Key Takeaways
- Mahjong is a versatile game portrayed in anime & manga with unique storylines and settings.
- Mahjong is not just a game, but a way of life in certain anime.
- Mahjong-themed anime shows balance comedy, gameplay, and friendship, appealing to fans globally.
Mahjong is a game of skill and luck that took the world by storm after it originated in China. As it spread, many new variations and rule sets were created, making mahjong difficult to learn even as a household game. Because of its deceptively simple goal and complex gameplay, mahjong is a perfect gambling game for money and other high-stakes bets.
The tile-based game appears in many well-known anime and video game series. However, despite its popularity, only a handful of anime and manga make it the primary focus of their plots. For these series, mahjong is not just a game, but a way of life.
Updated September 27, 2024 by Oluwatokiloba Folami: Shows that portray Mahjong as a central narrative rather than a side attraction are rare, but that doesn’t make them any less interesting. In various shows, Mahjong evolves beyond a simple game into something that determines the very lifestyle and living conditions of others. While some shows portray Mahjong in high-risk gambling settings, others use it as a central narrative alongside comedy, camaraderie, or boy love.
When it comes to portraying Mahjong as a central theme, certain shows do it better than others, showing unique twists and turns in a character’s life all with Mahjong. This, which started as a game in China, has now been incorporated into various forms of media, captivating lovers of the game worldwide.
1 Mahjong Parlor Of Love
Finding Love With Mahjong At The Center
- Japanese Title: N/A
- Author: Meteo Hoshiduki
- Volumes: 1
Manga series portraying Mahjong games here and there is nice, but a Mahjong manga with a focus on boy love truly stands out. While the series is not a must-read, it shows a different take on Mahjong, with the manga having its unique storyline and progression.
Portraying its characters in love and about Mahjong, the series focuses on Honjo, a professional Mahjong player who seeks to get closer to Shiga, the manager of a Mahjong parlor, through his Mahjong skills. At first, the manager feels unsure of how to react to Honjo’s attraction to him but doesn’t want to let the skilled player off, and so various situations play out as the characters navigate their feelings.
2 Mahjong Soul Pon☆
Balancing Humor, Gameplay, And Mahjong
- Japanese Title: Jantama Pong
- Episodes: 11
- Studio: Scooter Films
Oftentimes, games are created based on anime or manga series, but Mahjong Soul Pon does it in reverse. This anime series is based on the browser-based online free-to-play game, Mahjong Soul; Jantama Pong. The series follows a comedy chibi-style animation that makes its portrayal of Mahjong and its elements comedic and easy to follow.
While it portrays Mahjong at its center, the show also shows the backstories of its characters and their various unique and funny motivations to play the game and win as they inhabit the Mahjong soul shrine. Additionally, something else comes into play as the inhabitants of the soul shrine come under strange influences, making the show well-balanced with Mahjong and comedy at its center.
3 The Way Of Pon
A Lighthearted Take In A Mahjong Parlor
- Japanese Title: Pon no Michi
- Episodes: 12
- Studio: OLM
Nashiko Jippensha isn’t the most silent of characters. Due to her sometimes loud and obnoxious behavior, she got kicked out of her house. However, she quickly discovers a run-down Mahjong parlor owned by her father. Settling in, Nashiko invites her friends to hang out, and they explore the thrill and intricacies Mahjong has to offer.
This anime series explores Mahjong through kindred spirits. Rather than the cutthroat world of Mahjong, particularly through high-stakes gambling and competitions, the series portrays Mahjong in a more personified way through the lens of friends who discover they love the game and the intricacies it comes with.
4 Mahjong King
Players Gather From Around The World To Declare Supremacy
- Japanese Title: N/A
- Episodes: 16
- Studio: Thundray
Produced by Tencent Animation & Comics, Mahjong King features a world in which Mahjong holds a major influence. A simple game of Mahjong can be used to determine several things, and masters of the game are highly respected.
