There are many mahjong manga out there.
Until recently, occult-themed mahjong content was rampant.
While manga are inherently very entertaining and enjoyable, given the times, there's also been an increase in works with a more "rational" and "realistic" approach.
I feel like things are becoming quite polarized these days.
In this article, I'd like to briefly introduce some of the works I've read so far.
I don't necessarily choose them based solely on how interesting the works are.
Akagi: The Genius Who Descended into Darkness
Strengths: Broken fear, incredible luck, devilish insight...!
This is one of Fukumoto's most well-known manga.
This is a spin-off work featuring Shigeru Akagi, a character from the same author's "Ten: Tenwa-dori no Kaidanji," as the main character.
It's so popular that you might forget it's a spin-off.
In "Ten," Akagi had such a strong impact that he almost overshadowed the protagonist, so this outcome was perhaps inevitable.
Now, the appeal of "Akagi" lies in the overwhelming strength of the protagonist, Akagi.
Honestly, no matter how strong the opponent, I don't feel like I can lose.
In the story, Akagi's perspective is never used; instead, the narrative is almost always told from the point of view of a character who provides commentary on Akagi's side.
Suddenly, the perspective shifts to that of the enemy, and the scene becomes something like, "You fool...!! Just transfer the money...!!" and that's when the execution time begins.
While it's an entertaining manga, there's almost nothing for the reader to learn from it, and it's almost entirely a psychological battle.
Ultimately, I think the appeal of Fukumoto's manga lies in its psychological warfare, which begins and ends with it.
It's definitely interesting.
Akagi - The Genius Who Descended into Darkness 1(Amazon)
Saki
Strengths: Great luck, cuteness
This manga is about enjoying the unexpected contrast of cute girls playing mahjong.
While the choice of mahjong as the subject matter isn't particularly compelling, it deserves praise for its ability to pique the interest of people who aren't typically interested in mahjong.
The appeal lies in the contrast between the somewhat dubious image of mahjong and the glamorous characters.
The fighting style revolves around the special abilities and talents that each character possesses.
I didn't feel any particular brilliance in how the match was presented; it was like a predictable, standard pro wrestling match.
Saki - Volume 1 (Digital Edition Young Gangan Comics)(Amazon)
Tetsuya, the man known as the Mahjong Saint
Strengths: Cheating, controlling the flow of the game
This is a classic masterpiece of mahjong manga.
Unlike "Akagi," where the protagonist is extraordinary from the start, the story follows a more conventional hero narrative, with the protagonist growing through training, experience, and setbacks.
Each time, you'll face opponents with different characteristics, so it never gets boring.
However, since it's quite a long game, it's undeniable that there are some dull moments in the middle, such as during the process of completing the game.
The story is basically occult in nature, involving things like interfering with the flow of energy and relying on special abilities.
But it's certainly interesting.
Tetsuya ~The Man Called the Mahjong Saint~ (1) (Weekly Shonen Magazine Comics)(Amazon)
Mukoubuchi
Strengths: "Rudeness" - a cry that devours luck
This is another long-running series that has been serialized for a long time.
A distinctive feature is that the powerful "Kai" is not the protagonist.
Aside from their street name, they are a mysterious character whose true identity is largely unknown.
Each episode of the series is self-contained and told from the perspective of a guest character who takes center stage in each episode.
To use an analogy, it's like "Golgo 13," where Golgo is, of course, the puppet.
The basic fighting style involves staying still and observing for a while after the match begins, assessing the opponent to determine who will become your prey.
And when he finds an opening in his prey, he enters his invincible mode with his famous catchphrase, "Excuse my rudeness."
Once it reaches this point, there's no stopping it, and the target sinks helplessly.
My playing style involves frequently using unconventional discarding techniques, calling tiles, and letting winning opportunities pass by, all while trying to control the flow of the game and luck.
What I like about Mukoubuchi is that it doesn't have many long episodes, and you can read it easily, like a one-hour TV drama.
Not everyone who plays against Kai ends up ruined; some quit high-stakes mahjong, while others grow into strong players.
I think the appeal lies in the human dramas that unfold within the context of mahjong.
Mukoubuchi: A Chronicle of High-Stakes Underground Mahjong (1) (Modern Mahjong Comics)(Amazon)
Uchihime Obakameeko
Strengths: Theory, open-mindedness
The protagonist of this manga is a low-ranking member of a professional mahjong team.
While many mahjong manga depict the underworld, it's rare to find one that focuses solely on regular mahjong.
One of the distinctive features of this manga is that it contains content that beginners can learn a fair amount from.
The protagonist's mentor is also a professional mahjong player, and the story follows him as he instructs his rookie apprentice, who has absolutely no foundational knowledge, so it's very educational.
