Manga like Akagi: Yami ni Oritatta Tensai

What is Akagi: Yami ni Oritatta Tensai about?

Status: Finished

While mahjong is a game that is often played with family and friends, it is also a game that is played in the darkest corners of society. Nangou is a compulsive gambler who has accumulated debt over three million yen. In a last ditch attempt to clear his record, he decides to wager his life on a game of mahjong with the mafia. Unfortunately, as the game progresses, Nangou only moves further from the prize and closer to death.

When all hope seems lost, the game parlor is suddenly intruded upon by Shigeru Akagi, a young boy on the run from the police. Desperate to turn the game around, Nangou hands the game over to Akagi after teaching him a few of the rules. The mafia can only smirk as Akagi sits down to play. However, they soon come to learn that Akagi is a natural born gambler. An imposing figure who does not fear death. One who is destined to become a legend.



Tags: Mahjong , Gambling , Death Game , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Seinen , Primarily Male Cast , Kaiju , Anti-Hero , Yakuza , Tsundere , Time Skip , Historical , Afterlife , Gods , Demons , Board Game
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Here is a list of Manga similar to Akagi: Yami ni Oritatta Tensai

Tobaku Datenroku Kaiji

Tobaku Datenroku Kaiji

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Thriller

Itou Kaiji, now free of debt but without a penny is leeching himself in Mr.Sakazaki's new house, despite all the flirtings (extreme torment for Kaiji) from Sakazaki's daughter, Mikoko. Sakazaki attempts to kick Kaiji out, even by offering a farewell 'we never knew each other' money of 3000000 yen. While Kaiji ponders himself on the decision, he is visited by Miyoshi and Maeda, two of his 'allies' he had saved from the last part of the series.

Tags: Gambling , Mahjong , Seinen , Survival , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Board Game
Where to read?
Usogui

Usogui

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Psychological , Thriller

There are gamblers out there who even bet their lives as ante. But to secure the integrity of these life-threatening gambles, a violent and powerful organization by the name of "Kakerou" referees these games as a neutral party. Follow Baku Madarame a.k.a. Usogui (The Lie Eater) as he gambles against maniacal opponents at games—such as Escape the Abandoned Building, Old Maid, and Hangman—to ultimately "out-gamble" and control the neutral organization of Kakerou itself.

Tags: Gambling , Male Protagonist , Seinen , Primarily Adult Cast , Crime , Death Game , Martial Arts , Philosophy , Amnesia , Memory Manipulation , Poker , Anti-Hero , Mafia , Tragedy , Gore , Fairy Tale , Terrorism , Guns , Aliens , LGBTQ+ Themes
Where to read?
Gin to Kin

Gin to Kin

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Sports

Morita Tetsuo's life changes when he meets Hirai Ginji, who works in the unknown and mysterious 'back world' of society full of villains.

Tags: Economics , Anti-Hero , Politics , Male Protagonist , Seinen , Yakuza , Crime , Tragedy , Gambling , Revenge , Primarily Adult Cast , Poker , Primarily Male Cast , Philosophy , Mahjong
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One Outs

One Outs

Status: Finished
Genres: Psychological , Sports

The story begins when Hiromichi Kojima, the star batter of the fictional Lycaons in Japan's Pacific League, heads to the southern Japanese island of Okinawa to train and bring himself out of a slump. There, he meet Tōa Tokuchi, a 134-kmph (83 miles per hour) pitcher and the undisputed king of a gambling form of baseball called "One Out." At Kojima's urging, Tokuchi signs up with the Lycaons under an unusual contract: he gets 5,000,000 yen (about US$46,000) for every out he pitches, but loses 50,000,000 yen (US$460,000) for every point he gives up.

Notes:
- The main story was completed in 168 chapters with 19 volumes on 2006-10-19. An additional side story Giwaku no All Star Sen Hen (疑惑のオールスター戦編) was serialized from 2008-2009 and published as volume 20 of the series.
- Chapter count includes an additional chapter included in the 7th volume.

