Toshinori Honda

Honda is serious, emotional and deeply invested in becoming a professional. Unlike competitors who hide disappointment behind arrogance, Honda's reactions make clear how much the examination means to him.

He is also capable of judging a game fairly. Even after defeating Hikaru, he recognizes when the result could easily have gone the other way rather than using the victory to claim unquestioned superiority.

The pressure of the examination affects him strongly. Years of training can be decided by only a handful of losses, and Honda feels that reality intensely.

Honda is one of the strongest insei in his examination cycle. He remains among the principal candidates for professional qualification alongside Hikaru, Waya, Isumi and Kosuke Ochi.

He defeats Hikaru during the professional examination and also scores important victories against other leading candidates. His strength is sufficient that failing to qualify reflects the narrow margins of the exam rather than a lack of professional potential.

Honda continues developing after that setback rather than abandoning Go.

Honda participates in the same professional examination as Hikaru. As losses accumulate across the field, he remains one of the players capable of taking a qualifying position.

Honda eventually suffers enough defeats to be mathematically eliminated from the three professional places and breaks down after realizing that another year of work has ended without qualification.

He returns for the following year's examination and succeeds, becoming a professional alongside Isumi and Kadowaki. He later participates in qualification connected to Japan's Hokuto Cup selection.

Hikaru Shindou is one of Honda's principal opponents during the professional examination. Honda defeats Hikaru Shindou but recognizes how close their game was.

Shinichirou Isumi shares Honda's experience of narrowly missing professional qualification. Both Shinichirou Isumi and Honda return and pass the examination the following year.

Kosuke Ochi is another leading insei competing with Honda for one of the limited professional places.