Saki Achiga-hen -episode of Side A- Discussion Thread

[Fencedude]

The yuri anime with Mahjong undertones returns!

Official Site (http://www.saki-anime.com/)
ANN (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=13661)
Crunchyroll Stream (http://www.crunchyroll.com/saki-episode-of-side-a)

Chacter/Seiyuu chart (http://hashihime.x10.bz/etc/2012/sakiachiga/charsei.html)

Note
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[Draneor]

A very cute, touching episode. Shizu is my favorite so far, but Kuro and Ako were also pretty cool. The backgrounds were also lovely.

[something]

Saki!!!

Episode 1:

- YUUKI AOIIIIIIIII!!!
- NOPAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!
- NODOKAAAAAA!!!
- Mini-Nodoka is adorable. And already busty.
- Ao-chan's voice for Shizuno is really really fun. Just listening to her talk makes me happy.
- Kuro is Hanazawa Kana, fuck yeah <3
- Hahah, Nodoka's boobs amaze the world even now.
- "Oppai tenkousei." XD

- Oh how I missed supernatural mahjong.
- Swimsuits! And holy crap Kuro is stacked.
- Awww... Shizu doesn't want her beloved majhong club coach to leave. ;_; So melancholy.
- Ako leaves. Nodoka is going to leave. Shizu is going to be all alone. ;_;

- Nooooooooo pants, nooooooo panties! Go go Shizu!
- Ako grew up very very pretty.
- And Ako, Kuro and Shizu form a new mahjong club. <3 <3

Holy shit, I could not possibly have asked for a better first episode. Having Nodoka as the familiar hook through which to introduce the new cast worked perectly, and I am already completely, utterly in love with the new girls. Spectacular first episode!

Post-ED:
- Holy shit what are you wearing Nodoka... not that I mind.

[ultimatemegax]

- Swimsuits! And holy crap Kuro is stacked.
It runs in the family (http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg4/ultimatemegax/1333901271656.jpg).

Holy shit, I could not possibly have asked for a better first episode. Having Nodoka as the familiar hook through which to introduce the new cast worked perectly, and I am already completely, utterly in love with the new girls. Spectacular first episode!
And this is why I didn't want to discuss a lot of spoilers. Nodoka being around for most of the first manga chapter/episode was an incredible surprise for readers and I wanted to have that surprise present for anime-only viewers. It's a great way to tie this series to the main series. The new characters are wonderful, and yet we'll add more next episode as the other two join in!

- Holy shit what are you wearing Nodoka... not that I mind.
That's her normal clothes during the summer. On the DVDs released in 2009/2010 for the original series, they put "picture dramas" on volumes 3-7 (and on the BD-Box) where there's a few images with audio provided by the seiyuu. Picture drama 7 continues (http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg4/ultimatemegax/sakipicturedramavii0001.jpg) from the end of this episode. There's subs out for the DVD versions now.

[MelancholicMariya]

That's her normal clothes during the summer. On the DVDs released in 2009/2010 for the original series, they put "picture dramas" on volumes 3-7 (and on the BD-Box) where there's a few images with audio provided by the seiyuu. Picture drama 7 continues (http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg4/ultimatemegax/sakipicturedramavii0001.jpg) from the end of this episode. There's subs out for the DVD versions now.

Normal clothes? I feel likes she's completely forgotten a layer. It looks like some kinda nightgown.

[something]

Normal clothes? I feel likes she's completely forgotten a layer. It looks like some kinda nightgown.
Saki fashion always was a little... different. Maybe she's taking a page out of Kunihiro Hajime's playbook.

[Fencedude]

Oh god this episode. SOOO AWESOME.

Love Shizuno, Ao-chan's voice is perfect, and she just so blatantly isn't wearing a thing under that sweatshirt. And it only gets better when she chops the sleeves off. Damn.

I knew Nodoka was going to be involved, but really liked how this played out. Ako is stunning with her longer hair, and Kuro is just gorgeous.

Really looking forward to what happens next.


Post-ED:
- Holy shit what are you wearing Nodoka... not that I mind.

I'm pretty sure its actually the exact same dress from before...only...modified to handle expanded assets. And good god is it hot.

[strangefour]

-The cherry trees are in bloom. I didn't know they could bloom pantsless lolis though.
-Little girls play Majong. I thought it was just a game for old people and illegal gamblers.
-The color palette in this show is ridiculously pink. The background characters have nice adorable design though.
-Sexual harassment sempai.
-What it's over already? Oh just a playing montage.

-Shizu hates pants.
-"Nodoka's on tv. I wanna be on tv. We must defeat Nodoka!"
-Damn it Nodoka show some shame! That outfit covers less than naked apron.

I am sad that my favorite character will likely never be seen again. I shall miss you background girl with big round eyes who can't close her mouth.

[ultimatemegax]

Since these don't give away anything, here are the titles for the next two episodes.
Episode 2: Startup (始動)
Episode 3: Contact (接触)

[EmperorBrandon]

I am sad that my favorite character will likely never be seen again. I shall miss you background girl with big round eyes who can't close her mouth.
That girl amused me so much with her facial expression. Actually, they do all seem to be named in the credits and listed on the official site if I'm not mistaken. That might be a sign they will show up again (as listing very minor characters on the official site is unusual, but it does happen rarely).

[HitokiriShadow]

Oh man, I get the same heavily yuri saturated Saki goodness PLUS Yuuki Aoi as the lead character? And Hanazawa Kana is a major in this too?!?! I'm in heaven!

I'm highly amused that Ako is voiced by one of Hibiki's friends from Symphogear.

I think the cuteness in Achiga has been increased by about 400% compared to the original. Zukon!

And the episode makes it pretty clear that Shizuno doesn't wear anything other than panties under her jacket.... and I'm highly skeptical she's even wearing that.

[Fencedude]

I'm highly amused that Ako is voiced by one of Hibiki's friends from Symphogear.

Its even funnier when you realize that Shizuno and Ako are the reunion of Alice and Yume from Ikoku Miero no Croisse (or however the fuck that was spelled)

And the episode makes it pretty clear that Shizuno doesn't wear anything other than panties under her jacket.... and I'm highly skeptical she's even wearing that.

No one wears panties in Sakiverse.

[HitokiriShadow]

I'm highly amused that Ako is voiced by one of Hibiki's friends from Symphogear.

Its even funnier when you realize that Shizuno and Ako are the reunion of Alice and Yume from Ikoku Miero no Croisse (or however the fuck that was spelled)

I never got around to watching past the first episode of that, so I never met Alice.


No one wears panties in Sakiverse.

And some of them only wear clothes at all because they're legally required too. Yes, Hajime, I'm looking at you.

[HitokiriShadow]

So I was downloading screencaps of the episode (http://randomc.net/2012/04/09/saki-achiga-hen-episode-of-side-a-01/) and noticed something interesting. Most of the characters have one outfit the whole time, or they have two and one of them is the school uniform. Ako (http://randomc.net/image/Saki%20Achiga-hen%20episode%20of%20Side-A/Saki%20Achiga-hen%20episode%20of%20Side-A%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2002.jpg) has (http://randomc.net/image/Saki%20Achiga-hen%20episode%20of%20Side-A/Saki%20Achiga-hen%20episode%20of%20Side-A%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2019.jpg) about (http://randomc.net/image/Saki%20Achiga-hen%20episode%20of%20Side-A/Saki%20Achiga-hen%20episode%20of%20Side-A%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2016.jpg) four (http://randomc.net/image/Saki%20Achiga-hen%20episode%20of%20Side-A/Saki%20Achiga-hen%20episode%20of%20Side-A%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2017.jpg), not including her school uniform. (http://randomc.net/image/Saki%20Achiga-hen%20episode%20of%20Side-A/Saki%20Achiga-hen%20episode%20of%20Side-A%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2032.jpg)

Speaking of school uniform Ako, did anyone else get bitter, self-loathing (http://randomc.net/image/Hourou%20Musuko/Hourou%20Musuko%20-%2007%20-%20Large%2030.jpg) Chiba (http://randomc.net/image/Hourou%20Musuko/Hourou%20Musuko%20-%2007%20-%20Large%2031.jpg) flashbacks from her when she was laying on the coach?

[William K]

Cute little girls playing mahjong - Check
Blushing faces, knees and shiny thighs - Check
School club having expensive looking mahjong tables - Double check
Thigh-level and lower camera angles - Check
Strong mahjong player aura detection sense - Check
Super-powered mahjong ability that Nodoka thinks is not possible - Check
Welcome back Saki!

The story for the manga is from Kobayashi Ritz but the art is drawn by the Bamboo Blade mangaka right? The designs are similar to the first season but the Achiga girls are way more attractive than the Kiyosumi girls.

[ultimatemegax]

The story for the manga is from Kobayashi Ritz but the art is drawn by the Bamboo Blade mangaka right? The designs are similar to the first season but the Achiga girls are way more attractive than the Kiyosumi girls.

The manga is indeed drawn by Aguri Igarashi with Ritz contributing the story, but the anime character designs were created by Masakatsu Sasaki, the same designer as the first series. No information was given (to my knowledge) who created the original designs between Igarashi/Kobayashi.

[superdry]

So, Shizu has an aversion to pants or even shorts. I don't mind at all.

The episode was cute. The only issue I had was the CG during closeups during a mah-jong game.

All the girls at the end want to go the nationals to play with Nodoka...probably to play with her boobs. Speaking of which, the beginning was humorous with both the teacher and Kuro making a point of Nodoka's chest for a young girl.

Watching the show reminds me that one of these day I need to buy one of those automatic mah-jong tables. Those things are fuckin' cool as all hell.


I am sad that my favorite character will likely never be seen again. I shall miss you background girl with big round eyes who can't close her mouth.

I was puzzled with that around the 10 minute mark. It was fascinating seeing her like that for a few seconds.

[Fencedude]

In case you have not had your daily does of unrelenting adorableness, here are 14 worksafe, translated Hisa/Mihoko doujins by Hakka-ya.

You have never HHHNNNGGGed this much in your life (http://www.mediafire.com/?ii9z5kioa4zii#myfiles)

[Fencedude]

And they quickly get two new players. Kuro's older sister, the constantly freezing cold Yuu, and the daughter of a family that owns a bowling alley, Sagimori Arata.

And then Harue returns after her team was downsized.

Really like Arata, and Yuu is pretty adorable.

And we meet a few girls from Bansei, which looks like is going to be up very soon. Guess we're not going to be farting around in the prefecturals for long.

[ultimatemegax]

Yuu is pretty adorable.

Yuu is my favorite from the Achiga cast. The whole cold intolerance leads to funny aspects like the ED. "So warm..."

daughter of a family that owns a bowling alley, Sagimori Arata.

The whole bowling exchange for the preview last time made me laugh knowing she was coming along. Great foreshadowing that doesn't give away anything.

And we meet a few girls from Bansei, which looks like is going to be up very soon. Guess we're not going to be farting around in the prefecturals for long.
Well, we had a training montage this episode, so who knows what'll happen next?

[elior]

episode 2 was great and i wonder what saki sister teru was doing in the preview she is not compete in this tournament building

[ultimatemegax]

Here's a friendly notice for those wanting to stay spoiler-free. Best not to read the preview on the TV-Tokyo website. It's plenty spoilertastic that will ruin the fun of next week's episode. Thought I should warn everyone just in case.

[elior]

Here's a friendly notice for those wanting to stay spoiler-free. Best not to read the preview on the TV-Tokyo website. It's plenty spoilertastic that will ruin the fun of next week's episode. Thought I should warn everyone just in case.do you have a guess why teru is on the roof of the tournament building even if she already passed it?

[Fencedude]

do you have a guess why teru is on the roof of the tournament building even if she already passed it?

We'll find out eventually. I'm pretty sure you already know anyway, if not, and you really care you, can find out easily enough.

[elior]

do you have a guess why teru is on the roof of the tournament building even if she already passed it?

We'll find out eventually. I'm pretty sure you already know anyway, if not, and you really care you, can find out easily enough.no i dont know why i was read the manga but didnt see a scence where she in the rooftop in all those 88 pages she only apear later i wont spoil to you anything but i will say the next episode we will get lot of characters we loved in the original

[Fencedude]

no i dont know why i was read the manga but didnt see a scence where she in the rooftop in all those 88 pages she only apear later i wont spoil to you anything but i will say the next episode we will get lot of characters we loved in the original

Christ you are irritating.

[something]

Episode 2:

- Yuu-nee! Haha she's so cute. And easily flustered. Mahjong club +1!
- Man, it's all up to Kuro isn't it? She also knows the other potential member, Arata.
- Young Arata fangirling over Harue is adorable. Awww.
- Arata joins. Mahjong club +2! It's official~

- <3 <3 <3 Hahah, the look on Arata's face when she realizes Harue is there is just priceless.
- Advisor/coach/manager GET! I really really like Harue, even if she is trying to live vicariously through a couple high school girls.

- And high school starts!
- Awwwwwwwwwww, Arata is wearing Harue's tie.
- Evil Bansai Girl #1! That's some funky hair.

Man I can't wait to see all the girls' special powers.

Best show of the season so far, hands down.

[ultimatemegax]

- Awwwwwwwwwww, Arata is wearing Harue's tie.
I loved the meeting before heading to school between all 5. Arata's blushing smile was so cute. I'm somewhat disappointed they changed Harue calling her "Necktie girl!" from the manga in the earlier scene, but it was still nice.

Best show of the season so far, hands down.
Agreed. This episode affirmed for me that I'll be importing it over Hyouka. Something about this entire franchise just oozes "fun" that's so difficult to replicate.

[HitokiriShadow]

So now we meet the remaining two team members, both through Kuro.

One is Kuro's sister, and she uses the kotatsu in the summer. I'm guessing this will turn out to be related to her mahjong ability.

The other is Kuro's classmate. And Harue's long-lost lover. And the "subtext" between them is off the charts. And judging by the OP, they aren't even the gayest couple in the show.

Yuu is okay, but I like Arata quite a bit. It's too early to pick a favorite, but its looking to be a competition between Arata, Ako and Shizuno.

I must not have paid much attention to the ED last time for some reason. Oh my, I love it. It's absolutely adorable. LOL Arata blowing up the table. I think I remember the first series having some really cute EDs as well.

[Fencedude]

I must not have paid much attention to the ED last time for some reason. Oh my, I love it. It's absolutely adorable. LOL Arata blowing up the table. I think I remember the first series having some really cute EDs as well.

The ED last time was the OP.

And this ED is way cuter than even the first season's.

[ultimatemegax]

I must not have paid much attention to the ED last time for some reason. Oh my, I love it. It's absolutely adorable. LOL Arata blowing up the table. I think I remember the first series having some really cute EDs as well.

I love the little touches they added for the ED animation. Shizuno mixing up the North/South locations and going "Isn't this alright?" and Ako absolutely refusing it, Arata going into "BOWLING POSE" (the text behind her) and striking the table/Yuu on fire (causing Yuu to go "It's so warm.."), Kuro gathering some dora, but her hand goes on fire when Ako kans (causing another tile to become dora) which causes the dragon to come out and go "GRR." They did a wonderful job with this ED. Absolutely love it.

[HitokiriShadow]

I must not have paid much attention to the ED last time for some reason. Oh my, I love it. It's absolutely adorable. LOL Arata blowing up the table. I think I remember the first series having some really cute EDs as well.

The ED last time was the OP.

Ah, that would certainly explain it.

And this ED is way cuter than even the first season's.

Oh yeah, I'm pretty sure it is.

[something]

One is Kuro's sister, and she uses the kotatsu in the summer. I'm guessing this will turn out to be related to her mahjong ability.
The first time we see an ice-wielder, we'll know who Yuu's rival is.

The other is Kuro's classmate. And Harue's long-lost lover. And the "subtext" between them is off the charts. And judging by the OP, they aren't even the gayest couple in the show.
The only problem with Arata is that she reminds me of Arata from Chihayafuru. >_> But this one is so much better. <3

And yeah Saki has amazing EDs.

[something]

I added Hashihime's Chacter/Seiyuu chart (http://hashihime.x10.bz/etc/2012/sakiachiga/charsei.html) to the top post. As we introduce more schools/teams, it should be useful for keeping the girls straight. (Or perhaps I should say "mentally organized" because there's no way any of these girls are the least bit "straight" =D.)

[Fencedude]

I added Hashihime's Chacter/Seiyuu chart (http://hashihime.x10.bz/etc/2012/sakiachiga/charsei.html) to the top post. As we introduce more schools/teams, it should be useful for keeping the girls straight. (Or perhaps I should say "mentally organized" because there's no way any of these girls are the least bit "straight" =D.)

Hey, thats pretty cool and useful. I really should read Hashihime more than I do.

Director Ono Manabu (Saki, A-Channel, Horizon)

*mind blown*

[strangefour]

-Eternally cold sister and tiny fangirl have joined the party. *fanfare*
-Winter. Old friends. Memories. Snow. The sound of mahjong.
-Spring. A new club. A old tie. Cherry blossoms. No pan.
-Finally someone is going to play mahjong. *OBJECTION*
-Dynasty Warriors music?
-Asymmetrical twintail?
-How do you get blisters from playing a game with smooth rounded dominoes like tiles?
-Ending animation is the best part! The best character is in it! (OAO )

Shizu does not own panties.

[ultimatemegax]

It would be a vast understatement if I said I was looking forward to this episode. After reading this chapter in the manga, I immediately wanted to watch Achiga's anime adaptation. The episode itself was even better than the manga chapter with the additional cameos during that "introduction" at the end. The new ED Futuristic Player was sung by Miyuki Hashimoto, the singer for the first Saki's first OP. I found it quite fitting given this is Achiga's "serious ending." It lived up to my expectations and even more.

This is the one episode I tried my best to prevent any spoilers from leaking in my posts. The cameos, results, meetings of new teams, etc were just too great to go in spoiled. I hope this episode was as exciting for new viewers as it was for me. Since we're at nationals, the pace should slow down. After all, we've caught up to the original series in three episodes. Now onto new territory!