Tags: Seinen , Baseball , Gambling , Anti-Hero , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Philosophy
Where to read?
Tetsuya: Jansei to Yobareta Otoko

Tetsuya: Jansei to Yobareta Otoko

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

In the year 1947, the people of Shinjuku are down on their luck. With little money to buy food or necessities, some resort to gambling in order to survive. Traveling Tetsuya chooses to spend his time at Mahjong parlors where he is wiping the floor clean with his adversaries. However, Tetsuya meets the intensely-skilled Boushu-san, this is when he realizes that his skills are still lacking.



Tags: Gambling , Mahjong , Shounen , Historical , Board Game
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Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji

Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji

Also known as Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Thriller

Ne'er-do-well Kaiji Itou's shiftless existence is suddenly rattled by a visit from the yakuza. Burdened by debt and resentment, Kaiji is coerced into gambling for his worthless life. As the stakes grow higher and the rules become increasingly more bizarre, Kaiji must finally take the future into his own hands!



Note: Won the 22nd Kodansha Manga Award for general manga in 1998.

Tags: Gambling , Seinen , Survival , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Death Game , Card Battle , Yakuza , Class Struggle , Tragedy , Nudity
Saki

Saki

Also known as Saki.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Ecchi , Slice of Life , Sports

Saki's never been a big fan of mahjong. A lifetime of being forced to play with family at holidays (and losing her money as a consequence...) has left a foul taste for the game in her mouth. When she's convinced, though, to play a game with her classmates, she discovers that not only has fending off her family left her with an uncanny ability for the game but, more surprisingly, that it can even be fun!

Is this revelation enough to cleanse Saki's distaste for the game? Can her classmates convince her to join their club, or is there just too much baggage to make it worth her while?



Tags: Mahjong , Primarily Female Cast , Female Protagonist , School Club , Super Power , Ensemble Cast , School , Yuri , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Magic , Seinen , Gods , Shrine Maiden , Board Game , Time Manipulation
Tobaku Hakairoku Kaiji

Tobaku Hakairoku Kaiji

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Thriller

After Kaiji's showdown with Chairman Hyoudou at the Starside Hotel, he's forced into labour at an underground mine. With his meagre daily wage, he'll be working for decades to repay his debt unless he does something about his miserable situation. Kaiji decides to wager his earnings in an underground dice game for a ticket to get out of the mine for a limited period of time. But even if he surfaces, he only has one chance to win it big: by challenging the unbeatable pachinko machine nicknamed "The Bog."

Tags: Gambling , Seinen , Survival , Slavery , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Prison , Tragedy , Torture , Primarily Adult Cast
Where to read?
Ginyanma: Janki-tachi no Densetsu

Ginyanma: Janki-tachi no Densetsu

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Sports

A collection of short mahjong-centric stories by Nobuyuki Fukumoto. Contains two one-shots and a five-chapter story. 1-5. Ginyanma (銀ヤンマ) A five-chapter story about a match between detective Ginji Hirai and a man named Shimura who cheats by switching the tiles. Gantatsu (ガン辰)
A one-shot about a terminal cancer patient Tatsumi Asai who is known for his trademark tile marking trick and playing his final game to help his son. Endoh (遠藤)
A one-shot about a match between the rep player of N Association Tetsuo Endoh and his apprentice Shougo Morikawa to determine if Morikawa is ready to lead a new generation.

Tags: Seinen , Mahjong , Yakuza , Gambling , Police , Detective , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Anthology , Board Game
Where to read?
GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka

GTO

Also known as GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Ecchi

Former juvenile delinquent Onizuka finds himself thrust into to role of high school teacher, facing students who behave just as he used to and an administration that doesn't trust him. Using the brash an unorthodox methods he picked up in his youth, Onizuka manages to reach through to his kids and help them with their problems.



Notes:
- Won the 22nd Kodansha Manga Award for Best Shounen Manga.
- The chapter count includes the 7 chapters extra GTO: Great Toroko Oppai♡ (Tomoko's Big Adventures) published in volumes 11 and 12, and one extra published in volume 25.

Tags: Teacher , School , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Work , Male Protagonist , Bullying , Terrorism , Tragedy , Rehabilitation , Delinquents , Nudity , Gangs , Shounen , Age Gap , Family Life , Motorcycles , Dragons , Crime , Revenge , Heterosexual , Yakuza , Detective , Acting , Guns , Police , Espionage , Drugs , Slapstick , Primarily Teen Cast

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