1. Beginning with the obligatory question: how did you discover Hikago?
I watched the Hokuto Cup anime. Although I had seen the manga in shops for a while, it wasn't until the anime that I found myself falling in love with it.
2. Manga or anime?
Anime, then manga, then anime.
3. Describe your Hikago experience, whatever it might have been.
Lovely experience, one associated with wonderful memories.
4. Are you active in the fandom? What do you do?
Not so much in recent years due to RL. I recced fics and wrote fanfic.
Because Hikaru's so much the typical Jump main character at first, but he develops introspection not only quickly, but also in a really natural way - partly due to the nature of the game and also because of his relationship with Sai. I see him as someone who wants to be honest with himself and I respect that. Not to mention his rivalry with Akira!
Kuwabara is awesome. He's shrewd and sneaky and not a very nice person, but so what?
8. Do you think this character likes those qualities about him-/herself?
About Hikaru: yes About Kuwabara: hell yes.
9. Who is this character's best friend (in your opinion)?
Hikaru's best friend is Akira, but he would probably tell you it's Waya or Isumi, because in his brain Akira is in another category altogether.
10. What do they like about each other?
Go! With Waya, it's way they support and know each other, plus they are roughly the same age, etc.
11. Whom does your favorite character dislike most? (Doesn't necessarily have to be a Hikago character.)
Ko Yeongha?... Though I have my doubts.
12. Why do you think that is?
I think Hikaru dislikes Yeongha because of what Yeongha said about Shuusaku, but Hikaru is (I think) incapable of truly disliking anyone who is devoted to Go.
13. Who is your least favorite character?
...Ogata. (Haha, I'm going to get bad vibes from this, aren't I?)
14. What do you not like about him/her?
He manhandles kids (aka Hikaru). Dude, that is not on.
15. Imagine this scenario: your favorite character, the best friend, and the disliked person are stranded in a small cabin in the middle of the woods during a heavy snowstorm. They have nothing with them except what they were carrying during their mountain hike. Who dies first?
I am incapable of answering this.
16. Do you support any pairings? If yes, please list them here.
Yes.
17. Which pairing is your favorite?
Hikaru/Akira? Also Le Ping/Isumi.
18. Why do you like this pairing?
In a way, Hikaru/Akira is also the story of Hikago, isn't it?
19. Is there any canon evidence for this pairing?
Noooo. But the suggestions are suggestive.
20. What do you think they see in each other? What makes their relationship work (or not work)?
One day, they're going to find the Hand of Go together.
21. Could their relationship survive something catastrophic (e.g. separation over long distances/time, infidelity, unexpected pregnancy, Touya Kouyo's disapproval, etc.)?
This is a series where one of the main characters continued to exist for more than a thousand years despite being dead.
So, yes.
22. In your opinion, does the Hand of God exist, and can it be achieved?
See above.
RL-wise, no.
23. Assuming that it does exist and can be achieved: Which character do you think will find it first?
Maybe Hikaru and Akira. But it could easily be Touya Kouyo and someone else.
24. Assuming that it does not exist and cannot be achieved: Which character is most likely to die trying?
Touya Kouyo.
25. Now make up your own question and answer it:
Is there ever go to be a female winner of a title game?
no subject
1. Beginning with the obligatory question: how did you discover Hikago?
I watched the Hokuto Cup anime. Although I had seen the manga in shops for a while, it wasn't until the anime that I found myself falling in love with it.
2. Manga or anime?
Anime, then manga, then anime.
3. Describe your Hikago experience, whatever it might have been.
Lovely experience, one associated with wonderful memories.
4. Are you active in the fandom? What do you do?
Not so much in recent years due to RL. I recced fics and wrote fanfic.
5. Have you participated in any of the Hikago challenge communities? (E.g. blind_go, ihikago, hng_prompts,
Yes to blind_go and fifthmus.
6. Who is your favorite character in the series?
Hikaru! And also Kuwabara.
7. Why do you like him/her?
Because Hikaru's so much the typical Jump main character at first, but he develops introspection not only quickly, but also in a really natural way - partly due to the nature of the game and also because of his relationship with Sai. I see him as someone who wants to be honest with himself and I respect that. Not to mention his rivalry with Akira!
Kuwabara is awesome. He's shrewd and sneaky and not a very nice person, but so what?
8. Do you think this character likes those qualities about him-/herself?
About Hikaru: yes
About Kuwabara: hell yes.
9. Who is this character's best friend (in your opinion)?
Hikaru's best friend is Akira, but he would probably tell you it's Waya or Isumi, because in his brain Akira is in another category altogether.
10. What do they like about each other?
Go!
With Waya, it's way they support and know each other, plus they are roughly the same age, etc.
11. Whom does your favorite character dislike most? (Doesn't necessarily have to be a Hikago character.)
Ko Yeongha?... Though I have my doubts.
12. Why do you think that is?
I think Hikaru dislikes Yeongha because of what Yeongha said about Shuusaku, but Hikaru is (I think) incapable of truly disliking anyone who is devoted to Go.
13. Who is your least favorite character?
...Ogata. (Haha, I'm going to get bad vibes from this, aren't I?)
14. What do you not like about him/her?
He manhandles kids (aka Hikaru). Dude, that is not on.
15. Imagine this scenario: your favorite character, the best friend, and the disliked person are stranded in a small cabin in the middle of the woods during a heavy snowstorm. They have nothing with them except what they were carrying during their mountain hike. Who dies first?
I am incapable of answering this.
16. Do you support any pairings? If yes, please list them here.
Yes.
17. Which pairing is your favorite?
Hikaru/Akira? Also Le Ping/Isumi.
18. Why do you like this pairing?
In a way, Hikaru/Akira is also the story of Hikago, isn't it?
19. Is there any canon evidence for this pairing?
Noooo. But the suggestions are suggestive.
20. What do you think they see in each other? What makes their relationship work (or not work)?
One day, they're going to find the Hand of Go together.
21. Could their relationship survive something catastrophic (e.g. separation over long distances/time, infidelity, unexpected pregnancy, Touya Kouyo's disapproval, etc.)?
This is a series where one of the main characters continued to exist for more than a thousand years despite being dead.
So, yes.
22. In your opinion, does the Hand of God exist, and can it be achieved?
See above.
RL-wise, no.
23. Assuming that it does exist and can be achieved: Which character do you think will find it first?
Maybe Hikaru and Akira. But it could easily be Touya Kouyo and someone else.
24. Assuming that it does not exist and cannot be achieved: Which character is most likely to die trying?
Touya Kouyo.
25. Now make up your own question and answer it:
Is there ever go to be a female winner of a title game?
Yes, more than one, and consecutively too.