I've mentioned previously that you can watch Achiga without knowing the original series. That was true, but what I couldn't mention was that Achiga spoils the original series in this episode. I apologize to anyone who feels I mislead them with my posts.

[MelancholicMariya]

I've mentioned previously that you can watch Achiga without knowing the original series. That was true, but what I couldn't mention was that Achiga spoils the original series in this episode. I apologize to anyone who feels I mislead them with my posts.

I know you informed me about the series, among other users, but I honestly don't mind if this series spoils the first season. What I'm doing is watching Achiga and if I need to I watch the original Saki. As you said, Saki isn't needed to enjoy Achiga, but Achiga kinda reveals what happens in Saki, so it fills you in without having seen Saki anyway (in a way) which I'm fine with.

For someone who hasn't seen the original Saki, and I'm watching it when I can/need to on Crunchyroll, I can follow Achiga pretty well.

[strangefour]

-Well that sure was quick. Bansei wasn't even half a challenge.
-Shivering.
-Mahjong.
-Shivering.
-Mahjong.
-Shivering.

-Mahjong.
-Shivering.
-Moon bunny girl.
-Mahjong.
-Shivering.
-The best character is back! She has longer hair and a line! "Ganbatte!"
-More lines! "Ako-chan! Mina!" :beatingheart:
-Lake view lesbians.
-Newtype reaction! It's the Mahjong Monster SAKI!
-Where did the cute ending go? :(

You girls can not defeat the frightening beast that is Saki without the cheering power of the cutest character.

[strangefour]

For someone who hasn't seen the original Saki, and I'm watching it when I can/need to on Crunchyroll, I can follow Achiga pretty well.

Yeah I just started watching a few episodes of the original show last week and I'm not having a problem following this one. I am however getting lost in the mahjong game itself in the first show. It somehow makes a game I though was complex ten times more confusing. It is a bit like Canasta and other card games as I thought. But the points system and all the terminology is just making it so much harder to follow.

[Fencedude]

THE KOROMO HAS HAD HER WAY WITH SHIZUNO

Anyway, Bansei went down even quicker than I thought they would.

A barrage of cameos to make us squee, and Saki makes Shizuno wet herself.

[something]

Episode 3:

- Miracle Rush is a great OP. I loooooove Arata's glove. Cutest gloves since Akari in Aria! But not as awesome as those sexy gloves.
- Bansai in the first round, oh no!

- Awww fuck yeah, it's time for SUPERNATURAL MAHJONG!!! Go go Ako!
- Wow that was fast. Kuro just crushes everyone.
- o_O wut? All this time spent building up Bansei and Achiga takes them out in the first round in about 2 minutes of episode time? Holy shit, these girls don't fuck around.
- Hahahah um, double wow, the entire prefectural tournament is over. Holy fuck. We're going to the nationals already.

- And of course Kiyosumi makes it too. Time for your rematch with Nodoka! Oh shit, who do I cheer for?
- SHIZU IS ON FIIIIIIIIIRE!
- Hahahahah, she just keeps burning in the background while Kuro and Ako talk. :sd:
- So now Achiga is gonna like... raid all the other strong dojos mahjong clubs as practice for the Nationals. This should be fun. First up is...?

- RYUUMONBUCHIIIIIII!!!!!!! <3 <3 Touka! Hajime! And THE KOROMOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
- Hahah oh wow, Koromo renders Shizuno an empty shell of a girl like it's nothing.
- "The moon isn't out." :sd: Shizuno is getting a crash course in the supernatural mahjong the schools of the mains storyline play.
- Awwwww, that went by too fast. Looks like none of the other second place schools were a match for Achiga, but Nagano prefecture is just full of monsters.

- Training camp! Onsen! Naked!
- Haha, there's funny-faced girl.
- Oooh can I ship Ako x Hatsuse now? (but I'll ship Ako x Shizu harder)
- Man I really adore Yuuki Aoi's performance as Shizuno. She's such a bundle of adorable energy.
- A girl staring at the ocean. She looks like... Yes! The girls from the OP who fall into each other's arms! Toki and Ryuuka. =D
- Oh fuck yeah Ryuuka is Ishihara Kaori's character! <3 <3 And Toki is Oogura Yui's. YUIKAORI きたーーーーーーーーーーーー！！！

- And we're in Tokyo! Time to divide up the rooms. Well this is easy, they pair off pretty readily. Arata and Harue, Shizu and Ako, and the Matsumi sisters.
- Arata is the team captain? Makes sense, she's pretty level-headed. Ako could easily have been it too though.

Right at the end, we meet... The Mahjong Demon, The Walking Murder Aura, The Blackest Evil, Miyanaga Saki! Heh it's funny seeing Saki depicted as this insurmountable powerhouse monster after knowing how lacking in confidence and experience she was at the start of the first season.

Holy shit that was an amazing episode. It advanced the story by leaps and bounds and managed to be fast paced, not badly paced (an important distinction), and now we're at the Nationals!

This is going to be fucking awesome.

[something]

It is a bit like Canasta and other card games as I thought. But the points system and all the terminology is just making it so much harder to follow.
Your best bet: don't try! I attempted to understand the game for like 2 episodes and then threw that out the window and just enjoyed the insanity.


As for this show generally: I... I can't believe I didn't rally grasp what this is. These Nationals... it's the Nationals we spend two cour watching the Kiyosumi crew desperately fight their way to get to. They're here now. This is where the first season would pick up.

But... we're seeing it through the eyes of a completely different school. So, wait, did we watch Kiyosumi get to the Nationals just so they can be beaten by Achiga? Or will we really watch Achiga lose in the end? Or will Side-A end before the nationals are over and the main storyline will pick up whenever the main Saki anime does? Or is the main storyline over? Or or or... I mean hell, you can't call it a spinoff when it's the climax event the entire original manga was building towards! o_O

What was I expecting, though? Thinking back, I don't know I thought much about it. I guess I had a very vague expectation that they'd all meet Nodoka at some other tournament, something important but less than the Nationals, and it would have no lasting impact on the parent storyline. That must have been what I expected.

I don't actually want answers/spoilers for any of these questions, I'm just WTFing out loud. But man, now that I'm actually think about it this is kind of a mindfuck, and a really fascinating narrative choice. Even so, how weird. I have to think that of the above options "Kiyosumi beats Achiga" is the only option, but then what is left for the main Saki storyline if they win the Nationals as side characters in another school's anime? ::head hurts::

[ultimatemegax]

- Awww fuck yeah, it's time for SUPERNATURAL MAHJONG!!! Go go Ako!
- Wow that was fast. Kuro just crushes everyone.
- o_O wut? All this time spent building up Bansei and Achiga takes them out in the first round in about 2 minutes of episode time? Holy shit, these girls don't fuck around.
- Hahahah um, double wow, the entire prefectural tournament is over. Holy fuck. We're going to the nationals already.
Remember that Achiga was training solely to beat Bansei. Bansei had no differences from their usual styles. Once Achiga beat them, the rest of the prefecture had no chance. Since this is Saki, obvious matches either get skipped or fast-forwarded. It was a good fake-out though.


- RYUUMONBUCHIIIIIII!!!!!!! <3 <3 Touka! Hajime! And THE KOROMOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
- Hahah oh wow, Koromo renders Shizuno an empty shell of a girl like it's nothing.
- "The moon isn't out." :sd: Shizuno is getting a crash course in the supernatural mahjong the schools of the mains storyline play.
- Awwwww, that went by too fast. Looks like none of the other second place schools were a match for Achiga, but Nagano prefecture is just full of monsters.
Remember how I said there was a big spoiler in the TV-Tokyo summary? It literally said "Achiga goes to face Ryuumonbuchi." That in conjunction with Kaori's tweet announcing her return to the franchise and the Ryuumonbuchi characters being placed on the website had me worried someone would post spoilers in here. It was worth all of that stress to see your reaction to their appearance. Nagano is a really strong prefecture.

- A girl staring at the ocean. She looks like... Yes! The girls from the OP who fall into each other's arms! Toki and Ryuuka. =D
- Oh fuck yeah Ryuuka is Ishihara Kaori's character! <3 <3 And Toki is Oogura Yui's. YUIKAORI きたーーーーーーーーーーーー！！！
Toki and Ryuuka are such a wonderful pair. Can't wait to see more of them.

Right at the end, we meet... The Mahjong Demon, The Walking Murder Aura, The Blackest Evil, Miyanaga Saki! Heh it's funny seeing Saki depicted as this insurmountable powerhouse monster after knowing how lacking in confidence and experience she was at the start of the first season.
The main heroine from the first series (and somewhat title character of this series too) is now the main villain. It's a great twist on the franchise and I love that. Shizuno and Saki will have to fight for Nodoka! (perhaps, who knows?) I'm sure you subconciously caught this, but I'll spoiler tag why Saki's skirt looks different: She woke late and accidentally grabbed one of Mako's skirts. (Seriously, that is such a minor spoiler. It means absolutely nothing different in the franchise)

Holy shit that was an amazing episode. It advanced the story by leaps and bounds and managed to be fast paced, not badly paced (an important distinction), and now we're at the Nationals!

This is going to be fucking awesome.
I love how you put "fast paced, not badly paced" as that's a big distinction not a lot of viewers are getting. Achiga had two main goals to achieve as a franchise. 1. Carry the anime franchise while Ritz finishes the main series. You'll be able to guess the second goal before the end of the series.

Really glad you loved this episode as much as I did. What did you think of Achiga's "serious ending"?

I don't actually want answers/spoilers for any of these questions, I'm just WTFing out loud. But man, now that I'm actually think about it this is kind of a mindfuck, and a really fascinating narrative choice. Even so, how weird. I have to think that of the above options "Kiyosumi beats Achiga" is the only option, but then what is left for the main Saki storyline if they win the Nationals as side characters in another school's anime? ::head hurts::

Not going to give you an answer to anything, but I'll say that I was thinking along the same lines at this point in the manga. I'll add that it'll make sense later for everything.

[Fencedude]

I don't actually want answers/spoilers for any of these questions, I'm just WTFing out loud. But man, now that I'm actually think about it this is kind of a mindfuck, and a really fascinating narrative choice. Even so, how weird. I have to think that of the above options "Kiyosumi beats Achiga" is the only option, but then what is left for the main Saki storyline if they win the Nationals as side characters in another school's anime? ::head hurts::

This should make much more sense when they explain how the Nationals are arranged.

[something]

What did you think of Achiga's "serious ending"?
Pretty nice song, and I won't mind seeing it from time to time. Saki had its own mix of serious and chibi EDs, so it makes sense to continue that here. Chibi ED is still best ED though.

As for the format of the nationals, guess I'll have to wait and see. Anything that lets us get a great, meaningful ending here without killing off the chance of a sequel to the main storyline is good news to me.

[Damius]

- Mini-Nodoka! Wow! She sure has boobs already.
- I love this show already.
- Nodoka’s oppai are already quite popular.
- Akado-sensei is leaving ;_;
- Ako leaves. Nodoka will leave soon… Shizu will be all alone ;_;
- Ako, Kuro and Shizu form the new mahjong club!!!
- What was Nodoka wearing after the ED?! I approve 100%.

Wow, what a wonderful episode. What a fantastic way to introduce the new crew. Nodoka had the perfect role. This is decided, spot #2 for import is this show.

[HitokiriShadow]

Fuck yeah! Forget the prefecturals (which the show pretty much did, and rightfully so), they play againt fucking Ryuumonbuchi!

Touka! Hajime!! Kooroomoooooo!

Then we meet the yuri-yuri 100% girls from the OP.

And then DEMON SAKI.

Also, thank Saki Achiga-hen for the gratuitous Yuuki Aoi voice porn.

[ultimatemegax]

And so now you know why it's called "Side-A." Since they went through the bracket so fast, I've made a translated version (http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg4/ultimatemegax/sakinationalsmapfinal.jpg) (with prefecture map) from the manga version. This shouldn't be considered a spoiler since the bracket was shown in this episode.

I was truly shocked by the inclusion of the first series characters. Those bits weren't included in the Achiga manga, so I'm glad to see something added to the anime. I was also happy to hear from Yuki Matsuoka to keep the Haruhi commentator streak going into Nationals.

They skipped over more of the first match than the manga did, but the mode was mostly the same (via Senriyama's hotel room). Poor Toki. Ryuuka stopped paying attention to you once she saw Kuro. I fear what she'll do to Kuro next episode as payback.

And so now we have reached the point the first four episodes were leading up to: the Senriyama match. Time for the mahjong to truly start.

[Fencedude]

Ryuuka really likes Kuro!

Toki does not like that Ryuuka likes Kuro.

Also, we learn that Shizu really doesn't wear anything under that jacket.

[something]

Episode 4:

- Kiyosumiiiiiiiiii!!!

- Sleepy Shizu is extra adorable.
- Oh shit, Achiga has to play against Teru. But... Teru is more or less Saki's rival. Huh.

- Yuuki and Nodoka in the bath~
- Ikedaaaaa!! <3 Why is this show only one cour? I need more of these girls. Mooooooooore.
- lol Kyou-chan, I barely even remembered him.
- Non-demonic Saki. I like that non-Achiga characters are getting scenes outside of any interaction with Achiga.

- First match! Go go Kuro! Kuro vs Lightning Eyebrows vs Samurai vs... hat girl.
- Time for lots of mahjongbabble that I won't be paying attention to! Also time for dumb CG hands but oh well, nothing's perfect.
- Hahaha, Kuro has this really sweet reminiscing thing going on and BAM, someone does a thing. A thing that gets them points.
- Silly face girl is watching, Kuro! Don't lose!
- Ahahah, I love Matsuoka Yui as the analyst. Tsuruya-saaaaan! I remember the main series having really fun announcers too.
- ALL YOUR DORAS ARE KURO'S!
- Kuro is beloved of dragons!
- Man. Kuro just destroys people. But all in all this was pretty tame for a Saki match. Less special effects and superpowers. Maybe that's just not Achiga-hen's style.

- Ooooh, the YuiKaori girls are close again. <3
- Haha, Ryuuka's first thought it, just bathe together! Too bad they didn't go for it.
- Ffffffff, Ryuuka and Toki are one of the cutest couples in the franchise.
- And Achiga wins, of course, so they're up against Senriyama.

- I love how Shizu wears nothing under her jacket thing. Top or bottom.
- So we're in the second round already. This show must be saving a lot of time for the last round or two.

Oh god. Toki is just going to steamroll poor Kuro, isn't she?

Why is it over? Why can't the episodes each be 9 hours long? ;_; I can't wait to import the hell out of this show.

[something]

And so now you know why it's called "Side-A." Since they went through the bracket so fast, I've made a translated version (http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg4/ultimatemegax/sakinationalsmapfinal.jpg) (with prefecture map) from the manga version. This shouldn't be considered a spoiler since the bracket was shown in this episode.
I guess we can assume the finals will be Achiga, Shiraitodai, Kiyosumi and someotherschool. But... in this season? Hm.

[Fencedude]

I guess we can assume the finals will be Achiga, Shiraitodai, Kiyosumi and someotherschool. But... in this season? Hm.

The finals will be in the main Saki manga.

Achiga-hen is actually in the final Side-A round right now, and will presumably end roughly when the anime does. The main manga is actually a bit behind Achiga-hen, at the moment.

But the finals will be in the main Saki manga for sure.

I'd guess that the Achiga-hen anime will spend the next four episodes on the second round, and then the four after that on the third round.

Here is another look at the Brackets (http://fencedude.com/Saki/SakiBrackets.jpg), disregarding the first round. My guess is that the finals will consist of Achiga and Shiraitodai from Side A and Kiyosumi and Rinkai from Group B. That would put in the two main schools, along with the first (Shiraitodai) and second (Rinkai) seeds.

But we'll see.

[something]

I'd guess that the Achiga-hen anime will spend the next four episodes on the second round, and then the four after that on the third round.
I'd also be really shocked if they wrapped things up here, but I'm also wondering how the heck you end a show stopping before the finals. They better announce a Saki 2 ASAP in that case because man I would hate to be left hanging. There's no guarantee Achiga-hen is going to see especially high sales or anything. I'm not gonna be shocked if it drops by half on the main series and does like 4k.

[Damius]

The only problem with Arata is that she reminds me of Arata from Chihayafuru. >_> But this one is so much better. <3

Yeah, the same happened to me. But I'm sure I will forget the one from Chihayafuru fast enough.

[Damius]

- I can’t wait to see your game with Nodoka.
- Yu-nee is adorable the first second I saw her. Thank you kotatsu you helped it that scene.
- Yu-nee joins the team. Awesomeness.
- Arata joins too. Double awesomeness.
- Arata's face when she realizes Harue is just behind her in the mahjong club was epic.
- It starts!

I will definitely support this show!

[HitokiriShadow]

Oh god, Ryuuka is hilarious. She's really, really hyper and happy, not at all what I expected her to be like after meeting her last time.

The whole Senriyama team is a lot of fun. And they all have iPads (well, I guess they might come with the room). I think this is the first time I've even seen a tablet computer in an anime.

I was expecting Kuro to face Ryuuka after that "Dragon Road" comment and Ryuuka having the "dragon" kanji in her name, but she's facing Toki instead. Kuro ain't gonna win this one. Actually, it wouldn't surprise me if Achiga gets slaughtered. Maybe the second round is different, but in the first round, it was possible to win a match and then still advance to the next round. Achiga's been breezing through up to this point, so a total loss would make some narrative sense and then it could set up for a re-match.

Also, Shizuno waking up was adorable. Delayed brain-cell activation for the win.

And I love the kimono announcer.


Dammit, why do we only get one cour of this? WHYYY?!? ;_;

[HitokiriShadow]

Also, we learn that Shizu really doesn't wear anything under that jacket.

Ha, that's right. I didn't really think of the implications of what I saw (though I did rewatch that zip-up scene.... ) at the time. But this episode proves that that jacket is the only piece of clothing she's wearing.

[William K]

Oh god, Ryuuka is hilarious. She's really, really hyper and happy, not at all what I expected her to be like after meeting her last time.

