What is Saki About?#
Saki follows the story of Saki Miyanaga, a high school student who initially wants nothing to do with mahjong. However, after being dragged into the school’s mahjong club by her friend Suga, her hidden talents are revealed. Saki is an incredibly strong player, but with a unique twist: she lacks the desire to win, which results in her always achieving a score of plus-minus zero—a feat that is normally considered impossible.
Her perspective changes after meeting Nodoka Haramura, which reawakens her competitive drive. Together with her club members, Saki begins a journey to challenge for the National Championship. If you are looking to dive into this world, you can watch the anime on Prime Video.
Is the Anime Really Finished?#
Whether the anime is “finished” depends on what you are looking for. The anime adaptation spans multiple series, including the original run and various sequels and spinoffs. However, the Saki franchise is rooted in a massive manga series that began in 2006 and has seen over 10 million copies in circulation.
Because the manga is so extensive—with numerous spinoffs like Saki re: King’s Tile Draw and Toki—watching only the anime will likely leave you wanting more. To get the full, comprehensive story and a truly satisfying conclusion, continuing with the source material is highly recommended. You can buy the Saki manga to see the complete journey of the National Championship.
Who Should Watch Saki?#
Saki is best suited for viewers who enjoy high-stakes tournament dramas and school-life settings. It blends the tension of competitive mahjong with school-based themes and a touch of ecchi. Its main appeal lies in the strategic battles and the growth of Saki’s desire to win.
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Recommended Watch Order#
Navigating the Saki universe can be confusing due to the variety of spinoffs. We recommend referring to our relationship tree for a visual guide, but here are the best paths based on your preferences:
Release Order#
If you want to experience the series as it was aired:
- Saki (2009)
- Saki Episode of Side A (2012)
- Saki - The Nationals (2014)
- Saki Biyori (2015)
Completionist Order#
For those who want every piece of animated content, we suggest following the logical flow of the story: start with the original Saki series, move into the sequel Saki - The Nationals, and then explore the side stories like Saki Episode of Side A and the slice-of-life Saki Biyori. For the ultimate experience, you should also look into the manga spinoffs such as Shinohayu and the Final Fantasy XIV collaboration manga.
Source Material Path#
For those who don’t mind reading, the best way to experience the story is to start with the original Saki manga from 2006. This provides the most depth before supplementing your experience with the anime adaptations.
Extra Information for Fans#
If you’ve become a fan of the series, you might be interested in the various collaborations. For example, there has been a Saki and Final Fantasy XIV collaboration mahjong manga.
Looking to collect some gear? You can buy Saki merchandise to show your support for the club!
Saki • manga • 2006-06 (serialized in Young Gangan)
└─(adaptation)→ Saki • anime • 2009-04-05 to 2009-09-27
└─(sequel)→ Saki - The Nationals • anime • 2014-01-05
└─(spinoff)→ Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A • manga • 2011-08-12 (Serialized in Monthly Shonen Gangan)
└─(adaptation)→ Saki Episode of Side A • anime • 2012-04-08
└─(spinoff)→ Shinohayu • manga • 2013-09-25 (serialized in Big Gangan, Oct 2013)
└─(spinoff)→ Saki Biyori • manga • 2011-06-17 to 2012-08-17 (Young Gangan, 2011 #13 - 2012 #17)
└─(adaptation)→ Saki Biyori • anime • 2015-07-25
└─(spinoff)→ Saki re: King's Tile Draw • manga • 2020-03-25 (serialized on Gangan Online)
└─(spinoff)→ Saki & Final Fantasy XIV • manga • 2021-01-22 (serialized on Manga UP!)
└─(spinoff)→ Toki • manga • 2016-06-25 (serialized in Big Gangan, Jul 2016)
