Saki: The Nationals

Saki: The Nationals, released in 2014 by Studio Gokumi under the broadcast umbrella of TV Tokyo, serves as the second season of the long-running anime adaptation of Ritz Kobayashi’s manga series. The production followed the successful 2009 original series and was developed to satisfy growing demand for further competitive depictions of mahjong within the high school sports genre. The narrative focuses on the Kiyosumi High School team’s journey through the national tournament, building upon the established tropes of supernatural-infused mahjong strategy that defined the franchise.

The character designs were handled by Masakatsu Sasaki, who worked to maintain the distinctive, stylized aesthetic of the source manga while translating the high-speed intensity of the matches into fluid animation. Reception of the series was largely driven by the existing fanbase of the manga, who appreciated the technical accuracy of the mahjong maneuvers combined with the high-stakes dramatic pacing. The show remains a notable entry in the 'girls-doing-sports' anime subgenre, often cited for its balance of lighthearted character interactions and serious, tension-filled gameplay sequences.