Akagi: The Genius Who Descended Into Darkness is a story about the crazy genius Shigeru Akagi, who shows off his overwhelming talent as a gambler and competes against powerful opponents in a gambling ring. Akagi has competed in many battles over the course of its 26-year long run, and we've compiled a list of his main opponents and the results of his battles!
① Middle School Edition Opponent: Ryuzaki Result: Big win → Switched to Yagi
Akagi's first opponent is the yakuza Ryuzaki. When Akagi arrives at the mahjong parlor where Nangou and the yakuza are playing a game of mahjong to settle his debt, Nangou senses something in Akagi and asks him to play as a substitute, and the game begins. At first, Akagi doesn't even know the rules of mahjong, but he continues to win using his superhuman intelligence, insight, competitive spirit, and courage.
Substitute for Yagi
Despite only having played a few rounds of mahjong, Akagi has grasped the essence of mahjong and is able to pull off a cheat that would not go unpunished if discovered. He also shows superhuman judgment and courage by having the police who have come to the scene as witnesses, and continues to surpass Ryuzaki. At this point, Ryuzaki is no longer a match for him, and decides to leave the game to substitute Yagi.
② Junior High School Edition Opponent "Yagi" Result "Big win → Double push"
Yagi, who was called by Ryuzaki, watched several games and immediately realized how mysterious Akagi was. At first, he was wary and went around watching, but Akagi's threat that he would lose his arm if he lost did not work on him, and his moves to mentally trap Akagi were completely overlooked, so Yagi completely abandoned his contempt for Akagi and went into the match.
Even though he cheated and got a double full hand
Yagi uses a cheat called a caterpillar to get a direct hit of a double full hand when Akagi reaches, but in the next round he turns the tables by deliberately showing his opponent a naked single hand waiting hand, trapping Yagi. In the end, Akagi wins and Nangou's debt is cleared, and the hot night is over... or so everyone thought...
It's a double push...!
However, Akagi rides a horse to pay off Nangou's debt, which has now been forgiven, and demands a double push. The yakuza cannot refuse because of their reputation, and they fight again, but it is a very easy challenge for Akagi, who has mentally crushed Yagi, and the match becomes Akagi's stage. Akagi wins by a landslide, but naturally demands a double push.
③ Junior High School Edition Opponent "Ichikawa" Result "Victory"
After a double push, the opponent prepared by the yakuza was the blind master "Ichikawa". Ichikawa was a much higher-ranked opponent than Yagi, and even Akagi would have a hard time. However, Akagi was unable to make it in time to face Ichikawa at first, and although Nangou was forced to sit at the table, he was quickly cornered.
The Last Family...!
Akagi, who arrived just in time, quickly turned the tide and steadily earned points, but the gap with Ichikawa did not narrow, and even though he tried to shake up Ichikawa with Zetsuichimon and Jigoku-machi, he was unable to reduce Ichikawa's points. On the contrary, the gap with Ichikawa, who thoroughly avoided risk, gradually widened. So Akagi proposed to Ichikawa that they both reduce their points to 1/10, but Ichikawa refused.
He trapped Ichikawa and the match was decided...!
Akagi cheats against Ichikawa, making him understand that a long-term game is unfavorable, and makes Ichikawa accept the game with 1/10 of the points. However, this becomes an excuse for Ichikawa to cheat. With Ichikawa, a master, lifting the ban on cheating, Akagi is in a difficult position, but he uses his natural luck and Ichikawa's cheating to his advantage and defeats Ichikawa.
④ Fake Akagi - Urabe Chapter Opponent "Fake Akagi" Result "Victory"
Akagi, who was brought to Fake Akagi by Ishikawa of Kawada-gumi, who had once witnessed Akagi's match with Ichikawa, calls Fake Akagi, who relies on probability and theory, an ordinary person, and Fake Akagi proposes a gamble to Akagi. Akagi shows Fake Akagi something that cannot be measured by probability or theory, and wins the gamble that seemed impossible to win.
