SAIKOUISEN
Saikouisen Pro Mahjong Kyoukai ("Highest Ranked Decisive Battle Pro Mahjong Association") is an organization of mahjong pros with an over 50-year history of excellence. The largest professional mahjong organization, born from the first-ever year-long decisive Riichi Mahjong competition in the 70s, they offer both tournaments and leagues to showcase the strength and talent of their members, and allow those members to grow stronger through the highest level of competition.
Multiple famous mahjong personalities, from Ken Sonoda-pro to Jun Murakami-pro, are members, competing in the same events as the rest of the organization, lending their skills and talent to the ever-growing body of wisdom contained within Saikouisen.
Equality
Unlike other professional mahjong organizations in Japan, Saikouisen allows not only Japanese residents, but non-residents as well, to apply for full membership. Doing so requires passing a difficult, comprehensive exam that covers all the finest points of the game, an interview to see if you meet the professionalism standards fo the organization, and an in-person play session to confirm that you have what it takes to be a part of the best in the world.
If accepted, you are given full membership, the same as any pro in Japan, from rookie to M-Leaguer. You are part of the same league, and you can enter the same tournaments as the rest of the members in the organization, with your qualifications verifiable by mahjong gaming locations, leagues, tournaments, and other professional organizations. You are listed in the same online directory of players in the same way as everyone in Saikouisen, and should you decide to move to Japan or another country with Saikouisen, you can transfer freely to branches in Tokyo, Hokkaido, or wherever else you might go.
You play in the same league, with the same advancement opportunities. You enter the same tournaments, with qualifiers running in the United States, allowing those that clear those qualifiers to enter the main matches in Japan. A full pro in every way, you have access to Saikouisen training sessions, where pros compete and share their thoughts and techniques post-hand so that everyone present can learn the best that everyone has to offer.
Access
All tournaments that are open to Japanese pros are open to you - you are a full member of Saikouisen, the largest of the coalition of five major mahjong professional organizations that share access with each other's members (Saikouisen, JPML, NPM, RMU, 101). This allows you entry into:
- Saikouisen: list events here
- JPML: list events here
- NPM: list events here
- RMU: list events here
- 101: list events here
..without any additional hurdles to overcome. Joining Saikouisen is taking an immediate step into the highest-level Mahjong competitions in the world.
Respect
With Saikouisen's backing, you command the respect of players around the world. Doors open throughout the mahjong world, allowing access to events that amateur players are unable to attend, or even in some cases view.
You have demonstrated the ability to learn and grow at a level unheard of in the amateur world. Saikouisen players have won the largest tournaments in both the West and the East, and you have the ability to walk the same path, or create your own.
In the business world, pros command higher pay and more agency from businesses looking for mahjong-related experience. Prospective audiences know that a Saikouisen Pro brings a standard of excellence to an event. For event organization, casting, commentary, content creation, and more, outcomes are better for recognized pro organizations.
Excellence
Saikouisen is extremely selective. Apart from having to pass arguably the hardest mahjong exam given in the world, you and your fellow pros must show that you have the responsibility and etiquette required to interact at the highest level. Players are paragons of the mahjong world - the exact type of people desired by any mahjong community. This does not mean conforming to a role - Saikouisen accepts both the young and old, all nationalities, and demeanors ranging from competitive firebrand to thoughtful researcher - but instead that no matter who you are and what your playstyle is, you can defend your actions both on the table and off with courage, respect, and knowledge.
Titles
A number of world-level titles are available at the summits of Saikouisen competition.
Saikoui - "The Strongest". The winner of each season's highest league.
USA Saikoui - "USA's Strongest". The winner of the peak of the league levels available in the West.
Ryuuoi - The winner of each year's Ryuuousen (Dragon King tournament), a massive, world-spanning mahjong elimination event.
Shinkii - The top player in a rules-shifting, evolving event that features mahjong throughout the generations.
Shinjin - The New Radiance, the top rookie (joined within the last 5 years) within the organization.
Seiryuu - The Star Dragon, the top Western player, playing a three-part tournament featuring Red, White, and Blue rule variations
..and even more. All of these events are open to western Saikouisen pros, with most tournaments featuring USA-run qualifiers passing players through to the final tables of the event in Japan.
Leagues
The central league in Japan runs from A1 through D3, with promotion and demotion either once- or twice- yearly based on results. Like the outlying regions in Japan, the USA league has itself an A, B, and C division, with players competing amongst each other for regional dominance without the difficulties of multiple international flights, with the same opportunities to advance to the higher tiers of the central league as those in Japan. Attendance is only open to those who have been accepted into Saikouisen, ensuring that every match you play is against a fellow competitor with the strength and skill to be a world champion.
Applying for Saikouisen
Exams are held twice-yearly, once each on the East and West coasts of the United States. For information on examination details and subjects covered, please review the materials in the Pro Exam section, and contact Saikouisen for details on signing up.
Enter the strongest world competition - join Saikouisen Pro Mahjong.