On June 30, 2025, the M-League 2025-26 Draft took place, where nine players across four teams were chosen to compete on the M-League stage. From young and old, new and returning faces, let’s take a look at the players who will be playing on the M-League stage next season.
Earth Jets 1st Pick: Ishii Kazuma (石井一馬) (Saikouisen)
Birthday: February 21, 1986 (Age 39)
Professional Organization: Saikouisen
Pro League: A1
Titles: 41st King’s Cup, 49th Saikoui, 21st Mahjong Masters
Witht he right to choose first as the new team, the Earth Jets chose Ishii Kazuma (石井一馬) from Saikouisen as their first pick.
Ishii is the current Saikouisen League title holder and is the winner of the 41st King’s Cup and 21st Mahjong Masters.
While holding a watch party, we got a chance to see Ishii’s reaction when he heard the news. He also had a can of Earth Jet bug spray on hand as well.
Posting a screenshot from his watch party, Ishii told fans that he will do his best to help the team win the championship.
Earth Jets 2nd Pick: Miura Tomohiro (三浦智博) (JPML)
Birthday: April 26, 1987 (Age 38)
Professional Organization: JPML
Pro League: A1
Titles: 40th・41st JPML 10-Dan, 48th King’s Cup, 4th Kojima Takeo Cup
For their 2nd pick, the Earth Jets chose Miura Tomohiro from JPML.
Miura is a top member from his organization, playing in the highest league in the organization, a back-to-back winner of the 10-Dan tournament and winner of the King’s Cup. And just the day before, he won the 4th Kojima Takeo Cup.
In a post, Miura said that while has been playing as an individual in his mahjong career, he will work even harder and bring his best as part of a team.
Earth Jets 3rd Pick: Aikawa Megumu (逢川恵夢) (NPM)
Birthday: August 28, 1987 (Age 37)
Professional Organization: NPM
Pro League: C1, Women’s A1
Titles: 17th・18th・20th・22nd・23rd NPM Mahjong Queen, 9th Western Cup
As their 3rd pick, the Earth Jets chose Aikawa Megumu from NPM.
Aikawa Megumu is one of the most decorated female player in her organization, winning her organization’s women’s league 5 times in the past 7 years.
Aikawa Megumu expressed her wish to live up to the team’s expectations, and also commented on the old photo that the team used.
She also hosted a live stream afterwards to express her emotions.
Earth Jets 4th Pick: HIRO Shibata (HIRO柴田) (JPML)
Birthday: February 16, 1976 (Age 49)
Professional Organization: JPML
Pro League: A1
Titles: 39th JPML Phoenix League, 13th・14th Grand Prix MAX
For their final pick, the Eart Jets chose HIRO Shibata from the JPML, the oldest pick of this draft.
Like Miura, Hiro Shibata is in the top league of JPML and was the league’s title holder back in their 2022 season. He is also a back-to-back winner of the Grand Prix MAX.
In his “thank you” post and note, Hiro Shibata says that it’s a dream come true to be able to take on this new challenge of being an M-Leaguer.
Beast X 1st Pick: Shimoishi Geki (下石戟) (NPM)
Birthday: March 20, 1987 (Age 38)
Professional Organization: NPM
Pro League: A1
Titles: 15th RMU Crown, 2011 Western Championship, 2024 Pirates Treasure Hunt, 2025 Beast X Audition
Having won the 2025 Beast X New Member Audition, Shimoishi Geki (下石戟) from Nihon Pro Mahjong (NPM) was chosen as the Beast X’s first pick.
Shimoishi posted that he strives to become stronger and ask everyone to support him.
EX Furinkazan 1st Pick: Nagai Kousuke (永井孝典) (Saikouisen)
Birthday: August 10, 1986 (Age 38)
Professional Organization: Saikouisen
Pro League: C3
Titles: 2024 IKUSA, 2025 EX Furinkazan Draft Audition
As the winner of the EX Furinkazan’s 2025 Draft Audition, Saikouisen pro Nagai Kousuke (永井孝典) was the EX Furinkazan’s first pick.
Nagai got the chance to play in the Draft Audition after beating out 97 other pros in the 2024 IKUSA tournament hosted by the EX Furinkazan. In the Draft Audition, Nagai barely qualified in both the first and second rounds, but he managed to win 2/3 of the games in the finals to win the tournament.
In a post, Nagai said that he will do his best to make the EX Furinkazan more popular and that he hopes that player/coach Aki and everyone else on the team will be able to lift the championship plate.
Kadokawa Sakura Knights 1st Pick: Akutsu Shota (阿久津翔太) (JPML)
Birthday: April 23, 1996 (Age 29)
Professional Organization: JPML
Pro League: A1
Titles: 1st Young Lion’s Cup
To fill in their single vacancy, the Kadokawa Sakura Knights chose Akutsu Shota from JPML.
Despite being only 29, Akutsu has found a good amount of success in his mahjong career. In 2021, Akutsu won the very first Young Lion’s Cup. At the start of this year, he was at the top the JPML A2 League and is now competing in JPML A1 League.
Akutsu will be the youngest player competing in the M-League 2025-26 season.
In a social media post and note, Akutsu told everyone that he was grateful for being chosen and that he will do his best to become stronger before the start of the season.
Beast X 2nd Pick: Tojo Rio (東城りお) (JPML)
Birthday: September 18, 1990 (Age 35)
Professional Organization: JPML
Pro League: D3, Women’s B
Titles: Former Sega Sammy Phoenix (2021-24)
After being away from the M-League spotlight for a year, former Sega Sammy Phoenix player Tojo Rio returns to the M-League stage as a member of the Beast X.
During her three seasons with the Sega Sammy Phoenix, she had positive results in two seasons and helped the team get 2nd place overall in the 2021-22 season.
Even though she was unsure of what to write, she thanked fans for their support and said that that she will show her gratitude through good results.
In the official Beast X news release, she said that she never dreamed of being back on the M-League stage and said it was thanks to the support of fans that she has the opportunity.
EX Furinkazan 2nd Pick: Uchikawa Kotaro (内川幸太郎) (JPML)
Birthday: May 6, 1981 (Age 44)
Professional Organization: JPML
Pro League: A1
Titles: 35th JPML 10-Dan, Former Kadokawa Sakura Knights (2019-2025)
40 days after being dropped by the Kadokawa Sakura Knights, the EX Furinkazan have picked up Uchikawa Kotaro. During that 40 days, Uchikawa participated in the 2025 EX Furinkazan Draft Audition (initially known as “Mister X” before before it was announced he was leaving the Sakura Knights) and ended up being eliminated in the semifinals.
With the Sakura Knights, Uchikawa was the team captain and the 1st overall pick during the 2019-20 draft. He led the team to the finals four times, including a championship in the 2021-22 season.
After being drafted, Uchikawa posted a simple message on his social media: “Thank you everyone.”
In his note and a livestream on YouTube, Uchikawa more freely expressed his joy and believed that all the support and talk about him on social media helped him return to M-League.
Seven new players and two familiar faces will be returning to M-League, with next seasn starting in September! How will they fare? As always, we’ll just have to wait and see!
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