I have to admit I went into my viewing of Saki with next to zero knowledge about the game of Mahjong, its terminology, or its rules. Besides a short wiki article and just the visual similarities to some domino games I have played before, most of it still is quite vague and mysterious. I was drawn to Saki by the cute character designs, a hint of yuri romance, and my own curiosity over the game of Mahjong.
Despite my curiosity, the idea of a 25 episode anime revolving around a table game doesn’t sound all that exciting. Most likely that is going to
...
be the reaction of quite a few people who just give Saki a casual glance. However they would be wrong. Saki manages to take something that doesn’t have any real action or makes for an interesting spectator sport and injects energy and excitement into it. While it’s decidedly over the top and completely implausible, it nonetheless works brilliantly.
The basic premise of the story revolves around Saki Miyanaga, a high school freshman who finds herself participating in the schools Mahjong club even though she hates the game. Though she is a very skillful player, bad memories of playing with her family has left a bad taste for the game with her. However she finds playing with people other than her family to be fun and her love of the game begins to be rekindled. Soon Saki and her new friends set their sights on making the national Mahjong tournament, and it’s this goal which dominates the plot.
As I mentioned, Saki does an excellent job of creating drama and action from something that isn’t in reality exciting. Characters are animated making special "finishing moves" when completing important hands and also some have special powers to intimidate or confuse their opponents. So don’t be expecting a lot of realism, both in terms of game play or the players themselves. Besides the game action, there is a fair amount of character building and touches of yuri themed romance. Saki overall is quite fun to watch and entertaining.
However it’s not all positive. While the actual plot revolving the Mahjong tournament is exciting and compelling the story does manage to derail itself quite a few times. The most glaring being the open ending. While it seems extremely likely that a second season is probable, I really wonder if it was even necessary. There were too many filler and service episodes and way too much story time devoted to developing unimportant and often nauseatingly annoying characters. I would have much more preferred the story spend its time developing the relationship between Saki and Nodoka. While the yuri aspects of the story are quite obviously present they are also unsatisfying. Beyond the wistful stares and blushing glances there is nothing of substance.
My opinions of the characters are decidedly mixed. Saki and Nodoka, as well as their friends in the Mahjong club are very enjoyable and interesting characters. Particularly in the case of Yuuki who steals the show a bit, adding comedic moments and also just being a funny character. Saki and Nodoka have a lot of chemistry together and make for a cute pair, though an unfulfilling couple. We get some background on both of them but really considering how important they are to the story it really is quite small. All of these subplots are left unresolved by the ending, so it will take a new season for them to be satisfactorily completed.
What really drags Saki's story and characters down is an enormous amount of dead weight in the supporting cast. There is absolutely no need to have this many "named" characters. The middle portions of the series give way to much screen time to developing the rival schools and players characters. This is not to say it shouldn’t have been done at all, but there was no need to have this done with basically everyone! It doesn’t help that I was completely uninterested in the majority of them and downright hated a few others. Annoying cat girl Kana? Please go eat a bowl of cat food laced with arsenic. Disappearing girl Momoko? Please get run over by a speeding city bus. There are a few memorable supporting characters but most are just various standard stereotypes we see in every other anime made.
The voice cast turns in a solid performance. Saki's enormous cast is brought out well by a bit of a dream team of seiyuu performers. However despite their talent the very fact that there are so many of them means that there just wasn’t enough screen time for many of them to make much of an impact. Additionally I found the music to be pretty plain and uninspired with a few exceptions. Some of the songs were catchy and they were cute many of them sounded like the singer was off-key. Others like the second OP theme I just didn’t like.
Artistically, Saki is very good. The character designs are typical of what you would expect in a Gonzo production. Saki reminds me of another series protagonist from this studio, Miyafugi from Strike Witches who is almost identical in both looks and personality. Also typical of Gonzo, they enjoy mixing in a lot of CGI effects with mixed results. The Mahjong automated tables looked pretty good but the "Nodocci" vs. Touka battle animation looked silly and out of place when compared to the rest of the series artwork. The visuals did a good job though into bringing in excitement and action into the games.
While I would classify my viewing experience of Saki to be very enjoyable, the overload of unnecessary characters and the lack of a proper ending or any substance in yuri relationships bring its score down. Hopefully a sequel will be coming soon that will address all of the plot issues and relationships that were left unresolved. I would say my own lack of knowledge of the game also hampered my enjoyment, though I did watch a sub version with notes that explained most of the terminology, it was still pretty confusing. It’s still overall, a fun and light hearted comedy that I recommend.