Considering who her seiyuu is, I expect Ryuuka to do a Maru after she wins a game :)

[strangefour]

-Saki the Monster!
-Girls wake up with bedhead and I can not tell them apart. they all have middling length hair with pink shading.
-Random loli and giant boobs bathing.
-The Monster does laundry.
-The cutest girl gets another line! OωO

-Color commentary girl is weird in an amusing way.
-Dragons love Kuro.
-Meanwhile lesbians with Ipads.
-She doesn't wear anything under that jersey... The power of secret nudity allows her to win?

Cute girls playing confusing mahjong. Odd how only about half this episode was about the main characters. Maybe even less.

[elior]

toki won in the first round with her abillity to predict one turn ahead and achiga lost lot of points in the first round

[Fencedude]

Oh wow, Kuro got smashed.

But...oh god Ryuuka and Toki. MY HEART

And we got to see Yuu-nee acting cool, for her imouto. Go for it Yuu, avenge your sister!

[something]

Episode 5:

- Yaaaaay, Toki and Ryuuka backstory. Damn they're such a cute couple.
- Funny face girl is back!

- Ah, so the top two advance here. Yeah Achiga is definitely not winning this round but they will get second.
- KURO IS ADORABLE! Hanazawa's little excited breathing noises are tooooo cute.
- Toki calls riichi. HIDE YOUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN!
- Toki sees the future! Toki is kicking your asses! Oh man now we're getting into the awesome supernatural mahjong that's been missing so far.
- Oh wow, Achiga is waaaay down there. Poor Kuro. ;_;
- And Toki leaves behind the shattered remains of what were once high school girls. Toki is scary.

- Awwwwww ;_; Yuu-nee is going to console her cute imouto. Go go Yuu!
- Awwwwwwwwwww, Kuro and Yuu's scene made me cry. Yuu, you're such a good onee-chan. <3 Go get those points back! Avenge your cute imouto!
- Up next is Izumi, Yuu, and the two cannon fodder schools.

GO GO ONEE-CHAN!!!!!!!! Tear them apart!

And yay adorable chibi ED again.

I love this show so much <3 <3

[ultimatemegax]

- Awwwwww ;_; Yuu-nee is going to console her cute imouto. Go go Yuu!
- Awwwwwwwwwww, Kuro and Yuu's scene made me cry. Yuu, you're such a good onee-chan. <3 Go get those points back! Avenge your cute imouto!
- Up next is Izumi, Yuu, and the two cannon fodder schools.

GO GO ONEE-CHAN!!!!!!!! Tear them apart!

When you hurt the imouto, the gloves come off (http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg4/ultimatemegax/achiga0002.jpg)!

Seriously, this episode shows why Yuu is my favorite member of the Achiga team. None of the other members could've cheered up Kuro like she did. It really shows why she's called 宥 (kanji for sooth/calm). Now for Onee-chan to recover the points her sister lost!

[Damius]

- They still ignore Harue.
- Bansei in the first round… Ouch… But, you can win!
- I don’t even know anything about the game and I enjoy watching it… This is magic!
- Yuu is so cute with Harue’s scarf.
- And Achigo won, so fast!
- Kiyosumi High’s debut! ^__^
- Shizu is literally on fire.
- Yuu is too funny.
- Oh, meeting characters from the main series again. Love it.
- Onsen! And they are all naked.
- Yuu will always keep her scarf on her. ^__^
- Welp, Good luck at the Nationals.
- Tokyo. That means it will start soon…
- They run into Saki! It was special to see the alternative side for it. Side A, I guess.

What an incredible episode… Love it so much. They definitely skip where I wanted them to. Well done. Now, let's see how they will deal with the Nationals.

[mellowrg2]

I miss all the ultra dramatic richi calls from the first season of Saki

This episode made me feel at home

anyway,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoRaPg1tmoE

[Fencedude]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoRaPg1tmoE

Hah, Side-B anime.

[something]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoRaPg1tmoE
Hah, Side-B anime.
I totally thought Harue's character intro was going to be matched up with Kyou-chan. Just to make Kyou-chan look even more pathetic.

[Fencedude]

I totally thought Harue's character intro was going to be matched up with Kyou-chan. Just to make Kyou-chan look even more pathetic.

It does make me realize that the Kiyosumi Mahjong Club doesn't seem to have a coach or adviser.

I guess its just lol Hisa.

[HitokiriShadow]

Now we finally get the kind of thrilling mahjong match Saki is known for. And unsurprisingly, it results in Kuro's loss. She gets absolutely crushed.

Yuu gets to go next and will (hopefully) get revenge for her sister. But first, she gets a rare chance to be a good Onee-chan for Kuro.

Yay for some Toki/Ryuuka backstory. And we learn that Senriyama has experience going up against Teru Miyanaga though apparently not directly by any of their current players.

[strangefour]

-"Will you go out with me? ... to the mahjong nationals." *cough*
-The main character always arrives late! You didn't miss anything important cutest girl. I want this series to end fast so we can get to the next generation and cutest girl is the new lead.

Damn it Windows Update. Why do you have to pick when I have time to watch anime to update. Update by yourself sucking most of my bandwidth and I can't shut you off.

-So lesbians are psychic-ish.
-The dragon is defeated by the power of Lesbos.
-Kuro might be sad but Yuu is all fired up.
-I guess using mutant lesbian mind reading abilities wear you out. Atleast she gets some booty for her effort.
-Kamen Rider Yuu-chan?

Side A is cute girls doing cute stuff but watching the original show at the same time... well the old show is more fun. Even if the hyperactive loli can be annoying. All the characters manage to stand out as different people. Here it's girl with no underwear, girl who shivers, girl who um, other girl who is uh, and girl who always fades into the background but might have a lesbian crush on their coach. Seeing all these girls from other teams at the same time isn't helping them any. What with Team Lesbian Stereotypes, Team Might Be Chinese Ghosts with a half black girl and Team uh okay the fourth group are even more bland than the leads.

[elior]

episode 6 was great yuu was awesome even if she didn't take all achiga points back and ako was great with her fast play.next episode it arata turn

[Fencedude]

Yuu gets to act like an Onee-chan very rarely, but she's so cute when she does it.

Her gathering of "warm" tiles is an interesting ability.

And then Ako just tears shit up. Fuck yeah Ako. Nice to see Hatsuse rooting for her, after the tournament she should just confess already.

[superdry]

That was pretty exciting.

At least Yuu was smart enough to change up her style of play mid-game unlike her sister.

Ako, on the other hand, was fast. Fast players always annoyed the hell out of me playing MJ in real-life due to the fact that most of the time, a fast winning hand yielded you, relatively, a small amount of points.

[something]

Episode 6:

- Awww, Kuro was always protecting her onee-chan when they were young. Now onee-chan will return the favor! I looooooove their sisterly relationship.
- Heh. They're wondering why Yuu gets certain tiles so much, but it just comes down to certain colors seeming "warmer" to her. XD
- The Matsumi sisters are very, very vulnerabel to people figuring out their playstyles. C'mon Yuu, kick some ass!
- Fucking love Yuu's expresive scarf.
- Alright, Yuu didn't score a lot of points, but she still gained like 10k or soand didn't fall any farher behind. I assume up next is Ako.
- Yay it is.

- Haha, poor Sera.
- Awwww, Hatsuse is gonna watch Ako's match. She looks really really nice in casual clothes.
- Fuck yeah Ako! And huh, the announcer says Ako is their best player. Well, I guess that's true, she is the one that could have gone to Bansei.
- Heh I feel kinda bad for Kentani. They're so... normal.
- Wow, Ako is ust tearing them all up.
- Hah, and it becomes a two school match basically.

Next time, Arata!

One episode a week isn't nearly enough. ;_;

[Damius]

And so now you know why it's called "Side-A." Since they went through the bracket so fast, I've made a translated version (http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg4/ultimatemegax/sakinationalsmapfinal.jpg) (with prefecture map) from the manga version. This shouldn't be considered a spoiler since the bracket was shown in this episode.

Thanks for that.

I was truly shocked by the inclusion of the first series characters. Those bits weren't included in the Achiga manga, so I'm glad to see something added to the anime. I was also happy to hear from Yuki Matsuoka to keep the Haruhi commentator streak going into Nationals.

Oh really? Well, thanks a lot to the anime to have include them. I agree 1000%.

[Damius]

- Before going pro, Harue want to see these girls through. I definitely want it too.
- Yuuki and Nodoka bath scene. Awesomeness.
- And Ideaka as well… Wow….
- And we see “normal” Saki. Can I ask for more?
- I hope they are ready. You can do it. Good luck. It’s time for the first match.
- Nicely played Kuro.
- Kuro is definitely a dragon.
- Cheering for your next opponent? Why not.
- We all knew it, but I still need to say it. Achiga wins!
- Achiga will not be a match for you? You should not talk too fast.

Wow…fantastic…can’t wait for next week. Awesome series. One cour is way too short for this show…

[strangefour]

-Yuu-chan, now available in mega moe mini form.
-Yuu-chan wins with the power of warm colors.
-Umo~
-Otome Mode Henshin!
-Hello cutest girl!
-Is that the fourth girl from the first episode? I don't remember what she looked like.
-Good luck Arata.
-Yay chibi ending~

Those turns went by fast. I was expecting something flashier out of Yuu. I guess she needs to warm up in the continuing rounds.

[something]

-Is that the fourth girl from the first episode? I don't remember what she looked like.
Hatsuse? She's the girl who got mad at Ako for not going to Bansei, if that's what you mean. They argued in the parking lot of a convenience store in an early ep. She went to Ako's middle school.

[ultimatemegax]

According to the official blog (http://www.saki-anime.com/blog/information/post_413/), next week's episode will be delayed due to conflicts with other programming on TV Tokyo. The other stations are delaying it as well, so episode 8 will probably be aired on 2012/06/03.

[HitokiriShadow]

So, no huge victory by Yuu, just a slight closing of the gap that Kuro's loss created. They're still behind by a lot.

Then Ako gets to kick some ass and get them up to second place... which means they have about half the points Senriyama does. They didn't spend much time on Ako compared to Kuro and Yuu, so I guess Ako will get her intense match next time.

So I assume next time Arata will smash Senriyama (which will be awesome), taking off a large chunk of Senriyama's points and bringing them really close, leaving it to Shizuno to barely lose the match in the final round.

I'm looking forward to seeing Hiyori play, she's certainly one of the more amusing members of Senriyama.

[Fencedude]

STEALTH MOMO!!!!!!!!!!

FUCK YEAH! And bonus WAHAHA

And oh god Teru is terrifying when she's being nice. lol Nakahara Mai.

Unfortunately, episode 8 will be delayed for a week.

[something]

Episode 7:

- Arataaaaaaa!!!!!! Glooooooove!
- Toki's head is almost permanently attached to Ryuuka's lap. <3
- Heh. Tamago from Koshigaya makes me think of a Pokemon human character design.
- "Riichi de!" Yuuuka is fun.
- Damn, 24k right off the bat.
- Mahjong bowling! Arata closes the gap. They lose second, but gain a lot of points. It's Koshigaya who gets absolutely crushed.

- Go go Shizu! Use the power of your lack of undergarments!
- ...Well that's not off to a good start.
- Ohhh right Ryuuka is up.
- Sorry Kentani. I like you and your tea ceremony mahjong club, but you must be sacrificed for the greater good of Achiga!
- Yaaaaaaay, Shizu did a thing, and it was good! Achiga goes up against Senriyama again now.
- And Hiroko likes Arata... she wants to "experiment" with her. =D

- Yes, it's good you moved ahead, Achiga, but you did like by 90k...
- And Shiraitodai is coming up!
- o_O Smiley happy Teru! My brain... did we see her do this in main Saki at all? :sd:
- Harue is super tense.
- And Shizu is super HUNGRY! RAAAAAAAAAMEEEEEEEEEEN!
- Yay, all the girls in their casual clothes again. Ako is especially awesome in her outfit (Ako is definitely the hottest Achiga girl), and I like Arata's striped sleeves. Shizu as usual is barely clothed.
- C'mon girls, have some faith in Harue. Well other that Arata, who already does.
- SUDDENLY STEALTH MOMO! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- And there's Wahaha-tan! I am... I am so happy right now. ;_;
- "Are you friends with Oppai-san?" XD

...wahaha.

You have no idea how desperately I want this show to be two cour. We would have so much more time for the matches, and still ample time for the non-mahjong moments like this too.

But serious, oh god I love Momo. So much.

[William K]

I like how Side A is giving cameos to all the Nagano finalist schools. More Stealth Momo is always good and next episode looks like the return of Mihoko! They haven't mentioned it but there's also the individual event where Mihoko, Saki and Nodoka are representing Nagano.

I'm guessing none of the Achiga girls are playing in the individuals. As much as I like them, I just don't see them beating Shiraitodai and Senriyama with their current skills.

Unfortunately, episode 8 will be delayed for a week.

Maybe it'll give more time to Kobayashi Ritz to finish the main Saki manga. I wish she could write/draw faster though, since she is obviously very gifted at creating quirky yet memorable characters. I mean, I can still remember the girls in the first season who stole Nodoka's penguin... Saki has overtaken Negima as the show with most female characters and is probably getting close to the Strike Witches and Touhou levels. And we have yet to meet the final team in the Side A semis. Plus 3 more teams in the Side B semis along with Kiyosumi.

[Fencedude]

You know, Shizu's ability, such as it is, is pretty good for Achiga. She's absolutely immune to despair. Even Koromo couldn't bring her down.

...now I want to cross over Achiga and Madoka Magica...

[JackW]

Maybe it'll give more time to Kobayashi Ritz to finish the main Saki manga. I wish she could write/draw faster though, since she is obviously very gifted at creating quirky yet memorable characters.

Given that the current quarter-final game in the Saki manga has now been running for one and a half years, I don't think a week is going to make an awful lot of difference! At the current rate of progress, expect the Finals to start sometime in 2014.

[Damius]

- Really nice to have some Toki/Ryuuka backstory before the match.
- It’s time for the match now.
- They still do some backstory during the match and we even have younger Nodoka again.
- Supernatural mahjong is back!!
- Kuro…64000 points… I’m so sad for her…
- Yeah, Yuu-nee, Kuro definitely needs you now.
- Yuu-nee, you definitely did it quite well. Arigato.
- Good luck Yuu-nee…You can definitely win!

The wait for next week will be hard. This show is fantastic and I love it quite a lot. Normally, I would not have import this show for the simple reason that I didn’t buy the first season (and now regret a lot even if the video was not that good), but my love for this show is so big that it killed my “completionist issues”. I don’t want to miss it for sure. I’m still sad to not own first season though.

[strangefour]

-Bowler vs Scientist vs Hopping Ghost vs AMERICA! (Well some flavor of foreigner.)
-That didn't go very well. And why is the Superman theme starting?
-Unleash the NO PAN!
-Yes the tile she needs now she can wi-- wait she's not winning. Why isn't she taking that discarded tile? I do not understand anything about this damn game.

-They came in second. Somehow. Barely.
-Their chances at the nationals are abysmal.
-RAMEN! (Now I'm hungry.)
-G-g-g-g-ghost boobs Scoob!

Mahjong makes less sense every episode. Why are all the other teams more interesting? And why the hell does a first year have a cloaking device?

[ndm]

she taking that discarded tile? I do not understand anything about this damn game.


I don't pretend to understand mahjong scoring, but purely from watching Saki I believe the points they get for winning relate to how common their hand is, plus if they win by taking someone's discarded tile they subtract double(?) points from that person. That's what the whole "x/2x points" thing they keep saying is about. Shizu could have won by taking the earlier tile, but they would have ended up third. By waiting she was able to score off the team in front of her (who thought it was okay to discard the tile she did because no-one claimed the tile from the previous round) and take enough points off the team in second place to overtake them.

[William K]

she taking that discarded tile? I do not understand anything about this damn game.


I don't pretend to understand mahjong scoring, but purely from watching Saki I believe the points they get for winning relate to how common their hand is, plus if they win by taking someone's discarded tile they subtract double(?) points from that person. That's what the whole "x/2x points" thing they keep saying is about. Shizu could have won by taking the earlier tile, but they would have ended up third. By waiting she was able to score off the team in front of her (who thought it was okay to discard the tile she did because no-one claimed the tile from the previous round) and take enough points off the team in second place to overtake them.

Errr, not quite. There are 2 ways of winning

i) You draw the winning tile yourself. This is called tsumo. You get points from everyone including double from the person who is East during that turn. This is the x/2x (or close to) you mentioned. If you are also East when you tsumo, then everyone pays the 2x, so it's the "8000 all" or 24,000 like what the Kentani player got in the first match.

ii) Someone else discards the winning tile. This is "ron". In this case, you only get points from the person who discarded the tile.

In the case of Shizu, she was about 12,000 points behind Yuuka and her hand would only score her 6,400 points. If she had won off the other player, she would still be about 6,000 points short. She had to win from Yuuka's discard so that she gains 6,400 points and Kentani loses the 6,400 points, making it a 12,800 point change between the 2 teams.

Hope that helps somewhat :)

[strangefour]

she taking that discarded tile? I do not understand anything about this damn game.


I don't pretend to understand mahjong scoring, but purely from watching Saki I believe the points they get for winning relate to how common their hand is, plus if they win by taking someone's discarded tile they subtract double(?) points from that person. That's what the whole "x/2x points" thing they keep saying is about. Shizu could have won by taking the earlier tile, but they would have ended up third. By waiting she was able to score off the team in front of her (who thought it was okay to discard the tile she did because no-one claimed the tile from the previous round) and take enough points off the team in second place to overtake them.

Errr, not quite. There are 2 ways of winning

i) You draw the winning tile yourself. This is called tsumo. You get points from everyone including double from the person who is East during that turn. This is the x/2x (or close to) you mentioned. If you are also East when you tsumo, then everyone pays the 2x, so it's the "8000 all" or 24,000 like what the Kentani player got in the first match.

ii) Someone else discards the winning tile. This is "ron". In this case, you only get points from the person who discarded the tile.

