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Sometimes, the impossible is possible. The unattainable is attainable. That barrier that seems to be blocking you from moving forward can be broken.
In the 23rd week of the M-League 2024-25 regular season, that barrier that fans were waiting to see toppled was finally broken. It took perseverance and a team effort to do it, but fans all over the world cheered as that one team hit the incredible milestone.
Let’s get right into it, shall we?
Intro | Standings
In mahjong, there are always great plays that capture our attention, from tight races to decisive deal-ins. However, nothing will ever beat the classic: the big win. When a player keeps winning and winning, they rack up their points higher and higher, pushing the limits with limit hands.
In the 22nd week of the M-League, we had not one, but two games with big wins. We also had some nice last-hand comebacks, some players getting their first wins in many months, and an rare yaku that has only been seen twice before in M-League history!
Let’s get right into it, shall we?
Intro | Standings
Getting hit at the start of a game is rough. Whether it be a small hand or a mangan, you spend the rest of the game playing catch-up. However, even when at the bottom, the best players can fight and make their way to the top.
In the 21st week of the M-League 2024-25 regular season, we had multiple players defying the odds, getting hit with a mangan and still finishing in 1st place, sometimes with a commanding lead. For others, they escaped a deep hole to eke out a small gain. And in one incredible moment, smart messaging allowed two players to get big influential gains, all with just a 2,000 hand.
Let’s get right into it, shall we?
Intro | Standings
For some, February is the month for flirting. For M-Leaguers, February is the month for fighting. It’s the second-last month of the regular season and playoff spots are on the line. Individuals are trying to reach new records and snag individual awards. Starting this season, these individual awards come with prize money. Every point matters.
In the 20th week of the M-League 2024-25 season, these February fights were fierce. In three of these games, a big hand in South 4 decided who would win the match. In two games, someone won a baiman.
Let’s get right into it, shall we?
Intro | Standings
If a player wins a hand worth 8 to 10 han, they will win what is known as a baiman. A baiman is worth 16,000 for a non-dealer and 24,000 for the dealer. To see one is relatively uncommon. To see three happen in a single day is a sight to see.
That is exactly what happened during the 19th week of the M-League 2024-25 regular season. A week that was relatively quiet became bursting with big hands left, right, and centre during the final day of the month.
I won’t try to buy myself more time, so let’s get right into it, shall we?
On January 31, M-League announced that the M-League Wafer Collection Box will be sold at HMV&BOOKS online and at Lawson stores starting February 7.
Each box will come with one random wafer, as well as a random card. There are 36 normal cards (one for each player) and 9 rare cards (one for each team) available to be collected. Each pack also comes with a scannable code for access to a digital photo frame.
Intro | Standings
Mahjong is a game about making decisions. Each decision a player makes can have a big influence on a game. And when everything is revealed, you find out that a single decision helped you dodge the biggest bullet in your life.
In the 18th week of the M-League 2024-25 season, one specific player found out that they escaped a cruel fate they had felt once before. We also had a different close call this week, where a team neared a milestone but fell just short of it.
Let’s finish this opening and get right into it, shall we?
Intro | Standings
The Japanese government has declared January 21 a national holiday to commemorate Sonoda Ken (園田賢) of the Akasaka Drivens winning his first Ura 3.
【1/21 1G 東2】
— Mリーグ(プロ麻雀リーグ)実況 (@m_league_jikkyo) January 21, 2025
ドリブンズ #園田賢 が
跳満のアガリ‼️
視聴は👇@ABEMA で視聴中
▷ https://t.co/1s1vXgxh4Q#Mリーグ pic.twitter.com/CIzIDk8jaQ
The Ura 3 win occurred during the first game on January 21, 2025. In E2-0, Sonoda called riichi on turn 2 on a west/8p shanpon. After winning on the west during the ippatsu round, the south was revealed as the uradora indicator, making his west triplet the new uradora. With the flip, it gave Sonoda a Riichi/Ippatsu/West/Aka 1/Ura 3 win for 12,000.