Alternative Titles
Japanese: 咲-Saki-
Information
Type:
TV
Episodes:
25
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Apr 6, 2009 to Sep 28, 2009
Premiered:
Spring 2009
Broadcast:
Mondays at 02:00 (JST)
Producers:
TV Tokyo, Square Enix, Sotsu, Lantis, Pony Canyon, KlockWorx, TV Tokyo Music, Kiyosumi High School Mahjong Club, Sotsu Music Publishing, Future Vision Music
Licensors:
None found, add some
Source:
Manga
Genre:
Slice of Life
Demographic:
Seinen
Duration:
24 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#21392
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#2261
Members:
96,586
Favorites:
835
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 32 / 32
Sort
Your Feelings Categories Oct 1, 2009
I have to admit I went into my viewing of Saki with next to zero knowledge about the game of Mahjong, its terminology, or its rules. Besides a short wiki article and just the visual similarities to some domino games I have played before, most of it still is quite vague and mysterious. I was drawn to Saki by the cute character designs, a hint of yuri romance, and my own curiosity over the game of Mahjong.
Despite my curiosity, the idea of a 25 episode anime revolving around a table game doesn’t sound all that exciting. Most likely that is going to ... Feb 15, 2015
There once was a woman named Saki
Who used to think Mahjong was yucky But her friends got the chills When she showed off her skills She was so unbelievably lucky Then the Mahjong club was reinstated In a manner that made it seem fated And Saki fell in love With a woman part of ... Sep 29, 2009
What do you get when you take mahjong, you shoot massive amounts ridiculous special effects, you add a huge cast of high school girls, you give them POWERLEVELS, and then you make them 90% lesbian? Does it sound ridiculous yet? Regardless of how you feel about what I just described, Saki somehow managed to take all the above points, mush them up together, and regurgitate one of the most fun and entertaining show I've seen in a while.
Story: + Simple and straight through story + Easy to swallow and get into + The mahjong games are SO MUCH FUN to watch and the show has PLENTY of them - ... Jun 11, 2009
Luckily I play a little mahjong, so I can keep up with some of the jargon, but the more complex variant scoring rules went beyond me.
Saki, based on the manga by Ritz Kobayashi and adapted into anime by Gonzo looks Like it may just be something fun about mahjong! Still, I was impressed. The art makes the show look like it might be a fluff piece, with very little actual mahjong. If anything, there was more mahjong than moe in this show. Sure, there is plenty of zettai ryouiki, blushing and other elements that make you wonder if the show was actually meant to be a ... Aug 2, 2009
When I first seen this anime coming out I was very excited because it appeared to be much like Hikaru no Go which is one of my favorite anime. However, after watching several episodes I realized they are nothing alike. The only thing they have in common is the fact that they both revolve around games. The game in Saki is Mahjong. I've tried to play Mahjong in the past but could never completely understand it and hoped this anime could help. Unfortunately, it can't.
Unlike Hikaru no Go, Saki focuses more on the characters than the game itself. The episodes ... Sep 27, 2009
Saki is exactly what you'd expect from a tournament-style "sports" game, minus exceedingly high testosterone levels, and plus lots and lots of moe. Now, Saki is about mahjong, which really... isn't a sport, but it's treated like one, and it's, as they say, serious business— every character lives and breathes mahjong.
The premise is not what you would call exceptional in any case. You have your protagonist who possesses remarkable talent, and through training and perservance, will become the best of the best. Who learns lessons through trials and tribulations, deepening and strenghtening bonds with teammates as time goes along. Your standard ... Jul 9, 2015
I started watching this anime because i wanted to watch another mahjong anime as the only one i've watched before was "Touhai Densetsu Akagi: Yami ni Maiorita Tensai". I have to say I'm disappointed in this anime.
This review is solely based on the first season of Saki as i never watched the sequel nor do i plan on watching them. Plot - 4 I think this is a very average kind of plot and not really unique in any sense, i was hoping that since Saki always gets a score of ±0, it would make the plot more interesting but overall its kind of average. The fact ... Dec 28, 2011
Want serious Mahjong? Try Akagi instead. Saki plays it fun and easy, preferring thunderous entertainment over logic, plausibility, and critical thinking. This FUNtastic underground gem needs more love. MAL already has plenty of lengthy reviews for Saki, so I'll keep this one to the point:
Pleasant Surprise #1: For such a seemingly low-budget title, it's voiced by an all-star cast of seiyuu. Pleasant Surprise #2: Rather than play out as gagworthy as I expected, the hints of yuri actually spiced things up. Nothing is ever explicitly stated, everything is implied, and the light yuri factor whimsically floats in that fun stage before relationships get ... Dec 5, 2012
You are probably thinking it sounds really boring, but in all honesty it's one of the best anime I have ever watched in my opinion. It takes mahjong to the level of superpowers, but not in the pathetic, stupid way some animes do. You don't have to know a single thing about mahjong. You get to know the characters, come to love them, and feel like you are at the table playing with them. You get excited when they get stronger, are amazed by the opponents strenghth, and feel everything the protaganist does. Don't forget to add in a yuri comedy, a club, and a
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Aug 8, 2020
Probably one of, if not the most intense 38 episodes I've ever seen in my life. An anime about this thing called "mahjong" where all the girls blush too many times it's already considered as a soft yuri at this point.