In the case of Shizu, she was about 12,000 points behind Yuuka and her hand would only score her 6,400 points. If she had won off the other player, she would still be about 6,000 points short. She had to win from Yuuka's discard so that she gains 6,400 points and Kentani loses the 6,400 points, making it a 12,800 point change between the 2 teams.

Hope that helps somewhat :)

Oh. I'd been wondering why they list double numbers all the time. Would have been nice of this show, or the first Saki which I'm also finally watching, to ever explain how that worked. So you can target the player with the most points, not just try to get the best hand. There is a whole level of strategy I was not privy to for 20 combined episodes watched.

[something]

Oh. I'd been wondering why they list double numbers all the time. Would have been nice of this show, or the first Saki which I'm also finally watching, to ever explain how that worked. So you can target the player with the most points, not just try to get the best hand. There is a whole level of strategy I was not privy to for 20 combined episodes watched.
I remember CR having a bunch of TL notes explaining stuff. I just didn't much any attention to them since all I needed to know was Points = Good.

[HitokiriShadow]

ZOMG, Stealth Momo! And they actually call her that, too.

The Akado-sensei drama seems unnecessary, but I'll forgive it since they gave us Stealth Momo.

The episode rushed through Arata and Shizuno's matches, barely showing anything at all of Arata's match and only the last hand of Shizuno's. I guess its necessary to give a decent amount of time for the semi-final match against Shiraitodai but its still disappointing. There's just no time for the matches to get tense, exciting or interesting. It's not possible to do that when the entire match takes less than five minutes.

This desperately, desperately needed to be two cour. Five episodes seems like barely enough time for the semi-final. The original Saki spent nearly that long on the Kuromo match alone.

[something]

This desperately, desperately needed to be two cour. Five episodes seems like barely enough time for the semi-final. The original Saki spent nearly that long on the Kuromo match alone.
Yep, exactly my sentiment as well. I absolutely love Achiga-hen, right now it's probably my #3 or #4 of the year, but the mahjong games just do not compare to Saki. We're covering significantly more material in one cour than Saki covered in two, and the games get cut short, which means limited crazy mahjong powers.

This really makes it obvious how easily it could have filled two cour. But I wonder if it just wouldn't have been profitable to do so.

[mellowrg2]

ZOMG, Stealth Momo! And they actually call her that, too.

The Akado-sensei drama seems unnecessary, but I'll forgive it since they gave us Stealth Momo.

The episode rushed through Arata and Shizuno's matches, barely showing anything at all of Arata's match and only the last hand of Shizuno's. I guess its necessary to give a decent amount of time for the semi-final match against Shiraitodai but its still disappointing. There's just no time for the matches to get tense, exciting or interesting. It's not possible to do that when the entire match takes less than five minutes.

This desperately, desperately needed to be two cour. Five episodes seems like barely enough time for the semi-final. The original Saki spent nearly that long on the Kuromo match alone.

If Teru knocks someone bellow zero points than that's it for the semi-finals.

They wouldn't even need to proceed to the other matches.

That was not a spoiler, btw. I'm just saying that this kind of ruthless victory that denies other players from having a match is allowed in the national tournament.

[Damius]

- How could they do that to Yuu… Thanks for saving her Kuro.
- Indeed Yuu, you will get the points back.
- “So many warm tiles” Oh, she is so adorable.
- 12 000 points. Well played Yuu.
- It’s Ako turn.
- Sera is definitely embarrassed…
- Nice to see you again Hatsuse.
- Way to go Ako. Arata, you can do it!

This show is so awesome...

[something]

http://0taku.livedoor.biz/archives/4208233.html

The title is implying that there's a possibility this is split cour, however I cannot read enough of the interview posted there to know what that's actually being based on. Can anyone else?

I personally don't see how they could make this split cour at this point and still focus on Achiga, because they can't go beyond the Side-A matches, and they've already flown through heaps of story at light speed. If they intended two cour for Achiga-hen, they could have taken far more time on the mahjong matches so far and not practically teleported straight to the Nationals in a matter of a few episodes.

As much as I would kill for this to be split cour - even at this point, I mean hey any time it wants to slow down or cover things in more detail is fine by me! - it has not been paced even remotely like a two cour show so far. So I'm curious if someone is just engaging in a rather fervent bit of wishful thinking here, or if there's something really telling in that interview after all.

[William K]

Someone who can read Japanese better can correct me, but I think it's more speculation based on the answer to the last 'question' which mentioned that from Ep 9 on it's the semifinals match. The answer refers to the fact that once the first match which has Teru, Kuro, Toki and a new character finishes, they would have caught up with the Side-A manga. There is also the sentence where he says that the fun mahjong and character drama will be combined which I guess means longer, slower matches like the first season.

The speculation is, will they be able to finish all 5 matches by the end of the 13(?) episodes? Of course as mellowrg2 mentions above the semifinals could end with 1 school knocked down to 0 points.

[Fencedude]

And we're back!

Oh god. Kirame is voiced by Arai Satomi. MY BODY WAS NOT READY.

Lots of fun seeing the old cast again, and seeing some of the classic powers in action. And we got a bit of a preview of characters who will be important when the individuals start.

We also get a new pair of announcers, one of whom is the girl who defeated Harue 10 years ago...

NEXT WEEK

TERU TIME BEGINS

[JackW]

After a 'training session' like that I'm surprised they didn't just pack their bags and go home.

What a cruel tournament it is. "Congratulations on coming second despite being utterly crushed by Toki. Here's your consolation prize: you get to play her again. Oh yeah, and Teru.

Still, maybe they can take a few points off Kuroko.

[something]

Episode 8:

- Wahaha. Wahaha.
- Yumiiiii!!!! Momo is so happy to see her. =D
- MIHOKOOOO!!!!!!!! CAPTAAAAAAAIIIIN!!!!!
- And there's Kana again. <3 <3 Where is my Upotte/Saki Kana/Galil spinoff?

- The Matsumi sisters get a lesson in being to predictable. And Shizu falls to a stealth attack from Stealth Momo!
- Oh god poor Ako. She's up against the most dangerous one of all.
- Wahaha. I think she has about as many facial expressions as QB.
- I am filled with indescribable joy every time I see a first season character. I love them all so much.
- Wahaha.

- A little taste of Side-B while the girls train. Yuuki! She's a Taco Superhero.
- Achiga sure found some odd ones to train with.
- And the Side-B semifinals are decided. Heh, I like the tease. Now hurry up and announce a main series sequel!

- Oh Harue, this is a bad time to be hands off. But she doesn't know what they overheard, so she doesn't know how they'll interpret this.
- Naked Ako. <3 <3
- Awesome, Shizu finds out that Harue has not in fact given up on them at all. I'm glad this happened very quicky with a minimum of angst. Yay!
- GO GO ACHIGA! Get fired up and win! ...Although I guess I can't root for you to go all the way. Or hell maybe I can! I'm so conflicted.

- The other announcer pair, yay.
- Hooray, Shindouji has bouncy hair girl!
- Hahah, Nonaka Ai announcer is awesome. When she said 20 years that sounded totally off to me too. :sd:
- Oh shit I feel so bad for Kuro. She's against Toki and Teru.
- Kirame is Arai Satomi! Yes!

I half expect Teru to just completely zero out one of the schools in the first game. There's no way Teru doesn't make it to the finals - Saki has to face her.

[Fencedude]

There's no way Teru doesn't make it to the finals - Saki has to face her.

Saki can't face her in the team tournament. Play order is fixed and can't be changed once the team has registered.

[William K]

There's no way Teru doesn't make it to the finals - Saki has to face her.

Saki can't face her in the team tournament. Play order is fixed and can't be changed once the team has registered.

Yeah, in the teaser at the end of the first season, Teru is playing Yuuki and about to rip out her soul

[Damius]

- Arata! with her glove.
- Flashbacks before the game are always so good.
- If only they had more time for Arata’s match. She did well.
- Well, it’s Shizu turn now.
- Eyes on fire!
- Achiga finishes second! Way to go.
- Teru with a smile is so cute.
- Shizu wants to eat Ramen. Give her some.
- Harue have been asked again to go pro.
- There is no way Harue was using you.
- It's STEALTH MOMO!!! I love her!

Another great episode we have here. This is the show I import so no doubt it would be so good. ^__^

[Damius]

You have no idea how desperately I want this show to be two cour. We would have so much more time for the matches, and still ample time for the non-mahjong moments like this too.

I would love this show to be two cour as well...for the same reasons. Still one of my favorite show of the year.

[strangefour]

FFFFFFFFFFFffffffffffffffffffff-- lost notes I was taking half way though the episode. Let's see if I can reconstruct some of it.

-Wahaha. Oh she does to that. Huh. She hasn't done that in as far as I have watched into the old show (episode 14).
-WOW! Stealth Momo just turned up the yuri levels in this to maximum.
-Cyclops is here! Plus many other characters that would just be confusing baggage if I hadn't started watching the first series.
-They are being devastated by the teams Nodoka has faces, but Team Nopan remains undaunted.
-Boo! Bring back Stealth Momo! She didn't get enough screen time.
-Wahaha close your mouth. Who let you drive anyway? There is no way you can reach the pedals.
-Another cyclops, an Edo princess, Chun Li and the hottest girl yet, Nakiri Ranko. Nice.
-Have no fear, Super Taco is here!

-Dang it. Why couldn't we see more of their practice matches? That could have entertained me fore two episodes.
-Dang it Nopan. Remember to put on underwear before running outside to hang out with older women.
-Helloooooo sleepy lesbians.
-What? No! Bring back silly fan announcer. New announcers boo!
-Team Nopan vs team lesbian stereotypes vs Shadow Saki vs lambs to the slaughter.

It's moving too fast. Not enough time to settle in and enjoy all the fun side characters from the first series showing up here. I need more Stealth Momo. Time to go watch a few more episode of the old show.

[Fencedude]

Something I've been thinking about.

What is interesting about Tsuruga helping Achiga train is that Achiga is very much in the same position Tsuruga was in in the Nagano finals. They don't have monsters like Saki or Koromo, or a decades long tradition of victory, backed up by an incredibly extensive mahjong club, like Kazekoshi. But what they have is a few very talented players (Ako and Arata, Wahaha and Mutsuki) some players with minor powers that give them an advantage, but falls well short of the true monsters (Matsumi-shimai, Kaori and Momo) and are anchored by someone utterly incapable of giving up.

Yumi faced two of the greatest monsters of high-school Mahjong, and another player who while not a monster herself, is the next best thing. And while she didn't win, she also didn't give up. Suzu's challenge will be even greater.

[JackW]

A Saki popularity poll: http://postimage.org/image/vj1oxnfjb/

I'm a bit surprised at #1; pleased to see #2. Very surprised and pleased to see #15.

[something]

A Saki popularity poll: http://postimage.org/image/vj1oxnfjb/
I'm a bit surprised at #1; pleased to see #2. Very surprised and pleased to see #15.
Biglobe polls are usually pretty useless/heavily gamed/suffer from recency bias, but it was kind of funny seeing how high Toki went.

[strangefour]

A Saki popularity poll: http://postimage.org/image/vj1oxnfjb/
I'm a bit surprised at #1; pleased to see #2. Very surprised and pleased to see #15.
Biglobe polls are usually pretty useless/heavily gamed/suffer from recency bias, but it was kind of funny seeing how high Toki went.

It has to be rigged. There is no way that list is right. I mean we all know who is the #1 character (http://nicoviewer.net/sm17949186). Also Stealth Momo should be way higher.

[Fencedude]

So supposedly this (http://fencedude.com/Saki/Achiga15Eps.jpg) article indicates that Achiga-hen will run for 15 episodes.

[something]

So supposedly this (http://fencedude.com/Saki/Achiga15Eps.jpg) article indicates that Achiga-hen will run for 15 episodes.
Yep confirmed here (http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=450609). Guess that means I should expect to buy another one or two discs, but still very very happy about this. More Saki always equals better.

[Fencedude]

So supposedly this (http://fencedude.com/Saki/Achiga15Eps.jpg) article indicates that Achiga-hen will run for 15 episodes.
Yep confirmed here (http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=450609). Guess that means I should expect to buy another one or two discs, but still very very happy about this. More Saki always equals better.

I wonder how they are going to air them though.

[HitokiriShadow]

The first half of this episode is definitely something that you're going to get a lot more out of if you've seen the original series.

The rest of the Kiyosumi team's reaction to Yuuki's entrance was amusing.

I'm glad I waited to watch this episode. I would be really annoyed at how this episode spent its time if we only had four episodes left. But it was just announced that Achiga-hen is getting 3 extra episodes, for a total of 15. So they have seven episodes for the big final match, which is plenty of time.

The show still desperately needed to be two cour, but at least the final match shouldn't suffer from the issues the rest of the show did and should be able to deliver the epic mahjong action that we've all been waiting for.

And Teru's in the first round? That's kind of surprising. I figured she wouldn't come out until at least the 3rd round and 5th seemed the most likely since she's a sort of Final Boss character. But I guess her utterly crushing everyone else and giving her team like a 100,000 point lead over everyone else would inflict utter despair on the entire teams for the remainder of the game.

In any case, the match everyone has been waiting for is finally here.

[Fencedude]

TERU TIME HAS BEGUN.

It is truly subara!

Anyway, apparently Toki really isn't that good a player (previously having been on Senriyama's third string team), but after being hospitalized and nearly dying, she gained the ability to see one turn ahead. I should say that that is complete bullshit, but...lol Saki.

As for Teru, her ability seems to be a gradually accelerating string of wins. Which was only interrupted once.

Oh, and Kuro? No one cares about Kuro.

[William K]

And we finally get the long mahjong matches with strategy and psychic powers! Teru is scary with her mirror into the souls of her opponents and her win streaks...

Kuro isn't actually doing too badly because Toki and Kirame are busy trying to tackle Teru. Achiga just needs to score more points than Senriyama and Shindouji to get into the finals.

Looks like wahaha has a rival is subara :D

[something]

Episode 9:

- Just got done watching ep 3 of season one, which has a lot of Teru stuff. Now it's time to see her again! God I feel so bad for Kuro. I hope she isn't Teru's main victim.
- Ahhh, tense music. The game is about to start!
- SUBARA! I love Arai Satomi.
- Toki draws first blood! Hang in there, Kuro!
- ...Oh fuck. Teru takes us right back into season one. Scary mahjong time.

- Being Kuro is suffering.
- Man it's weird seeing Shizu in normal clothes.
- SUBARA! I <3 Kirame. And her hair. It's subara!
- Oh shit. Teru is charging up her drill punch.
- Being Toki is suffering too. Actually in the same room at all as Teru is suffering.
- But Kirame stil enojoys it. I love her attitude.
- Cyclone mahjong go! 141k for Teru, man.
- This is easily the longest match yet. Looks like with the rest of these plus the bonus episodes, we're going to get some hardcore mahjong in. Fuck yeah.

- Ryuuka, you better be there to console your wife when she comes back sick and sad.
- This is deifnitely a Toki episode. I guess that spares Kuro a little pain.
- Haha, awesome. Toki got her future predicting ability from a near-death experience. :sd:
- SUBARA!
- This Toki backstory is fucking adorable.
- Kiirame stops Teru's streak! SUBARA!
- Haha, poor Kuro. Everyone has forgotten about her.
- SUBARA!

- Wow... this entire episode is just ONE match. Just Kuro's round. That's crazy. I guess they were rushing so much through the rest so they could go in extreme detail for these final 6-7 eps.
- Even more wow, "it's almost halfway"? We're not even half through this round. Crazy. Crazy awesome.

GO GO KURO! FAITO! I want her to score at least one good hand off of Teru. <3

So yeah, a full episode for 1/2 of 1/4 of the semifinals. Nice.

..Oh wait there's more.

Post-ED:
- NODOKAAAAAAAAA!

[William K]

- Even more wow, "it's almost halfway"? We're not even half through this round. Crazy. Crazy awesome.

Yeah, everyone gets to be dealer 4 times so we're 3/8ths of the way through the first round.

[strangefour]

-Subara!
-This boss battling music is reminding me a lot of Ifukube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDeU42u2s2Y).
-Teru has a whirlwind punch (http://images.wikia.com/yuyuhakusho/images/e/eb/Jin_tornado_fist.JPG)?

-Subara!
-Toki can see one turn ahead, but Teru can see all possible futures.
-GIBBARD-CHAN! The real hero always arrives late.
-Elsewhere, boobs.

Subara is more Subara than Wahaha is Wahaha.

Oh, and Kuro? No one cares about Kuro.

Who? Man the main character's team in this show are the least interesting characters in this universe. Thank goodness this episode didn't have anything to do with them.

[JackW]

I must admit I was taken aback when I first heard it, but this episode really showed that the choice of VA for Kirame was inspired!

As a follower of the manga, this episode contained a bit of a shock for me. I had been under the impression - in part due, it seems, to a mis-translation - that Toki was a very good player who had obtained a magic mahjong ability, but now it seems that she's actually a not-very-good player who's obtained a magic mahjong ability. That rather changes my view of the dynamics of the Senriyama team. Toki isn't so much the 'ace' as the team pet monster; mind you, I suppose that's also true of Saki herself!

As for Achiga, they seem to be bit-players in their own show. Right now, Kuro doesn't look to be in Kirame's league, never mind the other two!

[mk2000]

As for Achiga, they seem to be bit-players in their own show. Right now, Kuro doesn't look to be in Kirame's league, never mind the other two!

Yeah, I'm still trying to figure out how Achiga is going to advance without having someone with some wicked mahjong powers.

If this was the Top wo Nerae universe it's either going to be with hard work and guts or someone's going to find out they're Topless...:sweat:

[Damius]

Well, that's pretty good news for me. Love this show, more episodes is for the best.

[JackW]

Apparently, according to this page: http://www.saki-anime.com/special/interview.php the remaining 3 of the originally-scheduled 12 will be devoted to the current round with Teru and the new 3 will, presumably, show the subsequent rounds, so I guess that means that Teru will not be sending anyone below zero.

