The Epic Hikago Rewatch: Episodes 1 and 2
Feb. 11th, 2012 12:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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hikarunogoIt's time!
Note: I am using a fansubbed version of the anime, so some terms or titles may be different than the official translation.
This week’s Character Spotlight is: Fujiwara no Sai!
Sai’s official title is “The Ghost”, which is pretty self-explanatory.
In addition to this week’s episodes, let’s celebrate Sai!
Sai has many facial expressions - more than anyone in the show, as far as I can tell. Do you have any pictures of Sai making silly faces? Post them in the comments!
Brief Recap:
Episode 1 - The Eternal Rival
Hikaru meets Sai. Sai tells the story of his origins, 1000 years ago. Though Hikaru has no interest in Go, he takes Sai to play anyway. Hikaru meets Touya. Sai plays Touya via Hikaru and wins. Touya realizes it was a tutoring game, and when he finds out Hikaru claims to have never played before, he freaks out, wondering who Hikaru is.
Episode 2 - The Weakpoint Revealed!!
Hikaru starts taking Go classes. He learns of Touya-Meijin. Akari goes to a Go class with Hikaru, but Hikaru gets kicked out for dumping stones on Akota's head and pulling off his wig when he finds him bullying other players. Hikaru goes to the Children's Tournament to watch, but gets in trouble for repeating a comment on a game that Sai said to him. After refusing games, Touya finds out Hikaru might be at the Children's Tournament and runs off to find him. Hikaru runs into Touya-Meijin in the hall, and Sai recognizes him. Touya-Meijin is apprised of the situation and though Ogata protests having not gotten Hikaru's name, Touya-Meijin says that if he is truly that strong, he will appear before them eventually. Outside, Touya meets up with Shindou, saying, "I've finally found you, Shindou Hikaru."
Possible Discussion Questions:
Most of us here are watching this for the second, third, fourth, or even tenth time. But at some point, we all watched Hikaru no Go for the first time. What were your impressions of Hikago that first time watching these episodes? What was it that compelled you to keep watching from these two opening episodes? How is it different than watching it now?
In the second episode, we already see the beginnings of Touya’s obsession with Shindou because of Sai’s Go. What do you think of this? Is his obsession purely related to Sai’s strength, or is there something more (IE desire for friendship/intrigue/other interest)? They make it clear that Touya has no equal in his age bracket – does his loneliness factor into how easily he falls into his obsession with a boy his age who appears to be stronger than him?
We’re only given some brief glimpses of Akari in these episodes, though it’s clear that she’s close with Hikaru, as is most easily seen by how she calls him Hikaru instead of Shindou. What kind of relationship do you think they have at the start of the series? Is she a good friend to Hikaru? Is he a good friend to her? If you had only ever seen these two episodes of Hikago and knew nothing else of the series, what direction would you see their friendship going in?
Those of you who have read the manga know that while the anime mirrors the manga almost perfectly, the sequence of the beginning events are different. Why do you think they chose to change just this part? Do the missing events change anything about the series for you?
Let's discuss it! Also, feel free to suggest other discussion questions to add to this list!
Also, check out the fabulous meta post on the first three episodes - Manga vs. Anime byllamabitchyo!
Remember, please use ROT13 for spoilers!
EDIT: For those of you in the US, remember, you can watch Hikago for free at Hulu!
Note: I am using a fansubbed version of the anime, so some terms or titles may be different than the official translation.
This week’s Character Spotlight is: Fujiwara no Sai!
Sai’s official title is “The Ghost”, which is pretty self-explanatory.
In addition to this week’s episodes, let’s celebrate Sai!
Sai has many facial expressions - more than anyone in the show, as far as I can tell. Do you have any pictures of Sai making silly faces? Post them in the comments!
Brief Recap:
Episode 1 - The Eternal Rival
Hikaru meets Sai. Sai tells the story of his origins, 1000 years ago. Though Hikaru has no interest in Go, he takes Sai to play anyway. Hikaru meets Touya. Sai plays Touya via Hikaru and wins. Touya realizes it was a tutoring game, and when he finds out Hikaru claims to have never played before, he freaks out, wondering who Hikaru is.
Episode 2 - The Weakpoint Revealed!!
Hikaru starts taking Go classes. He learns of Touya-Meijin. Akari goes to a Go class with Hikaru, but Hikaru gets kicked out for dumping stones on Akota's head and pulling off his wig when he finds him bullying other players. Hikaru goes to the Children's Tournament to watch, but gets in trouble for repeating a comment on a game that Sai said to him. After refusing games, Touya finds out Hikaru might be at the Children's Tournament and runs off to find him. Hikaru runs into Touya-Meijin in the hall, and Sai recognizes him. Touya-Meijin is apprised of the situation and though Ogata protests having not gotten Hikaru's name, Touya-Meijin says that if he is truly that strong, he will appear before them eventually. Outside, Touya meets up with Shindou, saying, "I've finally found you, Shindou Hikaru."
