If you’re an anime fan who loves strategy, mind games, and characters who treat every move like it’s the end of the world, then let me introduce you to mahjong anime.
At first glance, mahjong anime might sound like a niche subgenre (it is), but it’s one of the most overlooked gems in anime genre.
You don’t have to be a mahjong master to enjoy these anime. In fact, many fans dive in knowing next to nothing about the rules, and still come out hooked.
Why? Because at their core, these shows are about tension, drama, rivalry, and characters who treat every game like it’s life or death.
What is Mahjong Anime?
Mahjong is a traditional four-player tile game that’s hugely popular in Japan, China, and across much of East Asia.
It’s kind of like a strategic blend of poker and rummy, with players trying to build winning hands while reading their opponents and managing risk. Sounds chill, right?
Now take that concept and make it anime, where a single move can decide someone’s fate, players have supernatural senses, and rivalries feel like they’re forged in fire.
That’s mahjong anime.
These shows take the strategy of the game and wrap it in every storytelling device anime does best: psychological showdowns, over-the-top abilities, tournament arcs, you name it.
Best Mahjong Anime
Check out our top mahjong anime picks:
- Saki
- Akagi
- Shoubushi Densetsu Tetsuya
- Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku: The Legend of Koizumi
- The Way of Pon
- Touhai (Frozen Mahjong Tiles: Underground Mahjong Battle Record)
- Mahjong King
- Mahjong Hishouden: Naki no Ryuu
- Mahjong Soul Pon
1Saki
Over-the-top school tournaments and supernatural mahjong battles? That’s Saki.
Saki follows Saki Miyanaga, a quiet high schooler who hates mahjong… or so she thinks.
But when she’s pulled into her school’s mahjong club, she discovers a new way to play that reignites her competitive spirit.
Turns out, she’s a secret prodigy with a knack for winning games by exactly breaking even. She quickly finds herself climbing the ladder toward the national high school championship.
While it’s indeed mahjong game, this isn’t your ordinary mahjong. Every character has their own special powers, and the animation style makes you feel you’re watching a magical duel rather than a board game.
You don’t need to understand riichi or chii to love this series. It’s about the thrill, the rivalries, and the friendships that form across the mahjong table.
Saki info (MAL):
- Alternative Title: N/A
- Episodes: 25
- Released: Spring 2009
- Studios: Gonzo, Picture Magic
- Genres: Slice of Life
- Themes: School, Strategy Game
- Score: 7.45 (MAL), 6.9 (IMDb)
Watch Saki trailer:
2Akagi
If Saki is flashy and fun, Akagi is pure, psychological intensity.
Set in the 1950s, it follows a teenage boy named Shigeru Akagi who walks into an underground mahjong parlor and casually beats the Yakuza, without even knowing the rules.
The twist? He’s not playing for money, he’s playing for pride, life, and the thrill of crushing someone with nerve and mind games. Yes, he wins using sheer psychological warfare alone.
Mahjong in Akagi isn’t just a game, it’s a battlefield of minds. Every move is a risk, literally.
The atmosphere is drenched in tension, with eerie music, heavy shadows, and high-stakes drama that makes your heart race.
If you’re into psychological thrillers and morally gray anti-heroes, this anime will suck you in like a black hole.
Akagi info (MAL):
- Alternative Title: Touhai Densetsu Akagi: Yami ni Maiorita Tensai
- Episodes: 26
- Released: Fall 2005
- Studios: Madhouse
- Genres: Suspense
- Themes: Adult Cast, High Stakes Game, Organized Crime, Psychological, Strategy Game
- Score: 7.92 (MAL), 7.7 (IMDb)
3Shoubushi Densetsu Tetsuya
Post-war Japan, underground mahjong dens, and a street-smart survivor with nothing to lose.
Tetsuya is a street-smart young man who discovers that playing mahjong with cunning and intuition can change his fate.
He doesn’t rely on luck, he reads people, bluffs like a poker pro, and manipulates games in his favor.
The show’s gritty atmosphere (think trench coats, cigarette smoke, and rain-soaked streets) pairs perfectly with Tetsuya’s journey from cocky rookie to cold-blooded pro.
The mahjong battles are more about psychological manipulation, bluffing, and reading opponents like a book. If you love antiheroes and moral gray areas, this one’s a classic.
Shoubushi Densetsu Tetsuya info (MAL):
- Alternative Title: N/A
- Episodes: 20
- Released: Fall 2000
- Studios: Toei Animation
- Genres: N/A
- Themes: Historical, Strategy Game
- Score: 7.51 (MAL), 6.8 (IMDb)
4Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku: The Legend of Koizumi
Okay, imagine this: world leaders settle political disputes through deadly, high-powered mahjong matches.
And by “deadly,” we mean matches where missiles launch, supernatural powers activate, and mahjong becomes a tool of international warfare.
Yes, this is real. The Legend of Koizumi is pure parody, complete with George W. Bush, Vladimir Putin, and other characters slamming tiles and pulling off physics-defying tricks.
The protagonist, former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, plays mahjong like an action hero, complete with dramatic monologues and explosive finishes.