[something]

Apparently, according to this page: http://www.saki-anime.com/special/interview.php the remaining 3 of the originally-scheduled 12 will be devoted to the current round with Teru
Yeah I read this and WTF'd pretty hard. After going through entire tournaments in ~10 minutes, we're spending 4 episodes on 1/5th of 1 round. Man, four episodes of Kuro shitting herself against mahjong monsters. Being Kuro is really, really suffering. Her friends better appreciate what she goes through as the first round player. She's basically being used as a human shield. or a human sacrifice...

It's almost overkill really. Why spend 4 episodes on 20% of the game and then 3 episodes on the last 80%? Or make the last 4 rounds into four episodes so each remaining Achiga girl gets a full episode (no matter how small a part she plays in it), but even then I want at least half an episode of epilogue. This ought to be spaced out better... but whatever, I'm going to love the hell out of it all the same.

Also what the heck is the proper hierarchy terminology for the matches? A tournament has what I'd normally call rounds ("the semifinals"), but rounds have games that also have a round for each of the five players, and each of the five players plays four... winds, was it? And the smallest meaningful unit someone can win or lose is a hand?

[ultimatemegax]

Also what the heck is the proper hierarchy terminology for the matches? A tournament has what I'd normally call rounds ("the semifinals"), but rounds have games that also have a round for each of the five players, and each of the five players plays four... winds, was it? And the smallest meaningful unit someone can win or lose is a hand?

Each wind contains four hands (or more if the dealer wins their hand and wishes to continue). The normal game consists of a hanchan (only east and south winds, so two go-arounds). Nationals matches consist of two hanchans divided by a break in the middle. The team competition has each of the five members play two hanchans each, so five matches (based on the military terminology used). In this bracket, you could divide the matches into "opening round", "second round", "semi-finals", and "finals," but depending on the amount of teams in a tournament, terms may differ.

Less text version:
4 (or more) hands-> Wind
2 Winds-> Hanchan
2 Hanchans-> Match
5 Matches-> Round
Rounds differ based on amount of teams/structure.

[dsmith]

Also what the heck is the proper hierarchy terminology for the matches? A tournament has what I'd normally call rounds ("the semifinals"), but rounds have games that also have a round for each of the five players, and each of the five players plays four... winds, was it? And the smallest meaningful unit someone can win or lose is a hand?

I think it works like this:

Tournament terms:
Tournament: Highest level, encompasses everything that happens
Bracket: Group of teams that will be playing matches at any given point. Each bracket includes all possible teams that may eventually account for one Nth of the teams in the finals. In this case there are two brackets, so each accounts for one half of the teams. Could also have one or four brackets, theoretically.
Round: The sets of matches that encompasses a given elimination level of the tournament. The first round has all teams (aside from seeds); half the teams are eliminated after the first round, and play in the second rounds; etc.

Game terms:
Game: One full game with all 5 players of each team. May also refer to it as the tournament round.
Match: The portion of the game that each player plays.
Round: A series of hands based on the prevailing wind. The wind 'direction' changes in a standard sequence (east, south, west, north). For each round/wind, each player has a chance to be dealer, and takes the position equal to the prevailing wind (so in the East round, each player that acts as dealer will be considered in the east position). If the dealer wins the hand, they can stay dealer for an additional hand; otherwise dealer position proceeds clockwise until everyone has been dealer, whereupon the wind direction changes and the next round starts.
Han-chan: An indication that two rounds will be played (ie: prevailing winds of east and south), as opposed to the full version (all 4 winds), or a quarter (fast) version (just east wind). 'han' being 'half'
Hand: One sequence of setting up and playing until someone wins, or the tiles are exhausted.

[something]

The normal game consists of a hanchan (only east and south winds, so two go-arounds). Nationals matches consist of two hanchans divided by a break in the middle.Han-chan: An indication that two rounds will be played (ie: prevailing winds of east and south), as opposed to the full version (all 4 winds), or a quarter (fast) version (just east wind). 'han' being 'half'

Ah, this helps explain some of the variants of the game that had been played. I always assumed each "match" had each of the players rotating among each of the four winds before it ended. I.e. you'd always be East once, South once, etc. But it's a bit more complex than that, at least sometimes.

I think I have it now, thanks. I'm sure this was all explained in the show but I find it so much more fulfilling to filter that stuff out and think about how cute Ako is or something. :sd:

[JackW]

Yeah I read this and WTF'd pretty hard. After going through entire tournaments in ~10 minutes, we're spending 4 episodes on 1/5th of 1 round. Man, four episodes of Kuro shitting herself against mahjong monsters. Being Kuro is really, really suffering. Her friends better appreciate what she goes through as the first round player. She's basically being used as a human shield. or a human sacrifice...

It's almost overkill really. Why spend 4 episodes on 20% of the game and then 3 episodes on the last 80%? Or make the last 4 rounds into four episodes so each remaining Achiga girl gets a full episode (no matter how small a part she plays in it), but even then I want at least half an episode of epilogue. This ought to be spaced out better... but whatever, I'm going to love the hell out of it all the same.


I'm starting to think the main purpose of Achiga-hen is simply to showcase Teru as monster of monsters. Certainly the only thing it's showcased about Achiga so far is that they're totally out of their depth.

I'm curious what they will do about Awai. As Saki's designated opponent she's bound to be a national level monster herself and is in many ways as important as Teru, but those last 3 episodes don't seem to provide much time to show her off. I seriously wonder if they're going to kill off a team - probably Senriyama - early in order to gift Achiga a free pass into the finals and leave Awai a mystery?

[mellowrg2]

Considering Teru's winning streak, I won't be surprised of this semi-final match ends before the Captain round

I get the feeling that even if no one goes bellow zero during Teru's match, the survivors won't have a comfortable amount of points to last until Captain round.

The hype is always around Teru, but I'm sure her other team members didn't earn their position by being a bench warmer.

[HitokiriShadow]

Teru has arrived, her opponents now learn what a true monster player is like.

Kirame is hilarious. She never stops smiling and "Subara!"s when she gets crushed. And then she, the apparent cannon fodder girl, ends up being the key to ending Teru's absolute dominance of the game.

And Kuro gets almost completely forgotten until the last 30 seconds of the episode.

[Fencedude]

TERU TIME CONTINUES

It is truly subara!

Teru's domination continues throuh the end of the first half and into the second. Only two points of light gleam in the darkness. Achiga has determined Teru's weakness, she must increase her score each round to continue her streak, and Toki has a dangerous technique, one that will perhaps let her see two turns into the future...

[something]

Episode 10:

- Nodoppai! She dreams of Achiga.
- Poor Kuro. ;_; I don't even know how she sleeps at night with all the pressure she's under.
- A weak point for Teru? Teru has no weak points. She is the invincible Teruminator.
- SUBARA! Wow, Kirame finally lost her cool. But still Subara'd.
- First half is over. Kuro looks like she was just told she has 3 months to live. ;_;

- Fuck. Teru leaves such human devastation in her wake. Kurame is face down in a pile of mahjong tiles. Kuro is an empty shell of a girl. Toki collapses into Ryuuka's cushioning breasts.
- Man I moe so hard for Kuro. ;_;
- Second half, go out there and do your best, Kuro!
- I love these announcers. Kokaji is always getting teased.

- DRAMATIC! Even teaming up, the girls can't stop Teru.
- And a choked out Subara. Kirame is going to lose her mind. Meanwhile, Teru is charging up her cyclone punch... man I hope Kuro is able to do at least something with the knowledge she gained.
- Kuro looks like she just shat out demonic hellspawn.
- Ouuuuuuuuuuch. 10k hit to Kuro! ;_;
- Jeeze she's up by 100k on 2nd.

- Another Toki flashback! She grabs Ryuuka's boob! YAAAAAAAAAY!
- And now she tries to use the forbidden power... Double! Two turns into the future!

What will happen to our brave Toki?!

::checks timestamp:: Ooh, post-ED stuff again.

Post-ED:
- Nodoppai's Achiga-radar is going off again.

Want moooooooooooooooooooore! I just hope Toki doesn't faint and have to forfeit or something.

Vol. 1 of the BDs has now peaked at #17 on Amazon... it comes out in a few days, so we'll know its sales next Tuesday the 26th. Do well, Achiga-hen! Do well!

[Damius]

- Momo shows her love to Yumi!
- Getting better by tomorrow, they sure will!
- Practice time!
- The scarf will always be epic in my mind, that with “so many warm tiles”.
- “Get stronger!”
- Yuuki!!! And the Side-B semifinals are decided… How long will we need to wait to watch it? How long…
- I hope Harue will realize what they think… she needs to free every doubt from their minds.
- Ako’s bath scene!
- Arigato Shizu, arigato. Now, it’s clear for them all Harue didn’t give up on them.
- I’m sure they will do their best, I’m sure they will.
- Go Kuro do the best you can! Arg…she is against Toki and Teru, this will be hard for Kuro.
- Start! Next episode.

Wow, I love this show. Can’t wait for next week! It was nice to see some characters from the main series.

[strangefour]

-That was a prophetic dream Nodoka. For soon you shall face the unstoppable might of Nopan.
-Bosom break.
-Random girls I do not remember ever seeing, sip tea and watch Teru dominate the game.
-This is not Subara.

-Teru is charging up her Drill Pressure Punch.
-No matter what psychic Toki does Teru always wins. And wins big.
-Gibbard-chan (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/1182994/) is glue to the screen. Literally.
-Ryuuka's thighs are a dream.
-Ryuuka's boobs are a soft supple reality. :blush:
-Super Mirai Toki level two!
-Finally the main character shows up. But are there enough tacos?

This episode introduced a new character, I believe they called her Kuro. She put up a pitiful showing. Just kept breaking down in tears and not making any good moves. I appreciate that they like giving character to all the side characters, and usually they do it fantastically (plus lesbiany). However I think I'm going to forget this Kuro girl even existed a few episodes from now. :noodle:

[William K]

-Random girls I do not remember ever seeing, sip tea and watch Teru dominate the game.

They're from Kentani, the school that lost to Senriyama and Achiga in Round 2

[JackW]

And in this week's edition of -Toki- Episode of Side-A, Kuro didn't do anything. Again. Someone needs to tell her that dora are no use if you don't win.

Meanwhile the other two are pulling all kinds of heroics, vainly, to stop the Monster. Toki is ready to put her very life on the line. The problem with this scenario is that not only is it hard to see how Achiga are going to get through this, it's hard to see how they are going to deserve to get through it. If at the end of all this we get a "Kuro throws out a dora and wins big" comeback, I for one will not be impressed.

On a side note, can someone please tell the announcer to stop screaming? It's getting on my nerves!

[Fencedude]

The problem with this scenario is that not only is it hard to see how Achiga are going to get through this, it's hard to see how they are going to deserve to get through it. If at the end of all this we get a "Kuro throws out a dora and wins big" comeback, I for one will not be impressed.


Kuro doesn't have to do anything but not lose. This is only the first game, after all.

Kirame's actually in the worst shape at the moment.

[something]

Kuro doesn't have to do anything but not lose. This is only the first game, after all.
Kirame's actually in the worst shape at the moment.
Yeah, there's not a player on any of the three teams that would be doing any better against Teru than these three are.

Achiga's issue is that Achiga-hen isn't really about them, or at least wasn't about them after the midpoint. From then on it was about the nationals, which left the Achiga girls only half a cour to get developed (while the plot moved at light speed) before focus switched over to covering as many things as possible. This round of the semifinals is Teru's grand entrance, as well as Toki's backstory, plus the first really in-depth mahjong, so that pretty much has us fully booked.

I see Achiga as a vehicle to tell the story of the other side of the Nationals, not as an equivalent to Kiyosumi. Maybe Kobayashi just had writer's block and wanted to continue from a fresh perspective, without having to jump straight into the climax of Kiyosumi's story. Or she wanted to show other teams without somehow shoehorning Kiyosumi in, since there's no particular reason why Kiyosumi would be in Nara at these times.

And I think it works. I adore all of the Achiga girls, just like I adore nearly everyone in this franchise. I think they could have been handled better in a two cour show that spent much more time on their development as players. They're obviously very good, given how they crushed Bansei and managed to hang in there against Senriyama, but we don't really get to see that in the way we did with Kiyosumi. And now that we're getting our first in-depth mahjong, it's against Senriyama and Shiraitodai... life is unfair, isn't it, Kuro?

But even so, it works for me... I love them and I love this show, and since I accept that Achiga are the narrative viewpoint but not sole focus, I don't mind if Shiraitodai or Senriyama steals the show for a while. Right now this is about the nationals rather than an one team.

About Kuro potentially discarding a dora and making a great hand: I'd be fine with that. For one, nobody else is paying attention to her so she can probably pull a poor man's Stealth Momo. And given what Achiga figured out about Teru, if they tie Kuro overcoming her weakness with exploiting Teru's, that would totally work for me, since it's a lot better than just one or the other.

[William K]

Kuro doesn't have to do anything but not lose. This is only the first game, after all.

Kirame's actually in the worst shape at the moment.

And putting your best player first can backfire if the other players in the team can't hold the lead. In the Nagano finals, Kazekoshi used the same strategy with Mihoko first. They ended up in last place. Not saying that Shiraitodai's team is weak after Teru, but as long as someone stops Teru from endlessly winning as the last dealer there is a chance.
Of course, technically speaking Kuro is supposed to be Achiga's best player because of her dora power.

Edit : These were the scores after the 1st round of the Nagano finals
Kazekoshi 142,000
Kiyosumi 88,900
Ryuumonbuchi 87,700
Tsuruga 81,400
Teru has a bigger lead at the moment

[dsmith]

The problem with this scenario is that not only is it hard to see how Achiga are going to get through this, it's hard to see how they are going to deserve to get through it. If at the end of all this we get a "Kuro throws out a dora and wins big" comeback, I for one will not be impressed.


Kuro doesn't have to do anything but not lose. This is only the first game, after all.

Kirame's actually in the worst shape at the moment.

The main problem for Kuro is that if she starts discarding dora for a better hand (it seemed there was some implication that she was running out of non-dora to discard in that last hand), she stops getting them for a while, which means all those dora are out there for Teru to pick up. While Kuro isn't winning, I think she's playing a vital role in keeping Teru's score -down- (or at least complicating the process of building her hand), which is a bit sad, considering.

The only way I could see them getting through this is for Kuro to somehow land a ron on Teru with a hand full of dora. Toki may (with great effort) be able to put a stop to Teru's winning streaks with her look-ahead power, but there's no way for her to get the points to put a dent in Shiraitodai's lead. Likewise, Kirame's there as a stopgap, to keep from going under; she doesn't have any skill to pull out points.

So, prediction for dramatic finale: Teru pulls out a couple kan to open up ~6 possile dora tiles (probably with duplicates to ramp things up), but has to discard a winning tile because it wouldn't give her a high enough score (ie: her weakness). That tile is the one Kuro needs to finish her hand. The only trick is getting Kuro to build a hand that can wait for that tile; she doesn't have the skills necessary to do that sort of prediction, and is also much slower at building her hand than the others due to the dora limitation.

It would pretty much require master level manipulation on Toki's part. While you might argue that Kuro doesn't 'deserve' that win, the point would be to use Kuro's strengths to stop Teru, even if Toki herself doesn't get rewarded for doing so. Ok, she gets Ryuuka's lap for the rest of her life, but she kinda had that anyway.



There's also the look ahead into the finals. For narrative purposes, Kiyosumi and Shiraitodai both have to be there, and presumably Achiga as well. With Toki pushing herself to her limits, it's pretty much a given that she wouldn't be able to participate in the finals anyway. That means Kuro is going to have to fight Teru again, along with Yuuki and whoever else was from B side.

Without Kirame to help keep things above 0, and without Toki to put a block on Teru's streaks, I can't imagine Yuuki and Kuro being able to do anything to stop Teru (if Kuro pulls off the dora trick in this semifinal round, it almost certainly won't work in the finals), so we'll mainly be seeing some sort of contest between the second place B sider (the miko girls, maybe?) and Teru. Will not be pretty, regardless.

Edit: As for something's suggestion about Kuro breaking away from her own 'power' in order to overcome Teru, that sounds like something that is more likely to happen in the finals.

[Damius]

What I wonder is when exactly they decided to do 15 episodes. In other words, how many episodes were already done.

[Fencedude]

Omo linked to this blog (http://yaranakya.wordpress.com/tag/achiga-hen/), which has some interesting articles about Achiga-hen.

The one about Yumi's waits will playing the Matsumi sisters, and the one about Kuro's discards, are especially interesting. As is the one about how hardcore this all really is.

He makes some good observations about Kuro...

[something]

He makes some good observations about Kuro...
Oh god that Kuro discard post just ends in the biggest fucking hnnnnnnnnnnng moment ever. <3 <3 Kuro.

[Fencedude]

He makes some good observations about Kuro...
Oh god that Kuro discard post just ends in the biggest fucking hnnnnnnnnnnng moment ever. <3 <3 Kuro.

She's getting so much flack for being useless, but she really is incredibly sweet, and kind.

To spell things out a bit more explitly re:Kuro's utility against Teru, her pulling of Dora's makes it incredibly hard for Teru to continue to increase the value of her hands. If Teru had free access to the Dora, the match may well be over now. Even if she never wins a single hand, her presence will be entirely worthwhile.

That doesn't make it not incredibly hard to watch her suffer though. ;_;

[something]

She's getting so much flack for being useless, but she really is incredibly sweet, and kind.
Achiga girls in general seem to be having a hard time getting respect (due largely to how the show is set up and paced) but Kuro most of all, for sure. She's their lead-off for a reason... she's really good. But she's just not Teru good. Or Senriyama but hey she's only human.

[HitokiriShadow]

And the carnage continues. Teru's already ridiculous margin over second place continues to increase. She has a weakness.... but not one that does much good if no one can figure out how to discard a tile she can't use and she apparently works around anything Toki sees.

Kuro manages to notice that weakness.... but is still mostly forgotten during the game. I think she got more screentime during the game than last time, but I'm not sure. It's pretty close in either direction.

[dsmith]

He makes some good observations about Kuro...
Oh god that Kuro discard post just ends in the biggest fucking hnnnnnnnnnnng moment ever. <3 <3 Kuro.

