“Hikaru no Go Original Art Exhibition” Tokyo Venue Report | A large number of beautiful original drawings by Takeshi Obata are on display! Relive the masterpiece that sparked the Go boom and you’ll be moved to tears.

Hikaru no Go is a boys' manga written by Yumi Hotta and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The story is based on the theme of Go, which is rare for a boys' manga, and depicts the growth of the main character, Hikaru Shindo, sparking an unprecedented Go boom both in Japan and overseas.

The "Hikaru no Go Original Art Exhibition" is being held at the Space Galleria on the 8th floor of Animate Ikebukuro Main Store from Friday, July 4th, 2025 to Monday, August 4th, 2025! The venue features a large number of beautiful original manuscripts and illustrations by Obata Takeshi, who has an incredible artistic talent, on display in line with the story.

The venue also features an area that recreates Hikaru's room, as well as a photo spot where you can take photos with Sai's standee. Merchandise commemorating the exhibition will also be available for purchase, making this an irresistible event for fans.

In this article, we will bring you coverage from the Tokyo venue of the "Hikaru no Go Original Art Exhibition"!

(C) Yumi Hotta, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha

[Animate Holdings Co., Ltd.] Press Release

Meeting Sai and the appearance of a rival

Visitors are greeted by standee panels of Hikaru and Akira Toya placed at the entrance.

When you step through the gap between the two characters and into the venue, you will find a recreation of the scene where Hikaru and Sai first met, which is the beginning of the story of "Hikaru no Go." On the actual Go board, there is even a trace of blood that marked their meeting…

The next section, titled "Akira and Hikaru," highlights scenes from Hikaru's first game against his rival Akira, as well as games between the two after they move on to junior high school.

You can look back on the story while closely observing the brushstrokes, corrections, and tones that are unique to the original manuscript.

Recreate scenes from the Go club's room and an online Go game!

In the area where the Go club's clubroom is recreated, a Go board in progress is displayed with a window at dusk as a backdrop.

After experiencing the atmosphere of Hase Junior High School's Go Club, where Hikaru was, we headed to the "Go Club – Internet Go Edition" area.

Here, members of Hase Junior High School, such as Tsutsui Kimihiro and Kaga Tetsuo, appear, and the story depicts Hikaru's growth through club activities and encounters with people.

Additionally, along with the scene of Sai starting to play Internet Go as "Sai," there is also a spot that recreates the scene of Internet Go. An old-fashioned desktop computer placed in one corner of the area displays the Internet Go board, evoking the image of "Sai" actually playing Go.

Next, we follow in Akira's footsteps as he becomes a professional shogi player and head to the "Graduate Student Edition" where Hikaru becomes a graduate student.

Hikaru strives to become a graduate student with the goal of facing Akira again. His rapid growth astonishes even Akira, and he successfully turns professional.

Moving on to the "Professional Shogi Player Edition," the story highlights a game between Sai and Akira's father, Yukihiro, whom he has long wanted to play against.

The colorful manuscripts depicting matches between genius shogi players of the past and present are very compelling.

"A World Without Sai" is impossible to watch without crying

The final scene in the "Professional Shogi Player Edition" area is when Sai watches Hikaru's growth and then disappears. Reading the original manuscripts displayed on both sides of the walls will make you feel tears welling up in your eyes.

Holding back tears, we proceeded further and found ourselves watching a special video created for this exhibition, allowing us to relive the story of Hikaru no Go that we have looked back on up until now.

After the video ends, you'll see a replica of Hikaru's room. When you see the Go board in the middle of a game in progress in the center, you're inevitably reminded that Sai is gone. Feeling sad, you move on to the next area, "A World Without Sai."

With Sai gone, Hikaru no longer plays Go, but Akira finds Sai's presence in the Go that Hikaru plays.

The heated game between the two players, who have grown so much since their first meeting, was even more impressive when viewed in the original illustrations.

Capture memories at the photo spots and merchandise booths!

The exhibition concludes with a stunning display of color illustrations, a luxurious space where visitors can take their time to appreciate the beautiful illustrations by Takeshi Obata.

There will also be a photo spot with a Sai standee where you can take photos. In addition, the merchandise section will have a wide selection of commemorative goods, including items using original drawings, to create lasting memories of the exhibition.

The manga "Hikaru no Go" depicts the growth of the main character, Hikaru, with the theme of "Go" and sparked a Go boom. I'm sure there are many people who have become interested in Go after reading this work.

This exhibition is a rare opportunity to relive the excitement and emotion of that time through Obata Takeshi's beautiful original manuscripts and illustrations.

Come experience the story that is still being told today at a venue filled with the charm of "Hikaru no Go"!

[Interview and text: Shibayama Yuhi]

■ "Hikaru no Go Original Art Exhibition" Tokyo Venue Overview

Event period: Friday, July 4, 2025 to Monday, August 4, 2025
Venue: Space Galleria
address
8th floor, Animate Ikebukuro Main Store, 1-20-7 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013
Access: About 5 minutes walk from the east exit of Ikebukuro Station
Opening hours: 11:00-21:00 (weekdays), 10:00-20:00 (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)

Important notices and other venue information can be found here