"The main storyline takes a holiday, making way for six tales that offer fresh insight into the characters and lives of Akira Toya, Tetsuo Kaga, Asumi Nase, Yuki Mitani, Atsushi Kurata and Fujiwara-no-Sai. Hikaru Shindo figures in some of these and takes center stage in the final tale when he challenges a crooked antique shop owner to a game of go in an attempt to restore an heirloom vase to its rightful owner"--From publisher's web site.

Hikaru faces Korea's top Go player, Ko Yong Ha, in the Hokuto Cup tournament. The outcome will affect a new generation of Go players and may even change the game itself.