I actually remember noticing that some tiles were discarded upside down (though I didn't notice whose tiles they were), and thought it was odd. Was reading Ten recently, where players' habits of rotating tiles to be right side up was used to analyze what sort of hand they had, so seeing upside down tiles being discarded seemed quite strange.

That Kuro would get into the habit of that to help the younger children, though, is completely understandable. Amazing the sort of detail they put into the characters' play habits, even when we barely get any chance to actually see/notice/know about them.

[JackW]

Achiga girls in general seem to be having a hard time getting respect (due largely to how the show is set up and paced) but Kuro most of all, for sure. She's their lead-off for a reason... she's really good. But she's just not Teru good. Or Senriyama but hey she's only human.

As you say, it's the way the show has been directed that's caused this. Firstly Achiga are shown as barely capable of surviving in the competition and Kuro's weakness is highlighted. Then they are shown basically getting trounced in their "training session". Finally, and most significantly, the whole focus of the show is moved away from them and onto Toki. The current game is being viewed from the perspective of Toki, not Kuro and not Achiga, it is primarily her internal monologue that we're hearing and her efforts that are being highlighted. (Not that I'm complaining, I like Toki a lot, but it's adding to the increasing perception of Achiga as becoming irrelevant in their own show.)

The danger of this is that if you take it too far - and I think the show may be getting there - then Achiga advancing to the finals (and I assume they will, unless Ritz is planning an interesting surprise, in which case I take it all back) looks like author intervention or deus ex machina rather than a credible result based on what we know of the team.

Although it's quite convenient for the author, I don't think this "two teams go through" rule has helped in this regard, since by definition one of the teams that advances is a loser. Although the net result might be the same, there's a psychological difference between four winning teams getting to a semi-final and two winners and two losers.

[something]

Although it's quite convenient for the author, I don't think this "two teams go through" rule has helped in this regard, since by definition one of the teams that advances is a loser. Although the net result might be the same, there's a psychological difference between four winning teams getting to a semi-final and two winners and two losers.
Right, for Achiga to go to the finals would mean they've survived as the "least worst" loser two tourney rounds in a row. That's... kind of depressing!

They're up against the two best schools in the "side" so it's understandable. They are also beholden to a lot of the original series' baggage, e.g. there's simply no way you can credibly write them to be better than Shiraitodai without totally screwing over the original series' looming climax.

But I do think the writing is, as you said, "getting there" in terms of taking it too far. Being (fairly) normal in the Sakiverse is a dangerous thing to be. And the lack of focus on mahjong early on also downplays what special abilities they do have. The Matsumi sisters' powers would have been depicted in outrageous, hyperdramatic fashion if they were a original Saki season team. But in Achiga-hen it's just kind of a thing they do and it's not quite conveyed just how extraordinary it actually is.

I really really love the Achiga girls as characters, but I honestly couldn't tell you what Shizu's, Ako's or Arata's powers are. If they even have any besides just being generally good at the game. They haven't played enough mahjong for me to notice or remember.

Well, nothing I've said has stopped me from being deeply, madly in love with this show and thinking it a perfectly worthy bridge between core story seasons that's introduced me to loads of new characters I adore pretty much without exception. But I wish it could be done with giving Achiga Joshi a little more love. At this point I might actually prefer they lose, then we can come back in a Side-A 2 somewhere down the line and we can see them trained up over the year to monster-class like the other major teams. Though... Yuu is a third year now right? I'd be so sad without Yuu-oneechan.

[Magewolf]

But I do think the writing is, as you said, "getting there" in terms of taking it too far. Being (fairly) normal in the Sakiverse is a dangerous thing to be. And the lack of focus on mahjong early on also downplays what special abilities they do have. The Matsumi sisters' powers would have been depicted in outrageous, hyperdramatic fashion if they were a original Saki season team. But in Achiga-hen it's just kind of a thing they do and it's not quite conveyed just how extraordinary it actually is.

I really really love the Achiga girls as characters, but I honestly couldn't tell you what Shizu's, Ako's or Arata's powers are. If they even have any besides just being generally good at the game. They haven't played enough mahjong for me to notice or remember.

Well, nothing I've said has stopped me from being deeply, madly in love with this show and thinking it a perfectly worthy bridge between core story seasons that's introduced me to loads of new characters I adore pretty much without exception. But I wish it could be done with giving Achiga Joshi a little more love. At this point I might actually prefer they lose, then we can come back in a Side-A 2 somewhere down the line and we can see them trained up over the year to monster-class like the other major teams. Though... Yuu is a third year now right? I'd be so sad without Yuu-oneechan.

Kuro's problem is that her power is a noose around her neck against any good player with stats on her.But I really blame her coach.She sent her like a lamb to slaughter without even warning her about it.The coach is a pro so she must have seen the holes in Kuro game and that she would implode at the national level but she did nothing about it.


Yuu on the other hand could be a terror if she was just a better player.Again I blame the coach.Yuu, I think would have benefited from intense training against a pro who knew her style but from how she acted when she had to switch styles that had never happened.Of course of all the girls she would be the easiest to give a super power-up to in an emergency.We have never seen her play when she was warm.If they could arrange it some how it might have a Full Moon effect on her.


But I think more then anything all of Achiga problems lead back to their coach.She has failed them across the board.

[relentlessflame]

What I wonder is when exactly they decided to do 15 episodes. In other words, how many episodes were already done.I suspect this was always part of the plan from the start barring any major problems/collapses, just like Bakemonogatari (12 TV + 3 OVA), and OreImo (12 TV + 3 OVA -- well, pretty much anyway unless you count 12'). Perhaps doing it this way provides a sort of "exit door" if a show looks to be performing way worse than expected... but by the same token, adding two BD volumes isn't a bad way to recover some extra money. Of course, in the marketing speak they make it sounds like "we just decided!", but it's just good PR to spread out the announcements to keep the momentum going. Some of the English translations of the announcement made it sound like the TV stations ordered more episodes, but the show's TV run will end at 12, and these will probably be web-streamed (eventually) like the other examples.

(In unrelated news, have you seen the price the original Saki BD-Box is going for on Amazon JP Marketplace these days? Lowest offer for used is 88,000 yen. Wow! Glad I bought it when I did...)

[ultimatemegax]

(In unrelated news, have you seen the price the original Saki BD-Box is going for on Amazon JP Marketplace these days? Lowest offer for used is 88,000 yen. Wow!)

I'm not surprised. The BD-Box was a built-to-order product and didn't have a huge pressing due to the mahjong set. It's not showing up on any other used sites that I've seen. Given how popular the series has been this spring, I wouldn't count out the production committee re-printing the BDs (and maybe the booklet).

Also agreed on the production. They would have had to script the entire series way before this news was announced. Besides, we got a little spoiler with the original BD listings saying the boxes would hold 4 volumes each. This image (http://min.chu.jp/blog/120619/02.jpg) would agree (it looks wider than my Hanasaku Iroha boxes that hold 3 volumes).

[Damius]

(In unrelated news, have you seen the price the original Saki BD-Box is going for on Amazon JP Marketplace these days? Lowest offer for used is 88,000 yen. Wow! Glad I bought it when I did...)

If only they could make it once again around the time the third season will be release (if ever...)... Who knows... I can hope.

[Fencedude]

This time on Saki: Senriyama-hen, Toki sees two turns into the future, and stops Teru's rampage. But the match isn't over.

The fallout from her DOUBLE ACCEL leaves Toki seemingly on the brink of death, but she has one more round to go through. As Teru enters the dealer's streak, Toki risks it all, TRIPLE ACCEL!

Truly, it is Subara!

[strangefour]

-Two steps into the Future! Subara!
-Toki manages to break Teru's streak by using Subara. But can they keep it up?
- Subara flashback! Subara is the happiest sacrificial pawn ever. *sniffle*
-None of them can beat Teru, but together they might be able to stop her.
-Or not. Toki has broken down.

-Hello title character. I want tacos.
-Toki shift.
-Teru smash.
-THREE TURNS AHEAD! *sniffle*

Kuro thinks she is worthless yet she almost is except that she's a dora sponge. Subara is wonderful and refuses to give in to Typhoon Teru. Toki is putting her life on the line by slowly destroying herself for the sake of her team. :cry: Hang in there girls. There has to be some deus ex machina mahjong rule you can abuse.

[JackW]

This episode should have been named Sacrifice, not Determination. I have to say I think this was by far the most powerful episode we've seen in either series of Saki. We're moving from a fun mahjong story into full-blown tragedy here. The first season had a few cliffhangers and good old magic mahjong mayhem, but we've never had to watch someone basically destroy themselves in a game: and not even to win that game either, just to bring it to an end.

Kirame deserves a medal, for also acting as a willing sacrifice although in a different way.

Achiga? Did they get as much as ten seconds of screen time?

[something]

Episode 11:

- Now back to your regularly scheduled Saki Senriyama-hen. [Edit: ok, beaten to this joke I see!]
- Toki wo Kakeru Toki! Don't kill yourself now, dear. Think of how sad Ryuuka would be.
- Kuro's teary eyes make me sad. ;_;
- Toki looks half dead. But she stopped Teru's streak! Teru probably won't knock anyone out outright now.
- I love how SUBARA-tan knew what happened and was okay with it.
- And Kuro learns an important lesson. Put it to good use!
- Fuck yeah that was an amazing pre-OP sequence.

- Yay, Subara-tan backstory. She's a sacrifice. ;_;
- And she overhears is... but she's the stoic warrior who will fight on no matter what!
- Oh god this backstory makes me love her soooooooooo much more than I already did. And that was a lot. <3 <3

- Oh shit Teru's cyclone punch is charging up again.
- Kiyosumiiii! Saki isn't going to want to see Teru's score...
- Captain! Hisa!
- Awwww everyone loves Toki.

- 130,000 point lead. o_O Just... goddamn. Teru. You monster.
- ...Nice thighs on imaginary fantasy dead Kuro.
- Kuro makes girls cry. =/
- Ah, nice that SUBARA and Toki vocalize Kuro's contribution. Kuro doesn't realize how much she's helping - if she weren't there, Teru would have knocked someone to zero long ago.

TOKI, NOOOOO! Don't throw it all away, you have your whole life ahead of you! ;____; Triple, you're crazy!

Holy shit that was a tense episode. And oh man the preview music is so epic. <3 <3 <3

This show is fucking amazing.

[HitokiriShadow]

<3 <3 <3 Hanada. It's nice to see a bit of her backstory. She was picked as a sacrifice and wasn't supposed to know about. But she overheard.... and was thrilled. Subara! ... Is it bad that I want to see her sitting at the table at the finals instead of Kuro?

Meanwhile, Toki seems to be damn near killing herself for this match. All those cracks in her future vision suggest she's about to lose her ability entirely from overuse. And then at the end, she attempts to go one further and see three turns ahead.

[Fencedude]

I wonder if Toki would even be able to play again against Teru in the finals. She's nearly killing herself, can she really recover enough in just a day to face the monster again?

Ryuuka would have to wonder this as well...

[something]

I wonder if Toki would even be able to play again against Teru in the finals. She's nearly killing herself, can she really recover enough in just a day to face the monster again?
Would they have to forfeit outright in case of one player being physically incapacitated? I don't see that they brought any alternates with them, which I take to mean it's not something you can do.

[JackW]

I wonder if Toki would even be able to play again against Teru in the finals. She's nearly killing herself, can she really recover enough in just a day to face the monster again?

Ryuuka would have to wonder this as well...

Even if she recovers, will she still have her future sight? All that cracking and fracturing imagery might indicate she's destroying that ability through over use, in which case she's just a third-team player and essentially useless against Teru anyway.

On the other hand, if she has now levelled-up to triple! power she could well become the monster of all monsters! Who can beat the girl who can look three rounds into the future? Does even Teru have that kind of power?

[Fencedude]

I wonder if Toki would even be able to play again against Teru in the finals. She's nearly killing herself, can she really recover enough in just a day to face the monster again?
Would they have to forfeit outright in case of one player being physically incapacitated? I don't see that they brought any alternates with them, which I take to mean it's not something you can do.

I could see Ryuuka throwing the final game. Being able to take second place from Achiga but not doing so, because she can't let Toki face Teru again.

BTW


Tell my wife... (http://fencedude.com/Saki/TellMyWife.jpg)

Teru the Destroyer (http://fencedude.com/Saki/TeruTheDestroyer.jpg)

[JackW]

Someone has taken the joke to its logical conclusion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0bP-lvmdRc

[something]

Teru the Destroyer (http://fencedude.com/Saki/TeruTheDestroyer.jpg)
What I like about Saki is that the last line could have been left as "their women" and worked just as well.

[something]

Someone has taken the joke to its logical conclusion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0bP-lvmdRc
Even without sound I could still hear the song in my head. <3 Miracle Rush. Especially fitting with it being those seiyuu and all.

Now if only we could get variations of Square Panic Serenade for all the schools.

[Fencedude]

Teru the Destroyer (http://fencedude.com/Saki/TeruTheDestroyer.jpg)
What I like about Saki is that the last line could have been left as "their women" and worked just as well.

This...this is not Maru! (http://fencedude.com/Saki/ThisIsNotMaru.gif)

BTW: Got into a bit of discussion on this point on the Other Forum (http://www.fandompost.com/oldforums/showthread.php?10322-Saki-Achiga-hen-episode-of-Side-A-Discussion-Thread/page4&p=112417#post112417), worth a read, perhaps.

[Damius]

- So here we are, at Teru match… What can I wish for Kuro? I feel so bad for her…
- And here it starts…powerful even scary Teru mahjong.
- Teru strikes…and strikes…and strikes.
- Six in a row now… Will she win every hand?
- 141900… Ouch.
- Toki can see one turn ahead. Well, she had to pay quite the price for that ability.
- I love every backstory in this show, the Toki one is no exception.
- Kiirame stops Teru’s winning streak!
- Subara!
- Poor Kuro… ;_; She feels bad because she didn’t win any hand and don’t want to be a burden again…

They take so much time for this match and it’s awesome. Good luck Kuro, I really hope next episode will be better for you! I hope you won’t be forgotten next time.

Nodoka sleeping? And then a preview with her in? Can’t wait for next week, that’s for sure!

[something]

http://yaraon.blog109.fc2.com/blog-entry-10428.html

Haha, wow, amazing. Talk about making it totally canon that she's naked under there. And that the girls don't wear panties in general. I'm assuming this is Nyantype or Megami (I'm not about to go looking at danbooru or yande.re at work to confirm).

Saki, why are you such a ridiculously awesome franchise?

[Damius]

Saki, why are you such a ridiculously awesome franchise?

Because they want enough people to buy the series to have another season!

[HitokiriShadow]

Subara!

Kuro finally discards a Dora and lands a 16,600 point hit on Teru. Thanks to utterly massive amounts of support from her other two opponents, of course, particularly Toki.

This leaves Shiraitodai with a mere 116,000 point lead on second place.

Thus ends Achiga-hen's one good match. Now we'll (eventually) get to see four more episodes for the rest of the round, allowing about 1 episode per match, which is better than most of Achiga-hen but still not enough for such a big deal round.

I enjoyed Achiga-hen, but ultimately it is pretty disappointing, severely lacking in both character development and epic mahjong matches. Going through the regionals fairly quickly would have been fine, but the show had to rush through pretty much everything, which really hurt it a lot. It's been said a lot already, but it needs to be said again: This show needed to be two cour so, so badly.

I was predisposed to liking the Achiga girls more than the original cast, and I still kind of do, but geez, their character development was almost non-existent and they had precious little opportunity to shine, either during mahjong matches or outside them.

Well, here's hoping we eventually get an anime of the rest of the main Saki storyline, though it sounds like we shouldn't expect that for a while.

[Fencedude]

And Kuro finally realizes what it is she needed to do.

That pretty much went how I expected, but it was awesome regardless. This was probably the best match of the entire franchise thus far.

[dsmith]

Match played out pretty much how I expected it would, though I wasn't sure if Kuro would actually discard a dora. Also didn't anticipate that discarding the dora (playing directly counter to her standard form) would actually negate Teru's power -- it broke the tornado. Kuro's realization was a bit weak, though. The justification was fine, but the impetus to realize that justification seemed lacking.

And this pretty much ends the Senriyama version of Side A, I'd wager. If the next four episodes are indeed the next four matches, we'll probably get support/backstory focused on one of the other teams per match, with a little of each of the other characters.

Nodoka's reaction on seeing the Achiga girls was odd. I could see the Achiga girls holding themselves back from a massive glomp-snuggle, but Nodoka seemed only mildly interested, and was the first to turn and walk away. Granted Nodoka has Saki now, and she never did relate well to other people, and they're obviously setting this up for the whole "meeting in the finals" bit, but it still felt like she was being awfully cold.


Overall, it was nice revisiting the world of Saki, though I still have limited empathy for our purported main characters, primarily due to the almost complete lack of character development in the first half. I like Kuro and Yuu, but the rest might as well be cardboard cutouts. Senriyama is what carried the last half of the story.

Checking the manga's (verrrry slow) progress, I don't expect them to animate the finals for another couple years or more. Will have to make due with doujins of Hisa and Mihoko's married life, I suppose.

[something]

Episodes 12:

- More Toki flashbacks. Middle school Toki! <3
- Her slightly longer hair is so cute.
- Awww, she's cleaning the club room, just like Kuro.

- CRAZY EYES TOKI! She opens her third eye.
- Good god she looks dead.
- Teary eyed Kuro-chan. ;_;
- Teru is reaching critical mass! Riichi!
- She triples again! And she sees... Kuro?

- Discard that dora, Kuro!
- PON! SUBARA!
- And a nice below table shot making it clear Kuro isn't wearing panties. =D
- Fucking finally some Kuro focus. Throwing away a dora is like throwing away her mother!
- ;______:!!! Little Kuro hugging a crying little Yuu at their mother's funeral? I think I'm going to pass out. Kuro, I love you!
- And then... she does it. 16,600 off of Teru! That ends the match. KURO-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!! <3 <3 <3

Kuro is totally my favorite Achiga girl. Love love love love love love love love love her!