In a world where the strong (in Mahjong terms) are respected, masters from all over the globe come together to prove themselves and determine who among themselves deserves the title of Mahjong King. Originally a web manga portraying themes of drama and strategy, this Original Net Animation portrays Mahjong in a way that gets fans intrigued and masters of the game respect.
5 Touhai
Kei’s Battles Make The Series More Exciting With Each Match
- Japanese Title: N/A
- Author: Koji Shinasaka
- Volumes: 12
While Touhai is a manga series that ran about a decade ago, the series seeks to make a return as an anime adaptation has been announced. The Touhai manga series is aimed at a seinen demographic, with the teenage Kei at the heart of the series. Unlike many who would rather boast of their abilities, Kei is a young man of few words, only speaking extensively of his rich experience in Mahjong.
As someone who doesn’t talk much, much of Kei’s attention is dedicated to observing others. This skill has allowed him to survive in the cutthroat world of Mahjong, where he finds himself. One day, a young lady named Amina comes into Kei’s life. As she entered the country illegally, Kei hides her, protecting her from the authorities. As Kei spends his days as a normal high school student, his nights are spent playing Mahjong as he wishes for a truly worthy opponent.
The anime series is airing as part of Fall 2024.
6 Golden Sakura
Written By A Professional Mahjong Player
- Japanese Title: N/A
- Authors: Sayaka Okada, Kazuo Maekawa
- Volumes: 3
After Takuya Saotome is tricked into taking on a debt of five million yen, he desperately seeks various ways to pay it off. As fate would have it, Takuya is a professional but nearly unknown Mahjong player. To repay his debt, he decides to cross-dress as a woman, going by the name Sakura Shindou. With his new personality, Saotome shows off his skills as a professional Mahjong player.
Unlike various anime and manga series that portray Mahjong in a gambling setting, Golden Sakura portrays Mahjong in a professional sports setting. Sayaka Okada, a professional Mahjong player, is the author behind the series. With her in-depth knowledge of the sport in a professional setting, Sayaka was able to accurately depict a story about Mahjong that is both relatable and intriguing.
7 Tetsunaki No Kirinji
A Father Uses Mahjong To Support His Family
- Japanese Title: N/A
- Author: Tsukawaki Nagahisa
- Volumes: 4
Tetsunaki no Kirinji follows an online mahjong player named Kiriya Rinji who has to begin playing in person to support himself after being divorced for not devoting enough time to his family. Shortly after the divorce, his ex-wife falls ill and slips into a coma after a life-saving procedure. Rinji takes in his daughter while he waits for his ex-wife to wake up, but his winnings aren’t enough to give little Koume the life she deserves. To step up as a single father, Rinji taps into his love of Mahjong and aims to become a professional player.
Rinji’s story is a touching tale about personal and professional growth. Not only does he become someone who can provide for his family, but he wants to be there for them. Emotions and bets are high in Tetsunaki no Kirinji, making it a compelling option for mahjong fans who also want a more traditional narrative.
8 Mahjong Hishouden: Naki No Ryuu
Ryuu Uses His Opponents’ Discarded Tiles To Win
- Japanese Title: N/A
- Author: Junichi Nojo
- Volumes: 9
Ryuu is a mahjong player with ties to the yakuza and tremendous luck. He wins every game using one of his opponents’ discarded tiles to complete his mahjong. Since overtaking the mahjong world, Ryuu has become synonymous with the finishing technique, earning him the nickname “Crying Dragon.”
Mahjong Hishouden: Naki no Ryuu follows a simple plot, but it has detailed art and a fantastic aesthetic. In 1988, a three-episode original video animation (OVA) came out, and the series continued to rise in popularity throughout the 1990s. At its peak popularity, the series came out with three mahjong video games, including two for the SNES.
