Akagi (2005)
A fearless teenage prodigy descends into the criminal gambling underworld, turning high-stakes mahjong into a battle of life and death.
Akagi - Series Information
- Original Title: 闘牌伝説アカギ～闇に舞い降りた天才～
- First Air Year: 2005
- Last Air Year: 2006
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Animation, Drama
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (24 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 26
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: October 5, 2005 (Canada - 14+), October 5, 2005 (Australia - MA 15+), October 5, 2005 (Mexico - B-15)
- Networks: Nippon TV
- Production Companies: VAP, Nippon Television Network Corporation, Madhouse
- Production Countries: Japan
- Alternative Titles: Mahjong Legend Akagi : The Genius Who Descended Into the Darkness (US), Touhai densetsu Akagi (JP), 斗牌传说 (CN), Акагі, легенда маджонгу (UA), Akagi, le génie descendu dans les ténèbres (FR)
Akagi - Plot
Nangou is a compulsive gambler who has accumulated debt over three million yen. In a last ditch attempt to clear his record, he decides to wager his life on a game of mahjong with the mafia. Unfortunately, as the game progresses, Nangou only moves further from the prize and closer to death. When all hope seems lost, the game parlor is suddenly intruded upon by Shigeru Akagi, a young boy on the run from the police. Desperate to turn the game around, Nangou hands the game over to Akagi after teaching him a few of the rules. The mafia can only smirk as Akagi sits down to play. However, they soon come to learn that Akagi is a natural born gambler. An imposing figure who does not fear death. One who is destined to become a legend.
Where to Watch Akagi
Looking for where to watch Akagi?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
Akagi - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Masato Hagiwara
- Toru Furuya
- Tessyo Genda
- Kenta Miyake
- Yuichi Nakamura
- Issei Futamata
- Masane Tsukayama
- Rikiya Koyama
- Toru Nara
- Kiyoshi Kawakubo
Akagi - FAQs
Where can you stream Akagi online?
Akagi is available to stream on Crunchyroll as part of its subscription library. If you want to check all current viewing options available in your region, JustWatch is a great tool to compare platforms and find the best way to watch.
Is Akagi based on a manga?
Akagi is adapted from the manga series Tobaku Mokushiroku Akagi by Nobuyuki Fukumoto, which began serialization in 1992 in Kindai Mahjong magazine. The anime closely follows the manga's early arcs, bringing Fukumoto's distinctive art style and psychological tension to the screen.
What is Akagi about?
Akagi follows a debt-ridden gambler named Nangou who is losing a life-or-death mahjong game against the mafia. A mysterious teenage runaway named Shigeru Akagi steps in and reveals an extraordinary, fearless talent for the game, setting him on the path to becoming a gambling legend.
How many episodes does Akagi have?
Akagi ran for one season comprising 26 episodes. Each episode runs approximately 24 minutes, making the full series a roughly ten-hour watch. It aired on Nippon TV in Japan from October 2005 to March 2006.
Is Akagi worth watching for non-mahjong fans?
Absolutely. While mahjong is central to the plot, the real draw is the psychological warfare and the almost supernatural cool of its protagonist. The tension rivals the best thriller anime out there, and you don't need to know a single mahjong rule to feel the dread and excitement at every turn.
What makes Akagi different from other gambling anime?
Unlike most gambling anime that lean on luck or clever tricks, Akagi thrives on pure psychological dominance. Shigeru Akagi wins not through strategy alone but by projecting an absolute indifference to death, which unnerves every opponent. That existential edge gives the series a uniquely dark and hypnotic atmosphere.
What are similar anime series to Akagi?
Fans of Akagi tend to love Kaiji (2007), another intense gambling anime by the same manga creator Nobuyuki Fukumoto, and Kakegurui (2017) for its high-stakes school gambling drama. Great Pretender (2020) and Tomodachi Game (2022) also deliver sharp psychological tension for viewers who enjoy mind games.
Who voices Akagi in the anime series?
Masato Hagiwara provides the voice of Shigeru Akagi, delivering a performance that perfectly captures the character's eerie calm and fearless intensity. Rikiya Koyama voices Nangou, the desperate gambler whose fateful encounter with Akagi sets the entire story in motion.
More About Akagi
Explore further details about Akagi on these authoritative databases.