- But then... Toki! Ryuuka, run to your wife! Save her!! Man even Teru looked worried. But jeeze Teru, you nearly killed the girl.
- And Achiga finally gets to meet up with Nodoka! SEASON THREE! SEASON THREE! SEASON THREE!

Post-ED:
- Round two... START! GO GO YUU-NEE! Strangle them all with your VICTORY SCARF!

Fuuuuuck SO GOOD. I cannot wait for the last three episodes. I need airing details on those STAT.

[strangefour]

-Welcome back to TERU TIME!
-Correction: Welcome back to Toki & The Les-Be-Friends!
-*plays the real OP (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0bP-lvmdRc)*
-THIRD EYE OPEN! Toki just became a Boss.
-Pon! SUBARA!!

-Aww cute little sisters.
-Sad little sisters.
-Dora vs Turbo Smashing Punch! DORA WINS! SUBARA!!
-TOKIIIIIII! :cry: Goodbye you brave little self-sacrificing champion of our hearts.
-Nodoka you must face the Nopan challenge!
-Yuu's turn. Quick girls go turn up the heat in the building. Put that furnace on overload.

Well the "main characters" of this series started good but because severely underwhelming after half the season. Namely once all the monsters showed up and we started to get into actually having mahjong games in this mahjong show. Achiga girls came off as the least interesting team in the end. It's all about Toki, Subara, & the crazy interesting girls from the other teams that were in the first series. I really miss taco time.

GIMME ANOTHER SEASON! SUBARA!

[JackW]

After all the focus on Subara and particularly Toki, I'm pleased they made this (inevitable?) 'Kuro saves the day' action a joint effort and didn't play it up too much. I thought it was a rather satisfying conclusion to the game.

I had been wondering how they would handle Teru here. They had the possibility of making her a true monster in her reaction to Toki's condition, but the fact that she was the first to spot it and call attention to it indicates that maybe she is human after all.

Now that it's all over bar the bonus eps, and we have a five-year wait for the main manga to get to the finals, I want a real Toki Senriyama-hen to fill in the gap!

[something]

Now that it's all over bar the bonus eps, and we have a five-year wait for the main manga to get to the finals, I want a real Toki Senriyama-hen to fill in the gap!
So it's still moving that slowly? Makes me wonder if Kobayashi just isn't interested in the franchise anymore.

I'm not sure what they'd do to fill the gap... writing anything else would just delay he main storyline even worse, unless it were anime original. Some side stories about the other schools (Kazekoshi, Ryuumonbuchi, etc) could work but you wouldn't have the drama of the nationals. I guess the individual tournaments could get some focus. But we've already taken the story chronology up to the semifinals so it'd be hard to start over again with a new school like with Achiga.

I guess it doesn't matter what they do as long as it has cute lesbians playing mahjong though... I'd still import it.

[JackW]

So it's still moving that slowly? Makes me wonder if Kobayashi just isn't interested in the franchise anymore.


Oh yes, it's slow. Let me illustrate by telling you that the quarter finals match in the main manga started in September 2010 and it isn't over yet! That said, though, Achiga-hen was churned out at incredible speed by comparison, without any noticeable impact on the main story, so the idea of another spin-off doesn't seem entirely out of the question.

I guess it doesn't matter what they do as long as it has cute lesbians playing mahjong though...

QFT

[mellowrg2]

I'd like to point out that Saki has 3 serializations

the main one (monthly serialization)
achiga-hen (also monthly serialization)
and Saki-biyori, a story about the random daily non-mahjong related lives of characters (also a monthly serialization)

and they have rarely, if ever gone on hiatus

so yes, the franchise is still running like a well oiled machine

I would like a Saki Zero: Shiraitodai-hen, though

[something]

and Saki-biyori, a story about the random daily non-mahjong related lives of characters (also a monthly serialization)
Definitely need this animated.

Monthly helps explain it, but even so ~21 chapters for the quarterfinals and they're not even finished? I'm guessing a number of those chapters are spent on flashbacks. Saki has always been very good at giving us short but highly effective character vignettes, like that totally SUBARA backstory on SUBARA-tan, or Toki's backstory.

[William K]

That said, though, Achiga-hen was churned out at incredible speed by comparison, without any noticeable impact on the main story, so the idea of another spin-off doesn't seem entirely out of the question.

I could see a couple of ways to fill in the time with side-stories
i) The back story of some of the schools that are facing Kiyosumi in the Side-B quarters or semis. Though it would feel a bit odd to be invested in a team making their way through the prefecture finals only to lose to Kiyosumi at the nationals. I would vote to see the all-miko school, Eisui I believe!

ii) Instead of team stories like Saki and Side-A, concentrate on the single players who do not go to a school with a strong enough team but participate in the individuals. We saw a bit of Arakawa Kei (in a nurse uniform!) and the other odd girls that Achiga practiced against.

iii) Go Pro! The adventures of Harue in the adult pro-circuit along with all the guest announcers we've had.

[something]

ii) Instead of team stories like Saki and Side-A, concentrate on the single players who do not go to a school with a strong enough team but participate in the individuals. We saw a bit of Arakawa Kei (in a nurse uniform!) and the other odd girls that Achiga practiced against.
Mihoko is in the individual tournament, right? I would kill to see a show follow her.

[Damius]

- NODOKA!!!!!!
- Still feel so bad for Kuro… ;_;
- Here it is again. SUBARA!
- That’s how you will feel after playing Teru…everyone looks so devastated…
- Good luck for the second half Kuro. Do your best, I hope so much it will work.
- Oh no… 10,200 points on Kuro… No… ;_;
- In her flashback, Toki tries two turn in the future and faint…
- Oh… Toki grabs Ryuuka's boob! Hehe!
- Will Toki be able to do… Double! Two turns into the future! this time?
- Thank you Post-ED to let us see the three of them.

[something]

Ever wanted to know what Teru is thinking during these games? Well I really really do now (http://yaraon.blog109.fc2.com/blog-entry-10505.html). Just look at it from her perspective and think what it's like to be surrounded by SUBARA SUBARA PON SUBARA PON PON SUBARA, Toki the barely-living corpse, and this weird girl you've never heard of who is constantly in tears for some reason. It's almost enough to make you feel bad for Teru. :sd:

"Something's strange..."
...
"And I'm not getting any dora, something is definitely strange..."
...
"I've been thinking it for a while but... these two are definitely pairing up. For what? Why? This is the nationals..."
...
::Kuro calls riichi::
"Huh? A dora? What? Why is this the first dora I've seen today?"
::Kuro calls a 16,600 ron on Teru, oh god I love that face::
...
"I miss Saki..."

Oh Teru. How awesome would it be if she really were oblivious to why everyone was out to get her? If she just thinks she's being bullied? Hah.

[JackW]

I don't know enough about the game to understand the full implications of everything Toki was doing, but I'm sure that Kirame's constant ponning and chi-ing would be incredibly annoying for Teru.

Then again, imagine how any 'normal' player would feel playing in these championships. The manga has a little 4th-wall-breaking moment where one such player actually expresses this: "just let me play mahjong!".

[JackW]

By the way, it looks like CR made an error in their sub. Senriyama's coach "Atagoma Sae" should actually be Atago Masae. Atago Hiroe was briefly mentioned in episode 8 and she has a sister, Kinue, and as can be seen here, "Atagoma" is clearly a sort of mash-up of the two: http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss132/JW1a/Atagos.jpg

[Damius]

- It looks like Toki was able to do it…now, will that worth all the efforts?
- Kuro is about to cry… ;_;
- Toki, you are doing it again??
- Well, Toki put a stop to Teru streak. It was worth it in the end…I only hope there will not be repercussion later on…
- Hanada back story. It looks like she is a sacrifice…
- Well, that doesn’t bother Hanada, she is even happy to have a needed ability.
- Here they are here again, original series characters. ^_^
- I know that I said it already, but I love every backstory.
- Toki…please…Toki, you are already over your limit…
- Teru is just too powerful… a 130,000 lead…
- The commentators really add to it. They are incredible.
- Kuro did help others; I hope she will realize it soon!
- Toki… “It’s hard to be alive” ;_;…
- Toki… you want to do Triple? No…please no… ;_;

Wow…this show… Really worth importing, no doubt. One episode to go before the wait for three more.

[Damius]

and Saki-biyori, a story about the random daily non-mahjong related lives of characters (also a monthly serialization)
Definitely need this animated.


I definitely want that animated too. Please!

[Damius]

It’s good to say that this is not the last episode…

- Another Toki flashback, I can’t complain I love them all.
- Toki does it… even if her girlfriend tries to stop her… She has a “light” on here forehead which plays the role as a third eye…
- You saw it…but will you survive?
- Awesome, some focus on Kuro!
- Kuro threw away a dora? Wow… She was able to do it! That’s quite something for her, no doubt.
- Subara!
- Kuro does it, Kuro does it, she does 16,600 off of Teru. Matched ended! I love you Kuro, I love you!
- It was SUBARA!!!!
- Toki….fell on the ground… and she has her girlfriend next to her.
- Achiga and Nodoka meet!

That was fantastic! Love this show. And now, I will be able to import season 1 as well! So how long will we wait for episode 13? Need details about that ASAP.

[MelancholicMariya]

That was fantastic! Love this show. And now, I will be able to import season 1 as well! So how long will we wait for episode 13? Need details about that ASAP.

This is basically exactly what I thought. When are the next three episodes? No one knows but it better be damn soon. I knew basically nothing about Saki in April when I started watching Achiga-hen other than it's first season BD Box was very expensive, now in July I'm in love with this franchise, and there's an affordable (well...) BD Box getting printed.

I'm pretty happy. Now to continue almost having a heart attack whenever this thread is bumped.

[Damius]

I'm pretty happy. Now to continue almost having a heart attack whenever this thread is bumped.

Hope the next one will be the good one! NEWS!

[ultimatemegax]

I'm pretty happy. Now to continue almost having a heart attack whenever this thread is bumped.

Hope the next one will be the good one! NEWS!
Bumped with news regarding news:
News regarding the remaining episodes will come later this month.
Source: the supervisor's twitter (https://twitter.com/gaku3900/status/258504208544854016).

[something]

Bumped with news regarding news:
News regarding the remaining episodes will come later this month.
Source: the supervisor's twitter (https://twitter.com/gaku3900/status/258504208544854016).
Better than nothing, I guess... I had pretty much resigned myself to them pulling a Kokoro Connect and just not releasing at all until the respective BD(s).

[Damius]

I'm pretty happy. Now to continue almost having a heart attack whenever this thread is bumped.

Hope the next one will be the good one! NEWS!
Bumped with news regarding news:
News regarding the remaining episodes will come later this month.
Source: the supervisor's twitter (https://twitter.com/gaku3900/status/258504208544854016).

Well, that's some good news. At least, we won't have to wait for the BDs.

[something]

http://0taku.livedoor.biz/archives/4322914.html

So we're getting ep 13 in December. Which is when the 7th volume which will have it comes out. Given that it seems they're quite probably putting the last three on three separate volumes (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showthread.php?p=2004758#post2004758) (grrrrr screw you Pony Canyon!) I have a feeling we won't see 14 until January and 15 in February. =/

I demand a Saki season two announcement come at the end of that as partial compensation. Even though the manga hasn't moved far enough. -_-

[Fencedude]

I demand a Saki season two announcement come at the end of that as partial compensation. Even though the manga hasn't moved far enough. -_-

Well, they could do a cour devoted entirely to Kiyosumi's quarterfinal.

[Damius]

Anyone have an idea when the Vol. 7 will be available for pre-order?

[ultimatemegax]

So we're getting ep 13 in December. Which is when the 7th volume which will have it comes out. Given that it seems they're quite probably putting the last three on three separate volumes (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showthread.php?p=2004758#post2004758) (grrrrr screw you Pony Canyon!) I have a feeling we won't see 14 until January and 15 in February. =/
Episode 13 will premiere (http://www.saki-anime.com/blog/information/post_636/) on AT-X on 12/24 at 23:00. It will re-air on 12/26, 28, and 30 before being released on BD on 2013/02/20. It is the standard 30 minute episode.

[Damius]

Episode 13 will premiere (http://www.saki-anime.com/blog/information/post_636/) on AT-X on 12/24 at 23:00. It will re-air on 12/26, 28, and 30 before being released on BD on 2013/02/20. It is the standard 30 minute episode.

Since it will air on TV, maybe CR will have it... I hope they will.

[something]

Episode 13 will premiere (http://www.saki-anime.com/blog/information/post_636/) on AT-X on 12/24 at 23:00. It will re-air on 12/26, 28, and 30 before being released on BD on 2013/02/20. It is the standard 30 minute episode.

Since it will air on TV, maybe CR will have it... I hope they will.

AT-X though, a pay cable channel, so I'm not holding my breath. Sigh.

[Fencedude]

So we covered all of the second match and almost all of the third. Ending it on HARVEST TIME was pretty obvious once it became clear they were getting past Yuu's match.

Awai is pretty much completely perfect. Absolutely love her.

Yuu was pretty awesome in how she avoided Sumire.

Next time though...oh man.

[HitokiriShadow]

Awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~!!!! You are the best! Well, you and like four or five other people. Anyway, nice to hear her speak. Looooooove her so much.

Yuu gets to be a badass this episode, dealing some pretty heavy blows to Sumire.

I like Yoshiko quite a bit for no particular reason I can explain. When reading this chapter in the manga (which was only about a week or two ago) I thought the match might be teasing a bit about her abilities for a future match (be it a surprise Shindouji win for the finals or in the singles) with her "strange" playstyle, but watching it here, I can see that it was simply her strategy to deal with Sumire. Quick rounds to keep Sumire from being able to snipe in the first place and CHEAP wins to keep her out of Sumire's sights and maybe get more points in the long run by looking like less of a threat.

I don't really have anything to say about the Ako/Sera match except that I love Hitomi, though the translation of her line here as "bad politics" feels a bit odd. And Ako's thoughts and frustrations were pretty amusing to listen to.

Can't wait for next episode.

[strangefour]

-Teru thinks other players are tough? And she wonders if one of them is okay? What the hell happened to the Great & Terrible Teru?
-Dragon revival ritual. Uh okay.
-Nothing can take away Hanada's smile. SUBARA!
-Mahjong archery? I didn't know this was a game that allowed ranged attacks.
-Who is this girl who has absolutely no presence... and glassed?
-Yuu has an upgrade mode. Glasses!
-Is the silly blonde yuri for Teru?

-Well that ended fast.
-Tomboy yuri is fine too.
-Sister swap. Shame Yuu's magic floating scarves didn't get to do anything.
-Damn politics! Hehehe.
-Harvest time! :D

Next time Lock & Key yuri bondage! :blush: I have missed moe mahjong more than I thought.

[William K]

Man, I've missed supernatural mahjong, and this episode didn't disappoint. Love the archery sniping power that Sumire has and Yuu dodging her arrows, and of course Harvest Time!

Just realized that they changed the seiyuu for Senriyama's Funakubo. Previously it was manami, but she's now voiced by Kuroyukihime :D The other 4 are still StylipS.

As usual I'm conflicted when watching Saki in that I don't want any of the girls to lose. It's quite amazing that Kobayashi Ritz keeps coming up with characters you want to root for.

Can't wait to see Awai play since they're hyping her up as a 1st year monster. When is the next episode scheduled again?

[elior]

Man, I've missed supernatural mahjong, and this episode didn't disappoint. Love the archery sniping power that Sumire has and Yuu dodging her arrows, and of course Harvest Time!

Just realized that they changed the seiyuu for Senriyama's Funakubo. Previously it was manami, but she's now voiced by Kuroyukihime :D The other 4 are still StylipS.

As usual I'm conflicted when watching Saki in that I don't want any of the girls to lose. It's quite amazing that Kobayashi Ritz keeps coming up with characters you want to root for.

Can't wait to see Awai play since they're hyping her up as a 1st year monster. When is the next episode scheduled again?episode 14 will air at January 29

[William K]

episode 14 will air at January 29

1 month? Ouch. Not as bad as Garupan, but still...

[William K]

You know, having a coach who was a pro could be Achiga's trump card. Harue caught Sumire's finger and eye movement, and she also picked up Takami's harvesting power. They've only shown Senriyama with a coach among the other schools.

[Fencedude]

They've only shown Senriyama with a coach among the other schools.

Yeah, but Senriyama's coach is goddamn Atago-mama

[something]

Finally more Achiga-hen! I'm only one episode short of completing my first season rewatch too. I think I'll watch that episode tonight before I go to sleep. And man, waiting another two months for the last two episodes of this is gonna be painful. But Zenokou-hen will follow so yay.

Episode 13:

- ::checks timer:: An extra 5 minutes longer. Okay good, I'll take every second I can get.
- Go go onee-chan! Get revenge!
- Oh god, Awai is adorable. Saitou Chiwaaaaaaaa!
- Aww, Toki.
- Awww, Teru is worried about Toki. God, Teru is so sweet. She can't help being a mahjong monster - she's still a very nice person.

- Hahah, Harue is going to replenish Kuro's dora power by speed-playing through a bunch of hands. REVIVE THE DRAGON!
- Kuro's face when she finds out SUBARA and Toki wo Kakeru Toki were working together, and she didn't even notice. Awwwwwwwwww. Kuro is definitely my favorite Achiga girl. Goddamn I love her.
- Sumire is gonna snipe your ass. =D But man I hope Achiga can play a more active role in this episode. C'on Yuu-neechan!
- Yoshiko is like the opposite of SUBARA. Very emotionless and calm.
- HEADSHOT. Sumire is scary. Poor Senriyama.

