Yoshitaka Waya

Waya is energetic, loyal and easily provoked. He speaks his mind even when doing so creates conflict and has little patience for people he considers arrogant.

He is particularly protective of his friends. His bond with Shinichirou Isumi predates Hikaru's arrival among the insei, and Waya reacts strongly when Isumi is insulted or discouraged.

Waya also dislikes Akira's detached attitude toward weaker players. Some of that resentment comes from competitive frustration, but much of it reflects Waya's belief that people struggling to become professionals deserve to be taken seriously.

Waya is one of the stronger insei and a legitimate professional prospect. He has extensive tournament experience and studies regularly in Morishita's professional study group.

His aggressive temperament carries into his Go, though he is capable of patient reading when a game demands it. He is strong enough to remain among the leading candidates during the professional examination.

One unusual weakness is Yuuta Fukui. Although Waya is generally considered stronger, Fukui's extremely fast style repeatedly causes him problems.

Waya first appears online as Zelda and encounters the mysterious sai. He plays Sai and quickly realizes that the anonymous opponent is extraordinarily strong.

Hikaru later meets Waya among the insei without initially revealing his own connection to sai. Waya becomes a guide to the insei world and introduces Hikaru to Morishita's study group.

Waya passes the professional examination in the same year as Hikaru, securing his place by finally defeating Fukui on the last day. He and Hikaru enter professional Go together.

When Mashiba later insults Isumi after losing to him, Waya punches Mashiba in anger. He subsequently competes for a place on Japan's Hokuto Cup team but does not qualify.

Hikaru Shindou becomes one of Waya's closest insei friends and later a fellow professional. Waya often acts like an older brother toward Hikaru Shindou.

Shinichirou Isumi is Waya's close friend and longtime insei companion. Waya is fiercely protective of Shinichirou Isumi, particularly when Isumi struggles with the professional examination.

Shigeo Morishita is Waya's professional teacher and runs the study group Waya attends.

Akira Touya irritates Waya because of both his extraordinary strength and his apparent lack of interest in weaker players.

Yuuta Fukui is Waya's troublesome opponent despite generally ranking below him.

Mitsuru Mashiba provokes Waya by insulting Isumi. Waya responds by punching Mitsuru Mashiba.