Recently, I'm quite hooked on this anime again as decided to pick on another game after I had learned to play Shogi. I will talk about Shogi a bit later when I do talk another anime. Anyway, have you made your guess on what anime is it?

Take a guess?

Can't guess? The answer is...you will see it a bit more in this post. Just kidding! It's SAKI! I will also be talking about Saki Achiga Hen (the spin-off) and Saki Zenkoku Hen. And maybe a potential third season of Saki (Not anytime soon though).

WARNING:-

SPOILER ALERT!!! If you haven't watched it and plan to watch it without anyone being the spoiler, please DON'T CONTINUE READING!!!

P.S. If you want to be spoiled, well, go ahead and read it. You HAD been warned. Don't blame me for being spoiled if you INSIST on continuing to read this post.

Introduction

Saki manga cover

Saki anime...

Saki Zenkoku-hen

The anime, Saki (in Japanese, 咲 -Saki-) is adapted from an ongoing Japanese manga series (with the same name) that is written and illustrated by Ritz Kobayashi. It has been serialized in Square Enix's Young Gangan since February 3, 2006, and is licensed in English by Yen Press. As for the anime, the 1st season was adapted by Gonzo and was aired between April and September 2009 on TV Tokyo. The 2nd season, which is named Saki: The Nationals (咲-Saki-全国編 Saki: Zenkoku-hen), by Studio Gokumi, was aired between January and April 2014.

Saki Achiga-hen manga

Saki Achiga Hen anime...

As for the side-story, I won't be reviewing it here but separately from the main series. This manga, Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A (咲 Saki 阿知賀編 episode of Side-A) is illustrated by Aguri Igarashi. It was serialized between the September 2011 and April 2013 issues of Monthly Shōnen Gangan. As for its anime adaptation, it was done by Studio Gokumi, which aired between April and July 2012, with four additional episodes aired between December 2012 and May 2013. This spin-off was aired before the 2nd season was aired.

Saki Biyori manga volume 1...

There are a number of special adaptions that include spin-offs and game adaptions. The spin-offs are Saki Biyori, which tells a bit more other minor characters (and also has an anime adaption) and Shinohayu the dawn of age (in Japanese, シノハユ the dawn of age), which is mainly a prequel to the Saki series based on the older characters, mainly the professional players. There are also other manga adaptions that are not that prominent like spin-offs of Achiga-hen by Meki Meki, Toki (怜-Toki) and numerous parody one-shots titled Ritz (立, pronounces as Ritsu) by Hideki Owada. Oh, another prominent one! I've forgotten! There are a live-action television series and a live-action film for the original series and ALSO for the spin-off, Achiga-hen.

Plot

After a long introduction, it's time for the plot. Take note, this won't include Saki: Achiga-hen (or possibly minimal inclusion in this post) as this will in another post. Well, since we set the stage for this post, so let's go!!!

Kyoutaro bringing Saki to the club room...

So, the story goes like this...it starts with a first-year high school girl named Miyanaga Saki. She is friends with the only male member of the Kiyosumi Mahjong Club, Suga Kyoutaro. He is the one who brings her to the school's mahjong club. Wikipedia states that Nodoka Haramura brought Saki into the competitive world of mahjong BUT I DEFER. I say that it's Kyoutaro that propel her back into the world of mahjong, which opens a way for Saki to enter into the competitive world of Mahjong.

Saki 'officially' meeting Nodoka

Speaking of Saki, it looks like there is quite a long backstory to the whole ordeal between her older sister and herself and also her family matters. Anyways, putting that aside, the more pressing matter is the story in season 1...tells us that Saki has seriously incredible abilities, which is the ability to get the plus-minus zero scores and getting a Rinshan Kaihou like nobody's business. Anyway, we are shown the plus-minus zero score ability of Saki during the matchup in the mahjong club's usual business.

The game between Nodoka, Kyoutaro, Yuuki and Saki.

The game was played between Saki, Kyoutaro, Kataoka Yuuki and Haramura Nodoka (with Takei Hisa sleeping and Someya Mako absent). Anyway, Saki plays the game with a streak of 3 continuos plus-minus zero scores. That is powerful. When Saki was made to play to get to read the book that she wanted, she went on the continue her plus-minus zero streaks and wins a mahjong game under the assumption that she begins with a handicapped score.

Yuuki, Mako, Nodoka and Saki playing against each other

Anyway, later, Saki and Nodoka played with a pro and lost, prompting them to go to a training camp for the Prefectural Inter-High Tournament to qualify for the Mahjong Inter-High National Tournament. Cut the long story short, Kiyosumi wins with Saki overturning the results in the final round during the Prefectural Mahjong tournament and proceeds to the National Tournament. And that is when the anime, Saki Zenkoku-Hen comes in.

Kiyosumi...they are coming to Tokyo

From there on, there is not much of jokes (and also lighter moments) and more mahjong. You noticed that I didn't talk about the individual matches because it is NOT central to the plot and only occurs in the anime Saki 1st season and also, not in the manga. There are a few more flashbacks on the MIXED training camp before the tournament. Nothing much.

The flashback on the mixed training camp...

The Zenkoku-Hen gives us a glimpse into Saki's past that could have been the cause for her family to be split. Well, the conciliation could be more complicated than we thought. It could be, why not? We still don't know yet (not even manga give us many hints yet). It was an exciting trip into Saki's world for me but it looks like Saki season 3 is not coming anytime soon since the live-action TV series and movie for Saki's spin-off, Achiga-Hen is incoming. PLUS, they might be planning for the 3rd season to be the LAST season. Well, I'm thinking the manga might be finishing sooner than we thought. Who knows? Anyways, I'm probably talking a little too much here. So, let's move on.

Meeting the Achiga's girls again. Finally. They WILL definitely meet again in the finals.

Anime Rating

Season 1

Story (Rating: 10/10)

The story is pretty good for its plot and giving the intensity magic dust to the game of Riichi Mahjong. Although the game of Mahjong will be slightly difficult to understand, it elaborates the basics for the viewers who don't know Japanese Mahjong to know what to expect during the game. The pacing is well-paced. This anime gives us the curiosity to know the mahjong a bit on my own. Probably will post a special post for this anime.

Oh, it's Saki's wai...just kidding

Art and Animation (Rating: 8/10)

The intensity that is brought out by the animation is really good. The characters look pretty good and cute. Yeah...that's it.

Saki's Suuankou

Sound and Music (Rating: 7/10)

The BGM is well-placed. The 1st OP is really great (and it was once my favourite songs to play) BUT the 2nd one...OK, lah. The ED...I like the second one only. The rest of them...is not of my taste but they are quite cute though.

From the first opening song...

Characters (Rating: 8/10)

The characters? Cute! Saki and Nodoka...their interaction is GREAT! Yuuki...she comes out with the funny bits of the show, usually together with the only legit significant male character, Kyoutaro. Other than that, there is quite a lot of character development in this anime but this mostly applies to mahjong skills than a change in character. Relatability? Well, probably not, unless you are a Riichi Mahjong player with OP powers.

Koromo's OP-ness...

Enjoyment (Rating: 10/10)

Me? Do I enjoy it? Yes, I do! The characters are quite well-designed, the mahjong is great to watch (although it is artificially hyped) and the storyline is well-structured (well, mostly due to the fact that it's about tournament). Anyway, I enjoy this anime!

The mahjong game...

Overall Rating: 8.6 (8.25)/10