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.
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.
Not as much as tacos, though.
You're just as loud as always, tacos girl from Kiyosumi.
You ruined my heavenly bathtime.
Who are you?!
Have you been well?
Oh, you're Kazekoshi's... Ikeda or something.
We fought over food at the mixed training camp, remember?
And be more polite to your upperclassmen.
Ikeda, what are you doing here?
I'm here with Captain, who will be playing in the individual tournament.
Huh?
Then does that mean...
Yes.
The rooms for Kazekoshi and Kiyosumi are next to each other.
Koromo's here, too!
We're here.
Hello.
What? Ryuumonbuchi is here, too?
Yes.
They're staying in a hotel in Shinjuku.
Damn rich folks...
Apparently, the people from Tsuruga
will also come once they know when our first match is.
Really?
So it'll be just like the mixed training camp.
Kind of anticlimactic...
Takes away the excitement a little.
Saki!
K-Koromo-chan...
But I'm kind of jealous.
When I was a first year, our senpais were really strict.
The farewell party, coming to Tokyo,
the lottery and opening ceremony...
On the day of the first match, the first years
were already destroyed by all the pressure.
I guess staying focused at all times might be rough.
The earliest matches will be the day after tomorrow.
That might be especially true if you intend to go to the finals.
This might work to loosen up the first years, but what about you?
Let's all do our best.
Let's.
Umm...
Speaking of, where's Coach?
In the advisor room in building D.
Let's go say hi later.
I see. Sorry for piling that on you.
Oh, no, it's fine.
But only this year, all right?
Huh?
Next year, we're all going.
Damn you, Bundou. You really do get it, don't you?
Oh, Saki-chan, good morning.
It's morning?
Are we in Tokyo?
Yup!
The lottery is at nine.
Get ready quickly.
Yes! You're right!
I can see the moat and the stone wall!
Is that a castle?
Yes...
It used to be.
Now that's a park.
Really?
If we can get in, let's go there later!
If we have time.
Really?
Now I really feel like we're in Tokyo.
Yeah.
Yesterday we went straight to our hotel.
We're here!
It's big!
We will begin the lottery shortly.
It really is different from Nagano.
Would the representatives for each school please gather in the indicated waiting room?
Where is Saki-chan?
Don't tell me...
She's lost again?!
Where am I?
I got lost again...
Maybe it's this way.
What are we going to do if we happen to run into Nodoka?
Then we can't help it.
It might really happen.
We do want to see her sooner rather than later.
Did I imagine that?
South Osaka, Himematsu High School, #38.
That's quite a reaction.
Obviously.
It's totally out of place for them to not be a seed.
Since Eisui came on the scene last year, they stopped being a seed,
but if anything, they're a powerhouse that's easily
in the top five of the 52 best schools in the country.
Based on the preliminary lottery, the next should be...
Nagano, Kiyosumi High.
Our pres is totally nervous!
That's unusual.
#33.
Not a single peep.
Quite a difference from Himematsu.
I guess that's to be expected.
Wait, #33?
That means...
Ouch.
We're in the same block as the team that got the big reaction, Himematsu,
and the 3rd seed...
Eisui Girls'!
All right!
Here at the the National High School Mahjong Tournament,
the final number has been drawn...
and the final spots in the tournament brackets have been filled!
Behold, this is the ladder of destiny!
Which high school will stand at the top of this ladder?!
This will be a hot summer for the 48 schools!
Hey, Kouko-chan...
What, should I have said bracket instead of ladder?
No, that doesn't matter.
But it's 52 schools, not 48.
But the lottery and the first round matches have just 48 schools.
That's because the four seeded schools are not taking part...
but I already explained this on the radio!
Why are those four schools so special?
They're chosen from the 52 schools who won their regional tournaments,
based on the results of last year's inter-high tournament
and the spring tournament.
Being a seed doesn't mean you're exempt from the preliminaries.
Wahaha, I see.
That's how it works.
It almost feels like she's tricking her into explaining this.
Kouko-chan isn't that clever.
But now we know when Kiyosumi will be playing.
The first match will be on the third day.
If they make it to the finals, it'll be seven days.
Normally that would mean the cost of lodging would be ridiculous.
Kanbara, are you sure it's okay?
Wahaha, sort of.
My grandma in Monnaka pestered me to come early.
The building is old, but it's got an AC and lots of room.
Wahaha, so we just have to worry about food.
We'll be relying on Kanbara a lot.
We will now commence the opening ceremony of the
National High School Mahjong Tournament.
It is finally time to raise the curtain
for this summer's National High School Mahjong Tournament!
Which school will be the one to seize
the top spot in this year's tournament?
A hot summer for the students aiming to be best in the nation
is beginning now!
Good work at the lottery and the opening ceremony.
Especially Nodoka, for the interviews,
and Saki, for being lost.
You, too.
I'm glad we found you before the opening ceremony.
Our first match is on the third day,
so we don't have any matches tomorrow and the day after that.
In order to avoid losing our edge before then,
there will be a minimal regimen.
However, tomorrow morning will be for resting.
You're free to view the opening matches, or go check out the city.
You can also stay here and sleep.
Eating tacos at a Mexican restaurant's okay, too!
Oh, right!
I have to return this skirt to you, Someya-senpai.
What's going on?
When I was still half-asleep, I accidentally put it on.
It looks good on you. Why don't you keep it on?
It looks good.
I agree.
You think so?
I told you to keep it on!
Saki-san!
Saki-chan, we can see everything!
I wonder if this will be the last time we can all relax and have fun.
All right, we're heading out. Got everything?
I'm tired. Carry me.
Get up already!
I wonder what kind of people we'll play today.
I'm super excited!
Super excited!
Yes.
Miyamori Girls' (Iwate) 3rd Year Kosegawa Shiromi
It doesn't matter who we play.
Miyamori Girls' (Iwate) 3rd Year Kakura Kurumi
Miyamori Girls' (Iwate) 3rd Year
Enjoying ourselves and winning is what we,
Miyamori Girls' (Iwate) 3rd Year Anetai Toyone
Miyamori Girls', do!
Miyamori Girls' (Iwate) 3rd Year Usuzawa Sae
Next Time
Support
Nodoka-chan, the mixed training camp with the four schools was fun, huh?
Yes, we were able to get a lot of valuable experience before the Nationals.
The Nationals...
I will defeat...
everything... to fight my sister.
Saki-san?
Watch again!