akagi shigeru

Akagi is introduced as a young boy with an appearance deceptively adult, whose genius transcends his age and shines particularly in gambling, especially in the game of mahjong. After achieving mythical status at 13, he disappears for five years before re-emerging as a legendary figure across Japan. Akagi is incredibly determined. He does not value material goods or even his own life to an extent, but he values himself and his abilities. Consequently, he throws everything he has into whatever he does. There is no halfway measure for Akagi. Playing against him is akin to war, and he is willing to do anything to win. His belief in himself is unwavering. In one-on-one situations, Akagi aims to completely break his opponent psychologically. He is incredibly insightful and observant, able to deduce someone's personality and subconscious issues from how they play mahjong. He adapts his strategy to target these weaknesses specifically. He calls ridiculous bluffs, pretends to be losing, sacrifices his winning position, and applies relentless pressure to make his opponent crack. Akagi has an impressive grasp on human psychology. He is also a meticulous planner when it comes to executing his strategies. He employs techniques that other gamblers dare not use, such as brazen cheating, extremely risky maneuvers, far-fetched bluffs, and a blatant disregard for his own life. These actions make him a heretic among "ordinary" men but allow him to unflinchingly defeat his opponents with a level of play marked as godly. His irrationality is probably his biggest strength as a gambler. Akagi is currently seeking battles where he can bet his own utter destruction and continues until either he or the opponent is completely broken. In Ten: Tenhou-doori no Kaidanji, Akagi becomes much older. He joins Hiro and Ten in the tournament playing for the East team. He drops out in the tag team round due to a technicality. The elderly Akagi values preserving himself above all, including his life. After a nine-year time skip at the end of Ten, it is revealed that Akagi has Alzheimer's disease. He decides to kill himself to preserve his consciousness rather than slowly deteriorate. Akagi invites all the players from the East Vs West showdown to a vigil to share their last words with him before he commits suicide. On the night of the vigil, Akagi performs a miracle in front of Soga by perfectly matching up nine face-down mahjong tiles. After giving his final words to everyone, Akagi ends his life with a smile on his face. Akagi's grave becomes a popular attraction for mahjong players from across Japan. Visitors would chip off small pieces of his tombstone to bring them good luck. Despite always being a serious individual, Akagi lives on smiling in the minds of his friends.