⑤ Fake Akagi vs. Urabe: Opponent Urabe, Result: Victory
In the pinch-hitting match between Fake Akagi and Urabe, Urabe intentionally lets Fake Akagi have the upper hand, then raises his rating and wins in one go, but he is replaced by Osamu and Akagi midway through. In the match between Akagi and Urabe, Akagi continues to take actions that are difficult for ordinary people to understand, such as paying penalties for open reaches and blunders while not showing his hand.
I'll hold him until he dies...!
Akagi's goal was to further corner Urabe, who was mentally cornered by the large amount of money at stake, by playing in a unique way. Urabe became suspicious due to his impossible actions and impossible misses, and Akagi saw through his true nature of "reserving" and exploited him. Akagi stood up before Urabe discarded his discarded tile, and the game was decided by Urabe's throwing without Akagi's presence.
⑥ Nakai Chapter Opponent "Nakai" Result "Victory"
While searching for Akagi, Osamu was confronted by a man named Junpei Nakai, who spoke in Kyushu dialect and said he made a living playing mahjong. Nakai challenged Akagi, who had appeared before Osamu, to a fight. Both men bet all their money on the fight, and Nakai conspired with two other friends to cheat using a "through", but Akagi saw through everything and he lost. He won by showing the overwhelming difference in strength.
⑦ Washizu Chapter Opponent "Washizu Iwao" Result "Victory, but Washizu wins in mahjong"
"Washizu Iwao" is the king of the underworld who made a huge fortune after running through the postwar upheaval. However, he despairs of the only inevitable thing in life, "old age" and "death", and hates young people who have no talent just because they are young. With money and power as a backing, he forces a life-risking game and takes the life of the loser. Ogi and Yasuoka pit Akagi against Washizu in order to steal Washizu's money.
Rules of Washizu Mahjong
Washizu Mahjong is a 2 vs 2 tag match, with 3 out of 4 tiles being glass tiles. If there is a transfer of points between Washizu and Akagi, Washizu pays a gift in cash and Akagi pays in blood as a congratulatory gift. After each half-round, the payment is settled in cash or blood depending on the ranking and score. In addition, you can choose whether to continue or not after every two half-rounds.
Discard the blood...!
In the early to mid-game, Akagi plays around with Washizu, but Washizu's lucky tsumo draws his blood, and since the match started in a disadvantageous situation for Akagi, it was actually a close call. Washizu can choose whether to continue or not every two half-games, so he tries to drop out after the fourth round, but Washizu chooses to continue because Akagi discarded the blood he had drawn.
The sixth round begins...!
After Akagi failed to finish off Washizu in the fifth round, the momentum shifted to Washizu in the sixth round. Washizu achieved a double Yakuman with Daisangenji Isshiki, giving him an almost impossible lead. However, by the end of the fifth round, Washizu was already low on cash, so he was unable to pay with cash and instead settled with blood. A battle begins in which both sides risk their lives.
Washizu returns from Kochikame time and space...!
In the 3rd round of the South, Akagi hits Washizu with a priceless Mankan direct hit, and Washizu loses a total of 1900cc of blood and falls into a coma. He falls into hell, where demons toy with the dead. In this Kochikame timeline, Washizu regains his former strength and leads the dead to revolt. He then punches King Enma, who appears later, and makes a splendid comeback with his obsession for Akagi in gold, and the final battle begins.
The end...!
In the final battle, which took 10 months in real time to be dealt, Washizu has a kokushi musou tenpai and Akagi has a 7-sided waiting for a pure suit. Akagi repeatedly calls to prevent Washizu from having a turn, crushing Washizu's kokushi musou, but Washizu's subsequent draws ensure his victory with Suzuki's support. However, Washizu runs out of strength before that and his subordinates begin life-saving measures, so Akagi's camp wins. Akagi has effectively lost the game, and since he is not satisfied with his victory, he leaves the scene without accepting the money.
Akagi's opponents and results
Akagi is almost undefeated in the story. Although it cannot be said that he won completely against Washizu, if we look at the final result alone, Akagi is victorious. He leaves his name as a legendary mahjong player, and from here he leads to "heaven". He can be said to be a character who has left a legacy throughout his life.
