Akira Toya is a highly skilled and ambitious Go player, often considered a prodigy in the world of Go. He is the son of the renowned Go master, Toya Meijin, and has been trained rigorously from a young age. Akira is driven by his determination to surpass his father and become the best Go player. In 'Hikaru no Go', Akira serves as a key rival to the protagonist, Hikaru Shindo, and their rivalry is central to the series, pushing both characters to new heights in their Go careers.