Mahjong Manga 'Gokigenyō, Ikkyoku Ikaga?' Gets Anime Adaptation
Tsukasa Unohana's cheerful mahjong-themed 4-panel manga Gokigenyō, Ikkyoku Ikaga? is entering the anime world with a big surprise. According to Anime News Network, the manga is officially getting a TV anime adaptation. The series began serialization in June 2022 and quickly gained popularity among mahjong fans and slice-of-life comedy lovers.
Gokigenyō, Ikkyoku Ikaga? (roughly 'How are you, how about a round?') presents a daily life story that takes place entirely at the mahjong table, but even those unfamiliar with the rules can enjoy it, unlike Unohana's previous works. The witty dialogues between the main characters and the events revolving around mahjong rounds set the manga apart from other game-themed series. Unohana is a mangaka who has previously worked in different genres such as Watashi no Shounen and Kimi wa Shine. With this new project, it is the first time one of the author's works is being adapted into an anime.
Although details such as studio, release date, or cast have not yet been announced, as of the announcement date (June 25, 2026), well-known names in the industry are expected to be involved in the project. Considering that mahjong-themed anime have gained a wide audience in recent years with titles like Akagi, Saki, and Chihayafuru (even though it's about karuta, it shares competition and strategy similarities), this new adaptation seems to excite fans of the genre.
Adapting a manga from the 4-panel (yonkoma) format into an anime poses an interesting challenge for producers. Yonkoma series typically consist of short, humorous episodes; therefore, how the anime adaptation will structure the story is a matter of curiosity. However, examples like K-On!, Yotsuba to! (no anime yet but popular), and Azumanga Daioh show that successful yonkoma adaptations are possible. With Unohana's sense of humor and character-driven writing, Gokigenyō, Ikkyoku Ikaga? could follow the same path.
In the coming months, more concrete information such as the studio, voice cast, and first teaser visuals are expected. For those who really love mahjong or are just looking for a warm, funny anime, this production should already be on your radar. Stay tuned for updates!
