Saki is a great manga. Definitely worth a read even if you know nothing about mahjong, or don't usually read 'sports' manga (which is essentially what this is.) The characters are all memorable and lovable, and the drama in the series becomes extremely absorbing. I'm trying hard not to spoil here but there were panels and scenes that sent chills down my spine.

The main drama is centered around Saki's relationship with her sister Teru. Saki lives with her father in a sleepy rural prefecture, while her sister is a famous mahjong player in Tokyo. The reasons they're separated are not made clear, and is only gradually hinted at over the course of the manga. Their relationship is clearly not good (in Tokyo, Teru coldly tells her teammates she doesn't have a sister.)

I really don't want to spoil, so I'll just say the way the way the reasons for their estrangement are gradually hinted in flashback had me as much on the edge-of-my-seat as anything I've ever read.

The main plot of the story is that the mahjong club at Saki's school (which she joins) is trying to qualify for the nationals, which take place in Tokyo. Saki wants to qualify so she can settle things with her sister, and also fulfill a promise with another girl.

Take big note of the Shoujo Ai category and GL Subtext tag by the way. The yuri is barely concealed (you can leave your goggles at home) and the 'romances' are honestly the best part of the series. They're what really gets you invested and I like every single pairing.

The weak part of Saki is the actual mahjong. There is quite a bit of time devoted to the actual games, and they're pretty silly. Some of the characters possess supernatural abilities, and score improbable hand after improbable hand. I'm not gonna lie, some of it can be pretty badass, but most of the time it's just silly.

However, there is one masterstroke when it comes to the actual mahjong games. Usually I find sports manga boring because you know who's going to win, which undermines the drama in the games. Of course the underdog protagonists will win, right? So when the manga tries to invest you in the struggle, it falls flat. Well, Saki sidesteps this by taking the time to individually develop every. single. character. This includes every opponent. You love every character, and they all have intense personal reasons that make them want to win. The matches maintain absolute intensity because you don't want any of the characters to lose, and they all have a lot on the line. This is good stuff.

... Last updated on May 19th, 2017, 6:14pm

Let's see... The loli characters like to wander around in public with almost non-existant tops where (if nipples were drawn) their chippai would be visible for all to see. Any time you get shown a peak under a skirt they're never wearing pantsu. As far as the mahjong goes, characters have the ability to bend space and time to make the right tiles come to them (or not come to the other players.)

Yet I'm still reading (11 volumes and counting) so the mangaka's doing something right.

'Hikaru no go with boobs' as said below.

BUT I guess I'm too used to more 'serious' games/sports-related series. Too much fanservice for me, sorry!
Dropped it after volume 1.

... Last updated on January 27th, 2012, 12:43pm

I hated this series when I read the first volume, but when the anime came out I decided to give the rest a try. I admit I prefer the anime to this. Something about seeing the gross exaggerated playing of mahjong (as well as consistent proportions of face to eye) in fluid color tickles my fancy. Unfortunately, I still like the manga; as much as I hate to admit it.

Though I consider myself an individual of refined taste, every now and then I fall head over heels in love for a generic fanservice-laden series like this. It's a damn shame, I know.

... Last updated on December 12th, 2011, 2:59am

i really like hng and though saki cannot be compared to the perfection of hng, this is quite good too. like hng, i also don't give a damn about the game itself (i dont understand them at all) but seeing them battle through games is such a fun feeling. saki have cute moe characters, stock personality, average drawing and sub par expressions. however, do read it because it is quite exciting seeing them battle as one never know who will win!

I don't know about the other people who reads this manga but the main thing that drives me to read this manga is the characters. The plot, story, and even the mahjong games are somewhat predictable and thus getting a bit dull; but, the characters are what gives Saki it's charm. If you've noticed the author focuses on the background and interrelations with the characters rather then the plot/story.

What gives Saki the little extra spice that makes it good (for me at least) is the yuri subtext that doesn't require strong "yuri goggles." The pairings in this manga just makes me want more and eagerly anticipate how the author will develop their relationships.

Anyhow how you'll like this manga all depends on your taste but you should give it a try I personally recommend the anime before the manga, though I watched it after. The anime is was surprisingly well executed and brings out the yuriness of Saki even more (which I loved).

The only bad thing about this manga is how long it takes for some new Saki to come out -_-

This manga's not executed very well. The plot is quite interesting actually, and so far it seems that even while the focus is on mahjong and it's details, the story still has it's hand in it (during vol. 1). You don't really get overwhelmed as they don't require you to know Japanese mahjong. The only thing I'm a bit sad about, is that the plot moves from maintaining a break at all times to a win at all times and thus seems to transform into a standart mainstream one. Let's see how that plays out.
How it plays out by vol.6: This series turns into a trainwreck you can't look away from. It's just disappointing, but well, you read it anyway cause it's available for free. I wouldn't pay a penny for this manga. From the unique idea of not winning a game and instead going for break every time (which is a lot harder to do) the plot "evolves" (I wouldn't call it that. It's just devolving and turning sour) into your everyday-common-boring-mainstream plot. What made Saki special has been successfully blown up. Rating goes down from a 5.5 to a 2.

Large parts of the art, especially the movements in the games and the special effects are way overboard though. Doesn't feel creditible anymore, just plain overdone. I have to force my focus away from all the silliness to enjoy the read.
Edit:
Having read into vol.6 I'm very disappointed. The way Kobayashi drew the games turns just completely silly and does not have any taste. I don't feel like I'm reading a manga about mahjong anymore.

... Last updated on August 31st, 2010, 4:32am

From what I've read so far, the series is ok. Not that bad, but I really can't say that it's really good either. I would highly recommend it to any mahjong lovers, but for the rest who don't know much about the game, well, you probably won't develop much of a liking towards it.

I have to admit that the plot at the beginning was quite interesting. But I feel that the manga focuses too much on the intricacies of the game mahjong,

The difference in the language of the terms they used in the game caused me no few troubles as well when trying to read the game they are playing, causing it to be a little dry for my taste.

... Last updated on March 27th, 2009, 9:54am

reading the last 2 reviews i was expecting something horrible... idk imo it wasn't that bad...

as for fanservice... it wasn't really all that much... besides the girl with the oversized boobs, so its mostly just the art, nothing etcchi in part of the story, so comparing to like love hina or dears, etcchi is almost non-existant....

story wise, like the post below said, its not the "special" manga but from its quite readable. I never read shion no ou manga but comparing to shion anime, it doesn't fall all that far...

my suggestion: stop reading these reviews and read a few chapters yourself and form your own opionion, chances are you might like it

... Last updated on February 9th, 2009, 5:54pm

not so good....it's very typical~ for all there is~those same lines could be used in pretty much any sport manga, but i was waiting for something special to make this manga likeable, sadly nothing refreshing here....