This anime is short but unforgettable ride through the most over-the-top political satire you’ve ever seen in anime form.
You don’t come here for deep character arcs, you come for Koizumi’s glowing mahjong aura and the Pope unleashing divine tile powers.
Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku: The Legend of Koizumi info (MAL):
- Alternative Title: N/A
- Episodes: 3
- Released: 2010
- Studios: TYO Animations
- Genres: Comedy
- Themes: Parody, Strategy Game
- Score: 6.89 (MAL)
5The Way of Pon
A wholesome, slice-of-life celebration of mahjong culture.
It follows a group of high school girls who casually play together and learn about the game along the way. Basically, cute girls doing cute things (CGDCT).
Amid all the psychological warfare and political explosions, The Way of Pon is a breath of fresh air. It’s a more grounded, cozy series that takes a slice-of-life approach to mahjong.
Instead of high-stakes battles, the show focuses on a cast of quirky, lovable characters who gather to play casually and connect over their shared love of the game.
The Way of Pon info (MAL):
- Alternative Title: Pon no Michi
- Episodes: 12
- Released: Winter 2024
- Studios: OLM
- Genres: Slice of Life, Supernatural
- Themes: CGDCT, Strategy Game
- Score: 6.47 (MAL), 6.1 (IMDb)
Watch The Way of Pon trailer:
6Touhai (Frozen Mahjong Tiles: Underground Mahjong Battle Record)
Cool name. Cooler battles. Underrated gem of pure mahjong grit.
The story follows Kei, a high schooler who unexpectedly gets caught up in high-stakes mahjong games with criminal groups… and wins.
His talent catches the eye of someone dangerous, and before long, he’s outmatched and buried in debt. Now, he must fight his way back to the top.
This anime is stylish and intense, with slick character designs and moody, atmospheric settings. Every match feels like a final boss fight, and the tone is serious, sometimes even brutal.
While it’s not as well-known as Akagi or Tetsuya, it carves out its niche with suspenseful storytelling and a distinctive visual flair.
If you like your anime raw, edgy, and dripping with tension, give this one a shot.
Frozen Mahjong Tiles: Underground Mahjong Battle Record info (MAL):
- Alternative Title: Touhai: Ura Rate Mahjong Touhairoku
- Episodes: 25
- Released: Fall 2024
- Studios: East Fish Studio
- Genres: Drama, Suspense
- Themes: Organized Crime, Psychological, Strategy Game
- Score: 6.61 (MAL), 6.7 (IMDb)
Watch Touhai trailer:
7Mahjong King
Set in a world where mahjong holds real power and influence, players from around the globe compete in high-stakes matches, all aiming to become the best and earn the respect that comes with the title.
Technically donghua (Chinese anime), but this anime gives you a more classic, high-energy take on mahjong.
It’s got all the familiar tropes: a passionate young hero, rivalries, and dramatic comebacks.
Mahjong King info (MAL):
- Alternative Title: Ma Shen
- Episodes: 16
- Released: 2016
- Studios: Thundray
- Genres: Drama
- Themes: Strategy Game
- Score: 5.86 (MAL)
8Mahjong Hishouden: Naki no Ryuu
Stylish, mysterious, and ultra-cool. Naki no Ryuu (aka Crying Dragon) is the mahjong equivalent of a lone-wolf samurai movie.
Ryuu, the titular “crying dragon,” is a calm and deadly genius with an almost supernatural presence.
He walks into high-stakes mahjong games like a mythic figure, reads his opponents like books, and unleashes silent but devastating plays.
The show is slow-paced, focusing on psychological tension and atmosphere. There’s a lot of silence, staring, and moody dialogue, and it makes you always on the edge waiting for the moves.
Mahjong Hishouden: Naki no Ryuu info (MAL):
- Alternative Title: N/A
- Episodes: 3
- Released: 1988-1990
- Studios: Gainax, Magic Bus
- Genres: Action, Drama
- Themes: Organized Crime, Strategy Game
- Score: 5.67 (MAL)
9Mahjong Soul Pon
Based on the popular online game Mahjong Soul, this anime is all about good vibes and colorful fun.
It features a cast of adorable girls playing casual mahjong in a lighthearted, comedic setting.
The focus here isn’t on deep strategy or drama (so don’t expect that), it’s about fun character moments, bright animation, and a relaxed vibe that makes each episode a quick, easy watch.
It has 11 episodes, but each is only a minute long. So… it’s really more of a promotion anime for the game.
Mahjong Soul Pon info (MAL):
- Alternative Title: Jantama Pong
- Episodes: 11
- Released: Spring 2022
- Studios: Scooter Films
- Genres: Comedy
- Themes: N/A
- Score: 6.08 (MAL), 6.7 (IMDb)
Conclusion: Mahjong Anime Might Just Surprise You
You might’ve come into this thinking mahjong anime is just a quirky niche. And sure, it is a bit niche.
But it’s also packed with some of the most intense, character-driven, and creatively over-the-top storytelling in anime.
Even if you don’t know the rules, the shows bring the drama to life in a way that’s easy to follow and impossible to look away from.
Got a favorite mahjong anime we didn’t mention? Let us know, we’re always ready for another round.
