Kita ze Inbou! - キタぜ陰謀!

Series Information

ANN Encyclopedia | AniDB | AnimeNfo
Episode Total: 26
Producers: Forecast Communications, Nippon Television Network, VAP, MADHOUSE, DR MOVIE, NTV Music
Genres: Psychological, Sports (Mahjong)
NTV’s Official Akagi Homepage
[Review: 92/100]

I kept on hearing things about Akagi. Most of those things were good things. Of course by “things” I mean praises. So I decided about a week ago to pick up the show, especially after starting Kaiji that just started this fall season. The only thing I knew about Akagi beforehand was that mahjong was central to the story and that the main character was absolutely badass. It has now been a little over a week and I must say that I enjoyed every single episode of Akagi. When I started watching I didn’t expect to get so hooked onto it, especially with very amateurish knowledge of mahjong.

I quickly learned the basics of mahjong but more importantly I learned why Akagi is such a great anime. Psychological bouts, intense atmospheres, engaging characters, wonderful narration, and cliffhangers that make you want to pull out your hair. All of those and a little more all blend together to make Akagi one amazing experience. Akagi is one of the most interesting characters I’ve come across in all my years of watching anime. He’s simply a man who is looking for someone who he can test his genius against. I think the only person who can give Akagi a good fight is the last opponent near the end of the anime. Sadly, with the manga still ongoing the anime had to end early so there’s really no closure to the final match though the ending does suggest who the winner of the insanity that is the last match is. Overall though, the story is centered around Akagi and him taking on various opponents and though it doesn’t really diverge from that rail it is still successful and highly entertaining.

Hopefully, the animated version is done some day in whatever form that is appropriate whether it be an OVA or second season. I’d really love to see the conclusion to the Akagi vs. Washizu arc which is easily the best arc in the series. I’d definitely recommend this to those looking for an intense psychological series structured around the game of Mahjong, regardless of their familiarity of the game.