- Yuu in glasses, hnnnnnnnnnnnngh
- Ooh, I like how calmly Yuu reacted to noticing she was Sumire's target.
- Oh, 12,000! FUCK YEAH YUU!
- Yuu is dodging your attacks like she's an adorable schoolgirl Neo. =D

- Uh oh. Teru noticed that Sumire's attacks are being predicted.
- But it doesn't look like they'll find out quite yet.
- Okay I am going to be shipping Teru x Awai so hard. Fuuuuuuuuuck she's aorable.
- Aww, being Izumi is suffering. Poor first year surrounded by third years. Well, that's it for Yuu's match. Man I wish we had four bonue episodes, but Yuu did what she needed to. She was very strong, got back a fair number of points (like 20k?), and stopped Shiraitodai from getting too huge a lead. That's a good start at revenge, Yuu-neechan! Yoshiko did rather well too.
- But narratively, a lot of that focused on Senriyama yet again. Achiga wasn't a helples observer or anything, but even the nobody at Senriyama took the spotlight. Well that's okay, I like them all, and it's a nice story.

- Next match! Oh huh, it's Ako's turn. I expected her and Shizu to get the two full episodes to themselves. Actually, I guess it wouldn't be surprising for Ako's match to end of a cliffhanger and be resolved in January. Then Arata's will get the rest of that episode and Shizu will get a full final episode in February.
- Awwwwwwwww Ako and Yuu hugging. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww~
- Looks like the Senriyama focus continues with Sera.
- Sera makes a huge gain, but Ako holds firm. How about showing us some of it though? ;_; I ike Senriyama but c'mon, it's Ako!
- And poor Shindouji.

- Poor Ako too, she has a great hand but can't use it because it would play into Takami's strength at the end.
- Ohh man she's going to get hit by a truck in a fewhands.
- But I'm happy the narrative has switched back to Ako. I like seeing what she's thinking during the match.

HARVEST TIME! Okay, yep just like I thought, Ako cliffhanger to be resolved early in the next episode.

This was a damn good episode, and balanced things very well. Senriyama still get a lot of focus, but Achiga were very actve participants, from Yuu shutting down Sumire to Ako doing her best to control the flow of the game and (hopefully) prevent Takami from nuking everyone at the end. How well will it work?

Man this franchise is so great.

[William K]

They've only shown Senriyama with a coach among the other schools.

Yeah, but Senriyama's coach is goddamn Atago-mama

Ok, had to go onto the Saki wiki (with one eye closed to avoid spoilers) to look that up. I guess I should read the manga to see the Himematsu team in action

[Fencedude]

I've written some more extensive thoughts (http://www.seaslugteam.com/2013/01/03/saki-episode-of-side-a-13/) on this episode.

[strangefour]

-Fuck yeah Gibbard-chan! O__O
-Harvest time!
-Girls who remind you of girls are icky. *nods* Wait what? So girls must look girly to be enticing to you um... girl with tiny pigtails who's name I can't remember cause Achiga is the more forgettable team. :(
-Meanwhile, Giddard-chan is cheering! Her cheering magic is the only reason Achiga is doing so well.
-Subara!
-Bad politics girl is an odd little sheep.
-Lesbian ties. SYMBOLISM! I guess.
-Lesbian bondage is indeed Subara!
-Holy crap! The Kodomo needs to find some clothes for her friend! I do not need to see that much loli skin showing outside of a magical henshin sequence. >__<
-Nopan-chan has gears?

-Being Splashed in fluids...
-FunaQ faces...
-FunaQ licking fluids!
-Reservation Clear. ManGanKey! *waits for a super robot summoning sequence that never arrives*
-SUBARA! BaaaaaaiMaaaaaanKeeeeey!!!
-Cherry blossoms are in the air. A May September romance is blooming too.
-Flashback Gibbard-chan is giving you the power to win Arata!
-SEVEN!? Leaping lesbian libidos!
-JU-YO-HAN-KEY!!! :blush:
-Don't die Toki. :cry:

Next time: BONDAGE DEVICE RELEASE!

[elior]

the second 30 minutes special was great we was see arata power and mairu reservation was epic

[William K]

Fantastic episode again. The ending of Ako's match was sort of an anti-climax given how much they hyped up Harvest Time.

Arata's match was the highlight and there were lots of magical mahjong. We had a true monster in Mairu with her bondage mahjong, and Shiraitodai's Seiko with her watersports fishing style :)

FunaQ may not have special powers but she's a sabermetrician who likes to lick water from her face :D

The star is Arata though, and I'm glad we finally got a chance to see her playing after she was ignored for most of the series. Was logical that her style would be related to bowling splits. And it's confirmed that she's the club president since she's the most level-headed one. Arata learning and adapting Harue's style into her own was a nice touch. It looks like Achiga will remain in 2nd spot for the last match.

But Himeko has lots of keys in her possession which she'll convert into wins in her match including a 14-han!... And what is Awai's power that makes her so confident? (She's a 100th year student!)

Arrgh, another month of waiting...

Oh yeah. The match was so exciting that I forgot to mention Saki, Koromo and Hajime making a quick cameo appearance. Though in Hajime's case, her clothes seems to be missing a lot of parts :D

[something]

Episode 3:

- "Based on my skills, I'd be in the 100th year of high school." I love Awai.
- Surprised Ako makes adorable noises.
- Huh. Well, Harvest Time was a lot more underwhelming than I expected. They totally could have played that up more, or left more material in the beginning of the episode before it. Maybe they just built it up so well in the previous episode that anything would seem fairly most after waiting a month.
- But I'm glad Ako did so well - second most points at the table that rond. Still about 70k down on Shiraitodai though.
- Oh hey, the players actually talking to each other after a game. Why don't we get more of that? Also Sera is totally into Ako. =D
- But Ako prefers girlier girls...
- Bwhahaha, Sera made FunaQ jealous.

- Next up, Team Subara's Buchou!
- And Arata. By far the Achiga girl who's gotten the least focus. I barely even remember her playing a game. Now that we have two episodes after this instead of one, I assume her game will run this whole episode and into the next. Then an ep and a half for Shizu, plus a short epilogue?
- Awww, Arata loves you, Harue.
- So Seiko is the fisher. Doesn't sound as impressive as the sniper.
- Okay so Himeko and Mairu share an intimate sensual link via bondage. Works for me.
- Haha oh shit. FunaQ is not happy about being ignored. FunaQ is dangerous when she's not happy.
- Arata feels like she's being left out of the story. Yes, Arata, you're a member of Achiga. Sorry. :sd:

- Awww, Saki hanging out with Koromo and Hajime.
- Huh, even Koromo thinks Shizu is something special. I look forward to seeing why.

- ::lick:: ...FunaQ is creepy as fuck.
- HAHAHAHA oh god the innuendo.
- I wonder what Awai and Shizu will pull out? I mean, if we already know ahead of time how a bunch of hands will go, that limits surprises in the last match. Though I guess there are a lot of hands we don't see, so two of three aren't going to totally determine a game.
- Hooray, Arata wins a hand! You go and force them to realize you're there, Arata.
- Wow. FunaQ is taking a bit bite out of Shiraitodai.
- FunaQ reaches out for Arata's skirt (under which there are clearly no panties, of course)... and flips it!
- Arata is kinda badass when she needs to be.
- Nice little backstory about Arata and the weight of benig the club president. ...Wait, she's the club president?! I feel like other characters feel when they find out Yumi isn't president of Tsuruga. :sd: I totally forgot Arata was the president, if it's even been mentioned. Though I don't know who I assumed it was. Ako or Kuro I guess.
- Also lol Achiga has their own fanclub.
- Heh, tsundere Bansai girl is so cute.
- Awww.. yeah I realllllly like this Arata bit, short though it is.

- Holy shit only down 11k? Shiraitodai has gotten smashed. This just means Awai is going to be all the more terrifying early on in her match...
- RESERVATION SEVEN!
- OOoh the credits are starting. Will Arata take first before this ends, or will Mairu set up a truly enormous hand for Himeko in the last match? Such exciting tension~
- And it goes to Mairu. Awai is not the least bit scared. =D
- TOKI AWAKENS!

She may not get a lot of focus usually, but I really enjoyed Arata in this episode. I love the whole theme of Achiga, particularly Arata, seeking revenge for Harue's semifinals loss.

Fuuuuuuck we have to wait another month. ;_; Shizu vs Awai vs Himeko vs... oh yes, Ryuuka. This will be so fucking good.

[Fencedude]

- So Seiko is the fisher. Doesn't sound as impressive as the sniper.
- Holy shit only down 11k? Shiraitodai has gotten smashed. This just means Awai is going to be all the more terrifying early on in her match...


Seiko is horrible. How she got onto Shiraitodai's main team is a mystery, both to us and the all knowing PROFESSOR AWAI (http://fencedude.com/Saki/Awai_Shiraitodai.png). Seiko also has the dubious honor of the single largest point loss in the Side-A semifinals, having lost more points this round than SUBARA lost against Teru.

[something]

Seiko is horrible. How she got onto Shiraitodai's main team is a mystery, both to us and the all knowing PROFESSOR AWAI (http://fencedude.com/Saki/Awai_Shiraitodai.png). Seiko also has the dubious honor of the single largest point loss in the Side-A semifinals, having lost more points this round than SUBARA lost against Teru.
Heh, Seiko seems like a human sacrifice to plot arithmetic. You can't make Awai a Koromo-level mahjong monster and start her with a 70k point lead, not unless Shizu is going to land an absurd number of enormous hands. I guess a lot of Himeko's keys could be used against Awai but we need it to be at least somewhat close so everyone can pull out their crazy tricks and the math still add up.

Because we can't forget Ryuuka either, considering she's going to be out for blood to avenge Toki.

[William K]

- Nice little backstory about Arata and the weight of benig the club president. ...Wait, she's the club president?! I feel like other characters feel when they find out Yumi isn't president of Tsuruga. :sd: I totally forgot Arata was the president, if it's even been mentioned. Though I don't know who I assumed it was. Ako or Kuro I guess.

I thought it was Kuro too since she was the one who kept the club room neat and tidy while the club was not existent, and club presidents are usually 2nd year students. The only hint we got that Arata was president was when she represented Achiga in drawing the team slot at the beginning of the Nationals.

[HitokiriShadow]

"Based on my skills, I'd be in the 100th year of high school!" Awaaaaaiiiiiiiii~ <3 <3 <3

"If Shibuyua was dealer in the last round..." I WONDER IF THIS COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN IN THE FINALS MATCH

And then, we finally get to see lesbian telepatchic mahjong in animated form. And, at least as importantly, FunaQ finally gets to play. She's one of my favorite characters in the manga at this point. Love her evil looking faces, and I so hope that this won't be the last time I get to see her play.

Oh yeah, I forgot FunaQ was coach Atago's niece. Man, I want Senriyama to make it to the finals so bad but its just so hard to see Achiga not making it. And I so desperately want any team at that table BUT ACHIGA to make. Kinda torn between Senriyama and Shindouji, though I lean towards Senriyama for FunaQ.

Part of me is looking forward to next episode, because it will contain Himeko and Awai. And then part of me is dreading it for what the show might do with Shizuno.

[HitokiriShadow]

- Huh. Well, Harvest Time was a lot more underwhelming than I expected. They totally could have played that up more, or left more material in the beginning of the episode before it. Maybe they just built it up so well in the previous episode that anything would seem fairly most after waiting a month.

Apparently the TV series portion covered about 60 pages per episode and this episode went through about 160.


- Holy shit only down 11k? Shiraitodai has gotten smashed. This just means Awai is going to be all the more terrifying early on in her match...
Just think: without Teru, Shirotodai would be bankrupt right now.


Fuuuuuuck we have to wait another month. ;_; Shizu vs Awai vs Himeko vs... oh yes, Ryuuka. This will be so fucking good.I'm preparing to rage at Shizu MC hax.

[something]

I'm preparing to rage at Shizu MC hax.
I'm looking forward to it to make up for all the almost nothing she's been able to do so far. Just wish the show had a heck of a lot more time to establish it - it kinda feels like we've been shown two entirely different Achiga teams: one that didn't get to show off their skills much at all until the semifinals, and a very different one in the semifinals itself, through the end of the TV series and these bonus episodes. Much as I adore this show, nobody will ever give it an award for pacing. Two cour was absolutely mandatory for the story they wanted to tell... but we didn't get it. So I can accept that they're supposed to be very strong, and thus would be perfectly happy to see them win, but I lament that their team wasn't built up with anything like the level of detail given to Kiyosumi.

That it's still one of my favorite shows of 2012 just drives home how amazing the Sakiverse is in general.

[ultimatemegax]

Episode 15 will air (http://www.saki-anime.com/onair/) on 2013/04/02 at 19:30 (JST) on AT-X and episode 16 will air at the same time on 2013/05/25 on the same channel. Each episode will run throughout the week at different times, but expect Crunchy to have subs up about 30 minutes later.

[something]

2013/04/02
2013/05/25
Ugh I saw April and May and at first I thought "ok a month apart again, annoying but I expected it" but then I took another look and realized they're about "a month apart" as $2.01 and #3.99 are "a dollar apart".

What the hell. It's so dumb how long this is taking to finish.

[Fencedude]

What the hell. It's so dumb how long this is taking to finish.

Maybe the delay is to make the ending less shit.

[strangefour]

What the hell. It's so dumb how long this is taking to finish.

Maybe the delay is to make the ending less shit.

Come on super lesbian bondage mahjong victory ending. *crosses fingers*

[Damius]

2013/04/02
2013/05/25
Ugh I saw April and May and at first I thought "ok a month apart again, annoying but I expected it" but then I took another look and realized they're about "a month apart" as $2.01 and #3.99 are "a dollar apart".

What the hell. It's so dumb how long this is taking to finish.

Yeah... I was planing to wait for the last episode to watch the four of them... but I may change my mind...

[Fencedude]

TSURUTA HIMEKO.

THE HERO WE NEED. THE HERO WE DESERVE.

(also yeah that was just as much a shitshow as it was in the manga, amplified by some truly terrible music direction. And the worst is yet to come!)

[something]

Finally. Now to watch one episode and... then wait two months for the last. Argh.

Episode 15:

- Toki awakens! And awwwww, she calls out for Ryuuka.
- Oh right, we need to finish Arata's game. God damn these long long waits between episodes, I can barely remember what's going on.
- And now it's over. Well, good job Arata.
- Now Shizu is playing. Okay, now he's a good question, when did we last watch Shizu play in a tournament match? ::checks:: Episode seven. And guess when that aired? May 2012. TEN AND A HALF FUCKING MONTHS AGO. It's a good thing I love this franchise so much because holy shit that is insane.

- Haha, Shizu swaps clothes with Ako. No need to worry about swapping panties because of course neither wears any.
- Awwwwww, Arata leaning her head into Harue's chest.
- Awai~ Toki~ Himeko~ Sheesh, putting Shizu up against these these is a great way to make fans into her enemies when she, I assume, inevitably wins. >_>
- I wonder if one school is going to get crushed this game. Given the point totals at the start, I expect Ryuuka to play very solidly but not get a lead, Himeko to score big early on before slipping, and Awai to start crushing eventually before Shizu wins with some kinda crazy uber yakuman thing.

- SUBARA!
- Hahah that look on Awai's face when Himeko scores a big hand. SHE WANTS TO EAT YOU ALIVE.
- A baiman, and with that everyone is pretty close. It's like we've reset.
- Awww, Ryuuka wants a Toki on her lap. Toki is her Etopen.
- Toki rubbing her face in Ryuuka's thighs, YES PLEASE.
- "I can feel Toki here!" ::glowing thighs:: XD
- Uh, it worked. Ryuuka can see a turn ahead...

- Heh, now Achiga and Shiraitodai are at the bottom.
- ...The other players must think Ryuuka is crazy. But she's just talking to a disembodied chibi Toki, that's all!
- Hahahaha this is crazy. Now we're discussing the energy storage capacity of Ryuuka's thighs.
- Harue is Achiga's real secret weapon.
- Awai's hair is hilarious.
- Shizu's flame is starting to ignite.
- HAHAHAH, Awai is like "wait there was a fourth player?" Also what a tease, ending the episode without explaining what Shizu's power was. Harue mentioned something about dice? Hmmm.
- Man Ako looks good in Shizu's jersey.

Ughhhhhhhh it's absurd we need to wait so long for the last episode. Want now.

[strangefour]

-Toki is born again! This time a hundred turns into the future.
-This episode should be titled: Yuri-Ai's Counterattack. Because that what this episode is gonna be about. :D
-Nopan outfit swap! It's like she's a Gundam with swappable armor. And no panties.
-I hope putting on a real school uniform has sapped whatever Nopan's powers are. Achiga does not deserve to win this.
-Arata did well. Arata receives Boobs as a reward.
-Gibbard-chan is cheering! man why can't Gibbard be a fan of one of the good teams.
-kAwai has already taken the match into the realm of the outer gods.
-Subara!
-ManGanKey!
-Baiman MAN GAN KEY!!
-Toku puts her face her face on Ryuuka's lap so some of her power will rub off. Yeah. Suuure. That's the only reason you wanna rub around Ryuuka's crotch.
-Holy crap it did work. Ryuuka now has an astral future Toki on her side. Girls rubbing girls is super effective.

-AHAHAHAH! Magical future Toki only works once.
-SUBARA DES!
-Or more than once. Toki is back in chibi future fairy form.
-kAwai Thunder Break!
-OMG Double Riichi! Wtf is a double riichi? You can do that?
-Snake-Eyes? Is this a cross promotion with GI Joe: retaliation?
-Wait what just happened? How did Nopan win? She didn't use an super special background effect powers. This is not the mahjong I know!

Damn it Nopan. Since when is this show about the Achiga girls team? They have never been the focus. Do not win anything next episode. There are two lesbians at the table desperately playing for love.

[something]

-Wait what just happened? How did Nopan win? She didn't use an super special background effect powers. This is not the mahjong I know!
Haven't read the manga (and nobody spoil me, or even hint vaguely, or even think the answer too hard in my general direction!) but I'm definitely getting the sense that Shizu's ability is absorbing the powers of people she plays. I really got a Stealth Momo vibe from the end of this episode. It would also be one of the few ways to let her win (and I don't at all expect Achiga to lose) that at least has some logic to it, and explains why she can go from a "pretty good" player to top tier just over the course of a couple tournaments.

And yes yes everyone in the known universe except me hates team Achiga, so you don't need to remind me and meh~ to you all!