However, if you're serious about studying, it's better to just buy a regular strategy book.
It is a valuable resource as a manga that can serve as a reference for actual mahjong games.
Uchihime Obaka Miiko (1) (Kindai Mahjong Comics)(Amazon)
Underground Mahjong Battle Record: Frozen Tiles
Strengths: Memory, calculation skills, intelligence
Among the many mahjong manga out there, I think this one contains a particularly large amount of brutal depictions.
Many of the matches involve life-threatening situations, creating a constant sense of tension.
The protagonist, "K," despite being a child, often struggles with his ruthless side and his inability to be completely ruthless.
Nevertheless, in the early stages before his rivals appear, he achieves a near-total victory and delivers his signature line, "Are you trembling?"
However, this line was apparently unpopular, as it's only spoken at the beginning of the film.
Along the way, characters like the incredibly lucky Dojima and the woman Ai who never transfers money appear, but the plot often relies on convenient coincidences.
However, the manga is very entertaining because it features many deceptive tactics and strategies similar to those found in con game stories.
The sequel, "Mahjong Death Match Silent Tale: Touhai ~Human Sacrifice Arc~," is also significantly more brutal.
The illustrations are beautiful, which makes it easy to read.
There's also a spin-off of the popular character Dojima called "Mahjong Legend Lion," but I wouldn't particularly recommend that one.
Touhai -Underground Mahjong Battle Record- (1) (Young Champion Comics)(Amazon)
Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku
Strengths: Battles beyond mahjong, superhuman abilities, luck
While it initially remained within the realm of mahjong, it has now become something entirely different, transcending mahjong.
There's something similar to "The Prince of Tennis."
Almost all of the characters are real people, and they engage in large-scale mahjong battles, which might anger politicians.
The people I'm dealing with range from the President of the United States and the President of the Russian Federation to the General Secretary of North Korea.
Upon further reflection, I'm starting to think this shouldn't be included in a review of mahjong manga.
Even people who don't know anything about mahjong can enjoy it because it's mostly hilarious gags.
Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku Vol. 1 (Kindai Mahjong Comics)(Amazon)
The Iron-Sounding Prodigy
Strengths: Calling (referring to a specific sound or phrase), strongest at online mahjong.
Perhaps due to the growing number of players on the online mahjong game "Tenhou," works featuring the strongest online mahjong player as the protagonist have emerged.
The protagonist, a shut-in and a loser, tries his hand at mahjong parlors in order to make a living playing mahjong for his daughter.
Since I have absolutely no experience playing real mahjong, I often miss calling tiles I want to call in the early stages, and I suffer crushing defeats due to the strange pressure.
Also, each shop has its own unique local rules, which can make it difficult to win as much as you'd like, but I diligently study and work hard to overcome those challenges.
Although the title includes the word "crying," it doesn't play a significant role in the story.
However, speed is very important in mahjong, so "calling" is a crucial technique.
In the mahjong parlors depicted in the story, many players prioritize keeping their hands closed, so it's satisfying to silence them with the speed of your calls.
Each mahjong parlor has its own unique rules, such as the use of red chips, but adapting to these rules, overcoming them, and defeating formidable opponents offers a classic, exciting experience similar to that of Tetsuya.
Since it doesn't feature any outlandish special abilities, it's probably the most grounded mahjong manga I've ever read.
The Iron-Calling Prodigy (1) (Modern Mahjong Comics)(Amazon)
Invincible person
Strengths: Memory, ability to read opponents' habits, best at online mahjong
This author is well-known for works such as "Liar Game" and "One Outs."
Similar to the aforementioned "Tetsunaki Kirinji," an online mahjong game appears that seems to be modeled after "Tenhou."
This story is about a top-ranked player who has only ever come in first or second place, despite Mahjong being a game heavily reliant on chance.
The secret to his strength lies in his unforgettable memory, which allows him to understand each player's habits from every single game record.
It's an interesting theory, but the idea of not having a 3rd or 4th place is simply unrealistic.
However, there's a certain exhilaration in beating an opponent you thought you could beat.
However, since the basis for their strength is based on game records from online mahjong, their strength may not be immediately apparent in matches against players other than those on that platform.
Due to those constraints, the series ended up being quite short-lived.
However, I appreciate that they created a completely new theory for the basis of strength, rather than relying on luck or special abilities.
In mahjong manga, the easiest way to depict strength is through "good luck," followed by "cheating."
In a mahjong manga genre that has already depicted even that aspect to an extreme degree, this manga offered a slightly fresh "strength."
I personally like it.
The Invincible Man (1) (Weekly Shonen Magazine Comics)(Amazon)
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