We're off to the Pro Exams, and this time Hikaru isn't going to get fazed by some grubby-looking adults! In this week's fresh episodes of Hikaru no Go, the matches that separate the wheat from the chaff have begun, and only three players can earn the honor of turning pro. Hikaru has proven he can bounce back from failure, but can he handle success when everyone is gunning for him (including his old rival Akira, who ends up consulting with one of Hikaru's opponents)? And be sure not to miss more live-action Go training from the cute Yukari Sensei at the end of each episode!

Episode 37: The Pro Exam Begins
It’s time for the Pro Exam and Hikaru’s starting off with six straight wins in a row. Can he keep his winning streak going or will his fellow insei knock him off his undefeated pedestal...?

Episode 38: The Challengers
As the Pro Exam continues, Hikaru learns from his fellow opponents that the road to turning pro isn’t as easy as it appears to be.

In this week's fresh episodes of Hikaru no Go, it's all about national pride as Hikaru and his buddies happen upon a Go salon filled with Korean players, including a particularly bratty kid. As they say, pride goeth before a fall, but will Hikaru's hot temper be a bigger handicap than his opponent Su-Yong's arrogance?

It's almost touching to see the hot-blooded competition in these two episodes, because once you get past national differences and individual temperaments, Go, like any game or sport, is about giving your opponent (and yourself) enough respect to play your best. Su-Yong gets the lesson this time around, but it's something even Hikaru has had to learn during this series. You have to feel for Sai, though -- for all the pride he feels at Hikaru's progress, he's all too aware that Hikaru's continuing success can only mean one thing down the road...

Check out the series on our Hikaru no Go page, and leave comments!

Episode 35: Only One Can Win
On the recommedation of a fellow Go player, Hikaru, Waya and Isumi try out a new Go Salon that’s different from the rest…

Episode 36: My Name Is...
After a contemptuous and intense battle, Hikaru triumphs over Su-yong, leaving his Korean opponent more determined than ever to take on Hikaru once again…
 

He might be a budding Go genius, but it's easy to forget Hikaru's just a kid, so when he gets a case of the willies playing against more seasoned adults in the Pro Exam Preliminary Round, it's time to hit the local Go salon for a refresher! And then we get to witness a moral dilemma as Akira (nattily dressed in a sharp suit, I might add) is requested to "throw" a match against a local politician. Reminds me of when we had an office ping-pong tournament a few months ago and I ended up getting matched against our VP of Publishing in the final... fortunately, we here at VIZ Media value integrity, so no one ever made any untoward "suggestions" about gracefully losing the match. On the other hand, I still haven't gotten my first-place prize yet...

Check out the latest episodes in the Hikaru no Go section!

-- Ho Lin

Episode 33: We're a Team!
In the hopes of helping Hikaru get over his fear of playing adults, Waya and Isumi take him to a Go Salon to take on opponents of a more mature nature…

Episode 34: No Winning Allowed
At a local festival Akira is asked to play 4 players simultaneously including Kurimoto, a boorish and rude city councilman. To make matter worse, he’s been asked by the festival organizers to let Kurimoto win…

This week's fresh Hikaru no Go episodes are dedicated to offbeat gamers everywhere, as Hikaru faces a doozy of a player this time! You ever play a game against someone who doesn't seem to know much about the game, and yet they beat you, the more experienced player, every time? Kind of like when I play fantasy football and my opponent picks a certain player based on this line of thinking: "Oh, I like dolphins a lot, so I guess I'll pick this guy from the Miami Dolphins." Next thing you know, your butt is getting kicked by your opponent and all your knowledge of the sport counts for a hill of beans. So we feel for you, Hikaru! Keep it real and don't let Tsubaki get you down! Check out the latest episodes in the Hikaru no Go section.

Episode 31: The Awful Opponent
The Prelims for the Pro Exams are about to start! Hikaru starts off on an unlucky streak when he draws Tsubaki, a loud and overbearing biker who uses his time to think about his moves…on the back of his motorcycle…

Episode 32: The Last Day of the Prelims
After losing two games in a row, Hikaru’s self-confidence is shaken…

Is there instant replay in Go? Who needs it when you have master Go player Ogata to give you the detailed blow-by-blow of what happened? In this week's fresh episodes of Hikaru no Go, the Young Lions Tournament reaches a surprising conclusion, and a Go standout from college decides to warm up for the Pro Exam -- too bad that he ends up playing against Hikaru and Sai as the warm-up! Talk about a confidence-breaker... And you have to feel for Ogata when he worries about whether he wrote down the correct sealed move! Kind of like wondering if you left the oven on or not at home!

Watch these episodes on the Hikaru no Go page.

Episode 29: Kuwabara Hon'inbo
As the Young Lions Tournament winds down, Hikaru loses his match to Murakami 2 –Dan. Anxious to know about how the entire match progressed, Akira presses Ogata Sensei, one of the spectators at the tournament, for answers…

Episode 30: Ogata vs. the Hon'inbo
In the lobby of the Go Association building, Kadowaki, a top College player, is looking to brush up on his game before taking the Pro Exam. Enter Hikaru, who with Sai’s help, teaches this amateur how the game of Go is truly played…