Story : 10/10 Despite the fact that I don't know shit about mahjong ( had to watch a few videos and guides because the anime explanation wasn't enough ). Watching Saki felt like eating mapo tofu for 15 hours straight. It's so hot damnnnnn. I think I'm still burning. Art : 10/10 Eh its ok. The breasts of a certain someone is too large though. ... May 10, 2010
The easiest way to describe this anime is:
Lesbians playing mahjong using supernatural powers. It may sound stupid, but that's because it is. Well, I can't really blame this anime for the fanservice and all that, because it's supposed to be moe, and it kinda is, while I thought the story was stupid, the only good thing about it was the ending which was ok, but still watching this anime was just dreadful and I dropped it after the 2nd ep., but I have heard from a friend some stuff about it, it seems there's a girl who plays better in mahjong when there's a full moon, ... May 17, 2013
Now, I should make one thing clear. I dont have a clue how to play Mahjong. I know nothing of the rules, and even after watching the anime, i still dont. When i first started this anime, I had no idea what i was getting into. Boy, was i impressed. As far as the story goes, the anime uses a typical storyline, a group of high school students, aiming for the Nationals at some sort of sport or game. The characters are great. We have the main character, Miyanaga Saki, who grew up hating Mahjong. As the story progresses, she grows to love mahjong more
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Dec 19, 2012
Well, where should I start? Imo, this is one of the most enjoyable anime I've watched. Let me first say that you DO NOT need to know about mahjong to watch this. The anime actually does a good job in making it fun to watch even if you don't know how exactly the game works. If it were the manga you were reading that might be a different idea, but the anime is pretty simple. Other than the mahjong element, it is a very moe anime :) You get to know a lot of characters and of course you'll have your favorites. (mine was Takei
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Apr 28, 2018
Such a disappointment.
Over 38 episodes, story never concludes. Yuri for no reason. Magic for no reason. Artificial intensity for no reason. ... May 20, 2010
First off, don't bother watching this show if you know nothing about mahjong. You won't understand a thing. Yes, you could try to learn from the explanations the subbers provide, but honestly, it's going to be hard, and you probably won't enjoy it.
If you're familiar with a mahjong but don't know the Japanese variant, I'd recommend skimming over the basics of the scoring system on Wikipedia. Specifically, you should learn how riichi and dora work, and how payouts are handled. Knowing some of the rare yaku and yakuman hands can also help since they'll crop up a lot in the series. Character-wise, there isn't really ... Apr 23, 2012
Tacos... And yuri pairings.
Mahjong is a side dish. Once upon a taco bell, in the world of Saki, existed Yuuki. She loved Tacos. They were so good. In fact, they were soo good that they gave her the ability to play Mahjong. But the taco gods were not that generous. Indeed, they put a terrible curse on her. She would only be able to play decent mahjong during the east wind. During the other periods she would just play like a toddler. In addition to the curse, she was also forbidden to have lesbian relationships with the others. CAN YUUKI ESCAPE HER FATE? FIND OUT NEXT ... Nov 8, 2017
I hear lots of people saying that many characters' development are unnecessary, that the mahjong matches are boring, or unrealistic... Let me rant for a bit and I'll get to the actual review.
In reality, the diversity of all the characters makes it all more realistic. I used to play in chess tournaments, and ended up knowing and befriending most of the people playing against me in the tournaments. It's very hard to know nothing about them except their name and their face, so I believe the addition of the opponents' backgrounds is very realistic and necessary. Second of all, most of those reviews come from people ... Nov 10, 2009
I will tell you straight that this anime is dreadful to watch. This anime mostly consists of fan-services and nodoka's gigantic breasts. The story is very pathetic and juvenile. However, the art and sound alone are superbly done. The character designs are unique, but I just can't bare to watch episodes looking at the characters themselves for more than 2 seconds without glancing myself on nodoka's breasts. This basically sums up what this anime is all about. This review is not to offend anyone and it is only my opinion of this anime. Thank you :)
If you are truely looking for a thrilling Majong anime, ... Jan 13, 2012
"Tsumo, Rinshankaihou"; you expect to see this virtually at all mahjong matches in "Saki".
Personally as a Japanese mahjong player, it is at the extremes of "unrealisticness"; having Rinshan-Agari almost at will [refer to Saki -Portable- PSP Game in wikipedia]. But when it comes down to simply enjoyment, I'd say a pretty good anime. Story: 8 Simple but coherent and well-structured (may be because I read the original manga in Japanese) it has a story and a goal that Kiyosumi Kou-kou aims at, and seemingly intense mahjong uplifts the atmosphere with players giving away some ulti-rare yakus. Sub-stories about relationship between the girls fits in quite well with ... May 12, 2012
I have to admit I watch Saki with exactly zero knowledge about Mahjong.
saki is a anime series that tells the story of the game mahjong. rather, japanese mahjong. when we think about mahjong, then we would normally think that it is a boring game and only played by a particular age group. (for anyone who loves mahjong, I'm sorry. but need I remind you, this is the view of ordinary people, not the view of you as a mahjong lovers) however, saki make the audience see things differently, because it makes the game of mahjong that the added element of action and miracles. thus resulting in different things when watching it. ... |