Possible Discussion Questions:
Most of us here are watching this for the second, third, fourth, or even tenth time. But at some point, we all watched Hikaru no Go for the first time. What were your impressions of Hikago that first time watching these episodes? What was it that compelled you to keep watching from these two opening episodes? How is it different than watching it now?
In the second episode, we already see the beginnings of Touya’s obsession with Shindou because of Sai’s Go. What do you think of this? Is his obsession purely related to Sai’s strength, or is there something more (IE desire for friendship/intrigue/other interest)? They make it clear that Touya has no equal in his age bracket – does his loneliness factor into how easily he falls into his obsession with a boy his age who appears to be stronger than him?
We’re only given some brief glimpses of Akari in these episodes, though it’s clear that she’s close with Hikaru, as is most easily seen by how she calls him Hikaru instead of Shindou. What kind of relationship do you think they have at the start of the series? Is she a good friend to Hikaru? Is he a good friend to her? If you had only ever seen these two episodes of Hikago and knew nothing else of the series, what direction would you see their friendship going in?
Those of you who have read the manga know that while the anime mirrors the manga almost perfectly, the sequence of the beginning events are different. Why do you think they chose to change just this part? Do the missing events change anything about the series for you?
Let's discuss it! Also, feel free to suggest other discussion questions to add to this list!
Also, check out the fabulous meta post on the first three episodes - Manga vs. Anime by
llamabitchyo!Remember, please use ROT13 for spoilers!
EDIT: For those of you in the US, remember, you can watch Hikago for free at Hulu!
no subject
Date: 2012-02-11 11:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-12 12:14 am (UTC)So I hope you did have a nice childhood with lots of video games and not a professional level full time occupation.
It really is no co-incidence that Akira knows no other high (enough) level Go player of is own age. Nor is it a co-incidence that Hikaru only finds 1 kid his age in the Go Club, and that kid is there all alone. It's a supprise he found any kid at all.
Akira is not a normal kid, not by any stretch of the imagination. And therefore there are no others like him. Not even is a city the size of Tokyo. So he is all alone when the plot let's Hikaru meet him. Poor Akira.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-12 12:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-12 12:22 am (UTC)I hope you're going places now, with loads of friends (or at least as many as you really want).
no subject
Date: 2012-02-12 12:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-12 12:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-13 05:28 pm (UTC)I decided at the age of 7 that I was going to be a scientist, and that hasn't changed, 19 years later.
Not so much a response to your comment but I am going to take this opportunity to rant! I get a little annoyed when people present Akira as being somehow extremely abnormal for having chosen his professional path when he was just a child. Sometimes you just happen to find your passion early! There's nothing wrong with that. And I also don't buy the fanon that he had no choice to learn go because of his father. I don't think Touya Kouyou is the type of person to do that, first of all, and it's not like the Morishita children were all forced to become go pros (though I'm sure their father wished they had).
FTR, my father tried to teach me go when I was 8 (because knowing how to play is kind of part and parcel of being a well-educated person in Korea) and totally did not succeed because I didn't have any talent for the game. So I rather think that while Akira got an early exposure to go thanks to being the Meijin's son, he was the one who chose to pursue it further because he had both the talent and the interest to do so.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 06:42 am (UTC)Hear hear. ^_^
And then there are people like me who STILL haven't found it...
no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 01:51 pm (UTC)I was all over the place too, but I liked it, that way I got to do all kinds of different things.
Sometimes who and what you are can't be caught in one traditional occupation/vocation. Me, I found I'm good at making things. I do it naturally, when I'm feeling well. Be that art, clothing, fanfic, sculpture, patterns, talks, the list is endless.
Even if you haven't found your 'thing' yet, have fun exploring your possibilities!
And don't forget: "Live happens when you're busy making other plans" -- John Lennon
Actually I imagine that if Hikaru had not met Sai when he did, he might have taken a very long time to to find the thing that was right for him too.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-16 05:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-16 05:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-16 05:36 pm (UTC)There is the general Japanese tradition of the son continuing in his father's professional footsteps. Even in this modern age. Maybe that is what prompted the fanon opinion.
It would make a good background story for a fanfic though; a bit of strife is always good for the plot. And there are enough gabs in Akira's background to be able to fit it in convincingly.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-16 05:59 pm (UTC)