Watch Saki

TV-14
2009
2 Seasons
7.1 (137)

Saki is a sports anime that aired in 2009 on TV Tokyo. The show focuses on the game of mahjong, a popular tabletop game in Japan. The series was adapted from the manga of the same name written and illustrated by Ritz Kobayashi. The show follows the journey of Saki Miyanaga, a shy and introverted high school student who has suppressed her love for mahjong since a childhood incident. However, she finds herself frequently drawn into games with her classmates, who note her natural talent for the game despite her lack of experience. Saki eventually joins the school's mahjong club, which is led by the flashy and charismatic captain, Hisa Takei.

The mahjong matches are the central focus of the show and cover several different formats of the game, including the standard four-player game and a modified version played with just two players. The games are intense and filled with strategies and techniques specific to mahjong. The show does an excellent job of explaining the rules and nuances of the game, making it accessible to viewers who may not be familiar with it.

Apart from the game itself, the show also explores the relationships between the characters. While there is a strong sense of camaraderie within the team, there are also rivalries and grudges that come to light during the matches. Saki's past trauma and her resulting social isolation are explored, along with the impact her joining the club has on both herself and her teammates.

The animation style of the show is bright and colorful, with character designs that range from cute and bubbly to cool and stylish. The mahjong matches are given an extra degree of flair with dynamic camera angles, special effects, and even animated mascots that represent the different players.

The voice acting is top-notch, with notable performances from Kana Ueda as Saki, Ami Koshimizu as Hisa, and Rie Kugimiya as the diminutive and hyperactive character, Koromo Amae. The soundtrack features a mix of upbeat rock and pop tracks to match the energetic pace of the games.

Overall, Saki is an enjoyable and engaging sports anime that offers a unique take on the game of mahjong. The characters are likable and well-developed, and the games themselves are thrilling to watch. The show has since spawned a follow-up season and a spin-off series focused on a different group of characters. Whether you're a fan of mahjong or just enjoy competitive sports anime, Saki is a must-watch.

Saki is a series that ran for 2 seasons (38 episodes) between April 5, 2009 and on TV Tokyo

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Seasons

2 1

38. Hand 13: Old Friends

April 6, 2014

The second round was absolutely grueling, with every school never letting up. Still, thanks to Saki's performance, Kiyosumi moves on to the semi-finals. After finding "Achiga Girls'" on the pamphlet, Nodoka asks Saki to come to the arena with her, but just outside, Saki has to stop for a moment.

37. Hand 12: Truth

March 30, 2014

The 5th player match has finally progressed into the all-deciding south round. This is where Saki does something she's never done before: declaring a kan to then discard the tile she gets right away.

36. Hand 11: Threat

March 23, 2014

Iwato Kasumi from Eisui Girls' High School changes into her 'offensive' mode after realizing that defense alone won't cut it. Kasumi's onslaught turns the tide completely. Himematsu High School entered the 5th player match in first place, but is now in last place.

35. Hand 10: Friends

March 16, 2014

The 2nd round of the National Tournament is coming to a close. Himematsu High School's Suehara Kyouko bold playing style of declaring riichi after riichi backfires as she always ends up dealing into Miyamori Girls' High School's Anetai Toyone's chasing riichi hand.

34. Hand 9: Sortie

March 9, 2014

Miyamori Girls' High School' s Usuzawa Sae completely blocks off Usuzumi Hatsumi. However, holding Hatsumi down every time she was the north player takes a heavy toll on Sae's body.

33. Hand 8: Fortress

March 2, 2014

In the first half of the 4th player match, Nodoka completely finds her own style. The strongest emotion controlling her is that "Losing means we're going to be scattered all over".

32. Hand 7: Attention

February 23, 2014

Enjoying the national stage, enjoying mahjong... Faced with her opponents, Hisa remembers that those are the important things and gets back into gear. However, she can't overtake Hiroe Atago, who had widened her lead in the first half of the 3rd player match, and Hisa ends in 2nd place.

31. Hand 6: Withering

February 9, 2014

Despite putting up a good fight, Kiyosumi High's mahjong club ends up in third place behind Miyamori's Kosegawa Shiromi and Eisui's Jindai Komaki. Miyamori's Aislinn had shown overwhelming performances at the regional tournaments, so naturally all eyes were on her.

30. Hand 5: Gods and Demons

February 2, 2014

Even after Miyamori's Kosegawa Shiromi scores a haneman tsumo win, Yuuki continues to drive the first player match in a favorable direction.

29. Hand 4: East Wind

January 26, 2014

Thanks to Hisa's great performance, Kiyosumi's mahjong club makes it through the first round without Nodoka or Saki having to play at all.

28. Hand 3: Start

January 19, 2014

The one who Hisa had dubbed the "Star of the camp" is Yumeno Maho. Saki is awed as Maho shows off her ability to copy the play style of all of the players of the Kiyosumi mahjong club.

27. Hand 2: Support

January 12, 2014

After the matchups are all settled, Saki realized that she won't be able to play against her older sister unless she makes it to the finals. Driven by her desire to face Teru, she vows again to make it to the finals.

26. Hand 1: To Tokyo

January 5, 2014

After making it through the fierce regional preliminaries, the Kiyosumi High Mahjong Club makes its way to the Nationals. In rapid succession, the representative schools for the other regions are decided as well and the powerful players make their way to the battleground.

Description

Where to Watch Saki

Saki is available for streaming on the TV Tokyo website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Saki on demand at Amazon Prime.