9 Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku
A Game Of Mahjong Decides The Fate Of The World
- Japanese Title: The Legend of Koizumi
- Author: Hideki Ohwada
- Volumes: 16
World leaders and historical figures settle political debates and conflicts with intense mahjong games in the satirical series Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku by Hideki Ohwada. It follows Prime Minister of Japan Junichrio Koizumi through numerous games against North Korea, Russia, and the United States before he retires. Luckily, even after his retirement, Koizumi continues to play and save Earth from all kinds of disasters.
Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku made a name for itself by including characters such as George W. Bush, Vladimir Putin, and the Pope. Due to its popularity, the manga also received a short OVA series that both recapped Koizumi’s earliest games and added new matches to his repertoire.
10 Legendary Gambler Tetsuya
Spineless Cheaters Or True Mahjong Experts, Tetsuya Faces Them All
- Japanese Title: Shoubushi Densetsu Tetsuya
- Episodes: 20
- Studio: Toei Animation
Set in 1947, Legendary Gambler Tetsuya shows how World War II impacted Japan and led to hard economic times. While others struggle to buy enough food, Tetsuya believes his luck and ability to track the tiles during shuffling will be enough to help him enjoy the finer things in life. However, when he travels through Shinjuku to sweep up the town’s winnings, he realizes he has a lot left to learn about mahjong. Tetsuya’s matches against true mahjong experts and spineless cheaters make the series welcoming and engaging for mahjong fans of all skill levels.
Legendary Gambler Tetsuya began as a manga series written by Fūmei Sai and illustrated by Yasushi Hoshino. In 2000, it won the 24th Kodansha Manga Award for its success as a shonen manga, and the anime’s first episode came out later that year.
11 Saki
More About Sports And Camaraderie Than Gambling
- Japanese Title: N/A
- Episodes: 25
- Studio: Gonzo, Picture Magic
Unlike many other mahjong anime, Saki is not about the game’s connection to gambling. Instead, it focuses on a young student named Saki Miyanagawho learned how to keep her mahjong score at zero to avoid angering her family with her constant victories. Since she always feels she has to restrain herself, Saki no longer enjoys playing mahjong, but when her friends make her join the mahjong club, the competition brings back her love of the game.
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At times, Saki may seem more like a sports anime when compared to other popular mahjong anime and manga, but by doing so, it makes mahjong a game about enjoyment instead of survival.
12 Akagi
With A Game Of Mahjong, The Stakes Only Get Higher
Based on a manga by Nobuyuki Fukumoto, the anime Akagi follows a thirteen-year-old boy named Akagi Shigeru, who comes across a mahjong game between yakuza members and a man trying to settle his debts. Despite having no experience with mahjong, Akagi agrees to play on the man’s behalf. After picking up the game with ease, Akagi wins round after round due to his boundless confidence and ability to read the board. However, no matter how high the stakes are, Akagi always strives for a higher wager.
With each move, the inexperienced yet ruthless Akagi creates an intentional battle of wits between players that captivates audiences like no other mahjong anime. For mahjong fans who love an underdog, Akagi is a must-watch.
13 Ten: Tenhō-dōri no Kaidanji
A Kind Protagonist Plays Mahjong Against Cutthroat Individuals
- Japanese Title: N/A
- Author: Fukumoto, Nobuyuki
- Volumes: 18
While Akagi is a fantastic and cohesive work, the young Akagi Shigeru’s story is a spin-off of Nobuyuki Fukumoto’s manga series Ten: Tenhō-dōri no Kaidanji, commonly known as Ten. Ten has a few other spin-off series aside from Akagi, and each has been well-received. However, Ten deserves recognition as Fukumoto’s original story about mahjong, especially since it made a name for itself without an anime adaptation.
Ten follows Takashi Ten, a professional mahjong player, and his pupil, Hiroyuki Igawa, as they strive to beat even the best mahjong players. Ten’s kindness in the otherwise intense world of professional mahjong often makes him the target of yakuza attacks. Still, he willingly accepts their assaults to prevent other players from being taken away from the game they enjoy. With its kind protagonist, Ten represents the joys and horrors of mahjong in a way that few other series on the topic can.
