Karakter & Staf

Hikaru Shindou

Utama

Male

Hikaru is a sixth grader in elementary school. An important factor in the development of Hikaru's passion for Go was an encounter early on where Hikaru becomes the rival of Akira Toya. At first, he thinks that Go is just for oldsters and he is annoyed at Sai's demand to play, but little by little his passion for Go increases as he plays more and more. From being a member of a school Go club to being an insei and finally becoming a professional Go player (at 14 years old) a year after Akira, Hikaru matures throughout the course of the series. Throughout the series, Hikaru gradually gets taller because the manga volumes are around when he is getting older and playing Go at the same time. Hikaru is often portrayed wearing clothing having the numeral "5". This is a pun on the Japanese common name for five: go. Part of his strength is his ability to read far into the game very fast, and to make seemingly stupid moves. These moves in fact lure the opponent to doing stupid moves, which Hikaru then traps them by.

Tomoko Kawakami

Fujiwara no Sai

Utama

Male

A spirit from the Heian era of Japan and mentor of Hikaru Shindou. Once the Go instructor to the Emperor, Sai continually plays Go, his goal being to one day play the divine move. Sai's ghost had previously possessed the real-life figure, Honninbou Shuusaku, who became a renowned Go player. He is an extremely emotional person, who often acts childish and has great mood swings. While playing Go however, his behaviour changes completely as he controls himself and his emotions to play to the best of his ability. Sai has a high sense of honor, abhorring cheating and bullying.

Susumu Chiba

Akira Touya

Utama

Male

Hikaru's biggest rival and Kaio Middle School student. The son of Koyo Toya, Akira is already a very strong Go player when Hikaru first begins playing and is amazed by Hikaru's seemingly impossible strength. Since his first game with Hikaru, Akira has been obsessed with discovering the secret behind his strength. Akira has faced Hikaru again and won, but still sees a lot of strength within him. As the series progresses, they continue to play each other, but it always ends in an argument.

Sanae Kobayashi

Akari Fujisaki

Pendukung

Female

Hikaru's childhood friend. She begins to learn Go as well when Hikaru becomes interested and later joins the Haze Middle School Go club, serving as vice captain of the girls' team, despite her being a weak player. She also seems to have feelings for Hikaru, as noted by her two friends in the carnival, though the two remain friends throughout the course of the series.

Yumi Kakazu

Yuuki Mitani

Pendukung

Male

A player at the Go Club at Haze Middle School who overcomes his cheating habit. He is angry at Hikaru for choosing to be an Insei rather than stay at the school Go club when they have a tournament around the corner. Yuuki and Hikaru are no longer seen as friends. Yuuki remains in the Go club, but only after much convincing.

Yuu Asakawa

Kimihiro Tsutsui

Pendukung

Male

Tsutsui is the nerdy and kind hearted Haze junior high school Go club president who uses a play book while playing in tournaments. While he is not a strong Go player and doesn’t play too well, he loves the game and plays with a positive attitude. Hikaru first meets Tsutsui in a “Terakoya” fair (it’s Japanese food; octopus dumplings) where he would give out prizes to individuals who solved Go puzzles in Kouyo Tonya’s book. At that time, Tsutsui was the only member of the Go club and was trying to recruit other members so his Go club can compete in tournaments with other junior high schools.

Makoto Tsumura