Sonoda, who was drafted back in 2018, had never gotten a Ura 3 win in his more than 6 years with the league. However, Sonoda had dealt into an Ura 3 hand six times.
In a televised news conference, the government told the country:
This momentous occasion has never before been seen in our country’s history. Our government is expected to unanimously promote him as the country’s national spokesperson. He has proven through his interviews that he is an excellent speaker.
However, experts are skeptical about the move, citing that important trade deals could be delayed if Sonoda’s speeches take too long.
I do worry about our diplomatic relations. And the health and stamina of our interpreters.
Some superstitious fans expected the ura 3 win to happen sooner or later.
It was foretold! If you add up the digits in 2025/01/21, you get 13, representing the first Ura 3 for Sonoda!
Others are worried that this is just a preview of even scarier things to come.
This goes against the laws of nature! What’s next? Kurosawa Saki winning a hadaka tanki?
When Sonoda was asked about the holiday and promotion, he simply replied:
Nan nan?
It was the worst of times, it was the best of times. It was the age of foolishness, it was the age of wisdom. It was the epoch of incredulity, It was the epoch of belief. It was the season of darkness, it was the season of light. It was the winter of despair, It was the spring of hope.
In the 17th week of the M-League 2024-25 regular season, we saw the worst of Daisuke and we saw the best of Daisuke. In a single game, we saw unbelievable pain to unbelievable excitement, breaking records when we least expected them.
Let’s get right into it, shall we?
Intro | Standings
In the 2023-24 M-League Draft, Asami Maki was chosen by the Akasaka Drivens to become their newest team member. That season, she helped the team make their first finals appearance in three years. This week, the 16th week of the M-League 2024-25 season, Asami did something special, being only the third M-League to do this incredible feat.
Let’s keep moving ahead and get right into it, shall we?
On January 2 and 3, the second edition of the Pro Baseball New Year’s Mahjong Exchange Tournament took place.
After four qualifying games, Tanaka Eito for the Yomiuri Giants, Nakamura Kento of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, as well as former M-Leaguers Tojo Rio and Maruyama Kanako all advanced to the finals.
With a close game going into the final hand, Nakamura soared swam strong in his final dealership to finish the game with a commanding score of 52,600 to win the tournament. With the win, Nakamura received
With Nakamura’s tournament win, he received a new AMOS REXX III and a 13-inch iPad Pro Wi-Fi 256G.
All VODs for the tournament, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the tournament, can be watched for free on ABEMA
Intro | Standings
In 2018, Shiratori Sho was the Shibuya Abemas’ second round draft pick in the very first M-League draft. Over the years, he has helped the team make the finals five times and won the championship in the 2022-23 season. This week, the 15th week of the M-League 2024-25 season, he accomplished a feat that has only been done once before in the entire history of M-League.
Let’s start the show and get right into it, shall we?
This week, M-League announced the return of the Pro Baseball New Year’s Mahjong Exchange Tournament, sponsored by Daiwa Connect Securities.
The 16 players will be split into four tables, with the winner of each table advancing to the finals.
This edition, 14 Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) players and 2 former M-Leaguers (Tojo Rio and Maruyama Kanako) will be competing in the tournament.
Helping out with commentary are 8 different M-Leaguers and the regular M-League commentary and interview staff.
All games will be broadcast for free on the ABEMA Mahjong Channel.
Tables A and B will be broadcast on Thursday, January 2, 2025 starting at 6:00PM JST and will last until midnight.
Tables C and D, as well as the Final Table, will be broadcast on Friday, January 3, 2025 starting at 5:00PM JST and will last until midnight.
The all games of the 2024 edition can be watched for free on ABEMA.
In a news release, M-League announced the release of their annual M-League fortune slips.
The 2025 M-League fortune slip bromides will be available starting midnight on January 1 and can be printed at any Lawson Print store.
There are three types that can be obtained for each team/player
The bromides come in L and 2L sizes, costing 300 and 500 yen, respectively.
Intro | Standings
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