Saki Zenkoku-hen

Half the cherry blossoms around Kirishima-Jingu are already in bloom.

Peak viewing conditions are expected by next weekend.

So tired...

I figured you'd be here.

What is it, Sae?

Shiro! We're going to the station now.

Get up, quick!

I'm too tired to move.

Don't be so lazy!

Heavy...

Heavy!

Oh well, I guess we'll just go with Aislinn.

What's at the station?

We just got a call from Kumakura-sensei.

Toyone is coming today. Officially.

Aww! Shiro, we missed it because of you!

Do you think Sensei and Toyone were on there?

Probably.

Hey, let's go meet them at the station.

I told them that they didn't have to come meet us.

Toyone!

Here I am.

Toyone!

Now we're five.

Now...

Everything can begin.

Saki

The Nationals

Venue for the West Tokyo Regional Preliminaries

Hand 1: To Tokyo

Riichi!

A double-riichi!

Shiraitodai's fifth player, Oohoshi Awai,

already sailed through the first half of the match on top.

She's taking out some insurance with this double-riichi!

Kan!

Tsumo!

3,000. 6,000.

And it's over!

For the third year in a row, Shiraitodai High School

is the West Tokyo representative at nationals!

Shiraitodai High School 1st Year Oohoshi Awai

Shiraitodai High School 2nd Year Matano Seiko

While Shiraitodai's second team is also considered prefectural representative strength,

Shiraitodai High School 2nd Year Shibuya Takami

this "Team Torahime" is in

an entirely different league!

Shiraitodai High School 3rd Year Hirose Sumire

The one leading the team stands

at the pinnacle of all 10,000 high schoolers!

If you talk about the inter-high school tournament,

you're talking about her.

The current champion, Miyanaga Teru!

They've made their move toward a new record of winning

Shiraitodai High School 3rd Year Miyanaga Teru

the nationals three times in a row!

There it is!

Arena for the East Tokyo Regional Preliminaries

We just witnessed the birth of the strongest team in East Tokyo!

Analyst / Professional Mahjong player Kokaji Sukoya

Commentary / Announcer Fukuyo Kouko

Rinkai Girls' has represented their region 15 years in a row!

That's our pro player Kokaji! She's got her facts straight!

That means this is their 16th year representing East Tokyo!

Are you really an announcer?

But you know, they do have a lot of foreigners on their team.

Rinkai Girls'

You're right.

But starting this year,

there's a rule that you can't have an exchange student

be the first player.

Until last year, Rinkai only had exchange students on their team.

You're right, that's unfair and downright mean, huh?

I didn't say that!

But this team is really strong.

The only Japanese player on their team, Tsujigaito,

came in third in last year's individual tournament.

Rinkai Girls' 3rd Year Tsujigaito Satoha

Davin, from the USA, will be playing in

Rinkai Girls' 3rd Year

the team matches, like last year.

But it's the three new scholarship students who are drawing the world's attention.

Hao, from Hong Kong, won the silver medal at the Asian tournament in Inchon.

Rinkai Girls' 1st Year Hao Huiyu

From Sakartvelo, we have Virsaladz,

Rinkai Girls' 1st Year

who made a name for herself at the World Junior Tournament.

Choe Myenonghwa from France earned herself the title

of "Venter," or "The God of Wind," at the European championship,

Rinkai Girls' 2nd Year Choe Myenonghwa

and places high in the worldwide ranking.

Worldwide ranking?! Wow, really?! How about you?

Me?

Well, I haven't played in many tournaments

that would be pertinent to that ranking...

When I last looked at the site, I was ranked 973.

And this concludes our broadcast!

Kagoshima

A direct yakuman hit ends it!

The prefectural preliminaries are over

without ever reaching the fifth player!

Just like last year, Kagoshima will be represented by Eisui Girls'!

Eisui Girls' 3rd Year Usuzumi Hatsumi

I hear that Usuzumi often wins when she is in the North seat.

What is your take on this, pro player Oonuma?

The North seat exposes her tiles between

the East seat and the North seat...

The North-East Gate of Evil...

The rest of her tiles are then the reverse, the South-West Gate of Evil...

I don't quite get what you mean,

but Usuzumi's South-West Gate of Evil decided it this time!

Eisui Girls' will be going to the Nationals once more!

I'm back.

Good work.

Good work, Hacchan.

Is the princess resting?

Eisui Girls' 3rd Year Karijuku Tomoe

Yes, she had to.

I don't know if I should be happy or sad that I didn't have to play.

Eisui Girls' 1st Year Takimi Haru

Eisui Girls' 3rd Year Iwato Kasumi

It's good when it's over quickly, isn't it?

I mean...

All of us from different branch families are here together this year. And do you know why?

So our Princess doesn't have to overdo it like last year.

Eisui Girls' 2nd Year Jindai Komaki

Let's just keep going like this and win the Nationals without hassle.

Ron.

2,000.

Himematsu High School (South Osaka) 3rd Year Suehara Kyouko

That's it!

All right!

Himematsu High School (South Osaka) 3rd Year Atago Hiroe

Himematsu High School's fifth player, Suehara, carefully ends it with a hidden tenpai.

Himematsu High School (South Osaka) 2nd Year Atago Kinue

I knew Suehara-senpai would do it.

Himematsu High School (South Osaka) 2nd Year Ueshige Suzu

Himematsu High School (South Osaka) 3rd Year Mase Yuuko

In the end, though, their lead is huge!

This year's rep for South Osaka is Himematsu High School, again!

August Nagano

Good morning.

Good morning.

It's finally time.

Yes.

Finally the Nationals.

I can see my sister!

Healthy and ample,

it's Inter-high Tournament Radio!

Here again this week, the not-so-ample super announcer,

Fukuyo Kouko, and...

The not-so-healthy Kokaji Sukoya.

We'll be keeping you updated on the inter-high tournament.

By the way, you received a silver medal in Rio de Janeiro's

East Match Freestyle, as well as other glamorous achievements.

Where's this coming from?

Lately, you've been playing for a local club team

and are quite far away from any title, right?

All that set-up just to criticize me?!

But apparently,

the reason for that was to save a local club from likely ruin.

I've heard you're very popular with the locals,

especially the children.

And let's not forget that you won the inter-high tournament

20 years ago!

I just read about it on the web!

It was only 10 years ago!

I don't even like to say that...

Once again this year,

students from 3,000 schools have fought hard all across the nation,

and the representative schools who won those tough regional tournaments

are arriving here in Tokyo, one after another!

We're finally here, Tokyo!

Well, it's Shinjuku.

Hmm... Our transfer is this way.

We finally made it.

It's big!

Where's Kyoutarou?

Suga-kun's in a single room in the other building.

Now,

until tomorrow's opening ceremony, you're free to do what you like.

Of course, don't go overboard and end up exhausted tomorrow.

Yay!

Nodo-chan, Saki-chan! Come with me!

Zoom!

Where are you going, Yuuki?

Isn't that obvious?!

Are you sure about this?

Yes.

We have to get used to living here first.

It's a long way to the finals.

You're right.

Bath

Bath!

There are other people, so be a little quieter.

Yuuki-chan sure loves the bath.

Yup.