an advantage. It's not quite a self-fulfilling prophesy, but it's close.

[effex]

Ohhhhhhhh yes. Don't know if you saw me getting all misty eyed on Twitter last night, but I finally unpacked my Blanc et Noir and Sai art books and the ART. Is stunning. Heartbreakingly so <3

Re: Hikaru vs Waya

[lacygrey]

I think this is so well written because they are friends and manage to both go into the game so positively.





Its also very dramatic!

I like the flashbacks to the conversations between Waya and Morishata-sensei and the attitude of the non-go-playing Morishata children: the total opposite of Akira!

Waya goes to dinner at the Morishata house...but does the dishes °~°
Is this the 'done thing' or is this to signify that he's been kind of assimulated into the family because he does want to pursue Go.

[lacygrey]

The Ochi-Hikaru standoff before their game is another classic moment. Especially when Ochi says a few words too many.



Sai is considerably more present and sympathetic-looking in the anime version

[lacygrey]

Thats one for my wish list then!

Re: Hikaru vs Waya

[onkoona]

It's because he's a pupil. Pupils clean in Japan. In vol 1 Hikaru attacks some students with a mop (http://www.onemanga.com/Hikaru_no_Go/13/04/); it's no mere chance he has that mop, he's been cleaning the bathrooms with it. And it's not detention either; it's normal in Japan for the students to clean the school.
And for the pupils to help with the dishes.

[onkoona]

That scene really does show Ochi is only 12(-ish); he's being very bratty here.

Yes, they very subtily changed the Sai-Hikaru interaction throughout the anime. I must admit I like the anime version better. Maybe because I saw it first and read the manga after....

[lacygrey]

I think I'll finish with this one, which includes a frame I tried to make an icon from (though photoshop is not my forte).

The replacement examiner recognises Hikaru a 'that kid who caused the trouble at the Children's tounement' where he blurted out a comment Sai made on a game.

In the midst of an arguement between Hikaru and Sai on who deserved the credit or the blame, there's this brief moment when Hikaru realises that they aren't going to get into trouble and its not a matter of 'his fault or mine' or 'his comment or mine'.

I just though this was a really strong moment of camaraderie, if very very short.





BTW I'll be away for the next two weeks, so enjoy the next vols and see you for No 14.

Re: Hikaru vs Waya

[lacygrey]

So it is the done thing. I was letting my culture influence my interpretation there!

[effex]

Two, actually! 'Sai' is the art book that came out when HikaGo was still running and is entirely material from Hikaru no Go. 'Blanc et Noir' came out when Death Note was almost over - the first half is all DN, followed by some other stuff and then a big HikaGo section full of new(ish, the books about three years old now) art. It's expensive - I paid $65 for it - but totally worth it. There's a bunch of fold out spreads, pictures with special ink or paper, plus it's huge (can't fit it standing on any of my bookshelves) and comes in a swanky slipcover.

[coughs] They're nice books, is what I'm saying.

[onkoona]

Hmm, yes.

In the mean time I recieved the Character guide in the french version; soooo much easier to read!

[effex]

[nods] The fact that Ochi is still a child comes through strongly in these chapters. Makes me like him more, really - I know plenty of kids who act the same way.

[effex]

[hugs Hikaru and Sai] There's a panel, I think in the same chapter, where they both bow exactly the same as they're saying goodbye. It was adorable.

I hope you have fun doing whatever you're doing - see you in two weeks!

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[onkoona]

Here's the game (from the Character guide)
 

Re: Hikaru vs Waya

[onkoona]

And this is Hikaru vs Waya (from the chr. guide)
 

[onkoona]

Yes, enjoy your holiday. Don't forget to pack vols 12-14!

Re: Play till the end

[onkoona]

While Iijima and Nase can see the philosofical side of it, some other (older) now-not-so-hopefulls are all really depressed. Even Tsubaki is keeping his mouth shut....

Re: Hikaru vs Ochi

[tsukikage85.livejournal.com]

Does Sai actually have a choice in who he takes on as a student? I mean, if his possessed decides they wants to learn go and Sai turns them down, they have quite the leverage to make him change his mind.