Ep 53. The Acknowledgment of Sai

The Acknowledgment of Sai is the 53rd episode of the first season of Hikaru No Go. In this episode, Hikaru and Sai finally achieve their goal of becoming a professional Go player.

The episode begins with Hikaru playing a match against Isumi at a Go salon. Hikaru wins the match, and afterward, he and Isumi run into Akira, who has come to watch the game. Akira and Hikaru exchange greetings, and Hikaru expresses his desire to become a professional Go player.

Later that day, Hikaru goes to meet the head of the Society, who tells him that he will become a professional Go player if he can defeat three current professionals. Hikaru is overjoyed at this opportunity and starts preparing for his upcoming matches.

His first opponent is Fuku, who is considerably older and more experienced than Hikaru. Despite this, Hikaru manages to win the match and move on to the next round. His next opponent is Kaga, who is also a formidable player. Hikaru manages to win this match as well, which means he only has one more opponent to defeat.

That opponent turns out to be none other than Akira, Hikaru's longtime rival and one of the strongest Go players in Japan. The match between the two of them is intense, with both of them making brilliant moves. In the end, it is Hikaru who emerges victorious, much to Akira's shock and disappointment.

After the match, Hikaru is officially recognized as a professional Go player, and he is given his own professional name: Shindou Hikaru. His friends and family are thrilled for him, but it is Sai who is the most emotional about the achievement. Sai realizes that he has fulfilled his desire to play Go at a professional level through Hikaru, and he is able to rest in peace knowing that his legacy will live on.

The Acknowledgment of Sai is a bittersweet episode that marks a turning point in the series for both Hikaru and Sai. Hikaru's journey to become a professional Go player has finally been realized, but it also means that he will have to leave behind the ghost who has guided him throughout the series. The episode is emotional and satisfying, giving fans of the series a sense of closure while also leaving them eager to see what will happen next.