Mahjong Hishoden: Crying Dragon - A thorough review of the moving story and character depth

All-round evaluation and recommendation of Mahjong Hishoden Nakinoryuu

Overview

Mahjong Hishoden: Naki no Ryu (Crying Dragon) is a 1988 original animation video (OVA) based on a manga by Junichi Nojo. It was released by Bandai and has three episodes, each about 51 minutes long. It was directed by Tetsu Dezaki and Yorifusa Yamaguchi and produced by Gainax and Magic Bus. The copyright is owned by GAINAX, Bandai Visual, Junichi Nojo, and Takeshobo.

story

"Mahjong Hishoden: Crying Dragon" is a story that depicts the ups and downs of life through mahjong. The protagonist, Ryu, aims to make a name for himself in the world of mahjong and grows as he faces off against various powerful opponents. The story is made up of three parts, "Shouryuuhen" and "Ryurouhen", and each episode delves deeper into Ryu's humanity and passion for mahjong.

character

The main characters are:

• Ryu (voiced by Ikeda Shuichi) - The protagonist. He is a top-class mahjong player and always has a passion for winning.
• Ishikawa (voiced by Kenji Utsumi) - Ryu's rival and friend. He has a calm personality and is known as a mahjong strategist.
• Honkan (voiced by Masashi Ehara) - A leading figure in the mahjong world, he is like a master to Ryu. He trains Ryu through strict instruction.
• Kaito (voiced by Seizo Kato) - A powerful opponent who plays an important role in facilitating the growth of the dragon.
• Kakugari (voiced by Hosoi Shigeyuki) - One of the dragon's companions, he provides powerful support.
• Tonoda (voiced by Ishimori Tatsuyuki) - One of Ryu's rivals, he always shows a challenging attitude.
• Megane (voiced by Kishino Kazuhiko) - An intelligent character who fights using mahjong theory.
• Miyagawa (voiced by Tanabe Hiroaki) - Ryu's friend, known for his cheerful personality.
• Kazuko (voiced by Tomoe Keiko) - Ryu's lover and a supportive figure for him.
• Fake Dragon (voiced by Otaki Shinya) - A fake dragon who causes chaos.
• Narrator (voiced by Kobayashi Kiyoshi) - Plays an important role in helping the story progress.

Production Staff

The key staff include:

• Original author : Junichi Nojo
• Source : Takeshobo Publishing
• Production company : Gainax, Magic Bus
• Director : Tetsu Dezaki
• Screenplay : Hiroyuki Yamaga

subtitle

The subtitles of each episode are as follows:

• May 25, 1988 - First aired
• April 25, 1989 - Shoryuu
• July 27, 1990 - Dragon Wolf Edition

Related Titles

"Mahjong Hishoden: Crying Dragon" is related to "Mahjong Hishoden: Crying Dragon: Hiryu no Shou". This work is notable for being released by Toshiba instead of Bandai.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Mahjong Hishoden: Crying Dragon" is a work that successfully depicts a human drama through the sport of mahjong. In particular, the story of the protagonist, Ryu's growth, setbacks, and comeback deeply moves viewers. In addition, the personalities of each character are vividly portrayed, and the strategies and psychological battles of mahjong are realistically reproduced.

The appeal of this work is that you can enjoy it even if you don't know the rules or tactics of mahjong. The clever storytelling and the appeal of the characters have the power to draw the viewer in. In particular, director Tetsu Dezaki's direction realistically depicts the tense mahjong scenes, grabbing the viewers' hearts.

The recommended audience is not only those who are interested in mahjong, but also those who like human dramas and sports anime. It will also be a valuable work for those who are interested in OVA works from the 1980s. Furthermore, it is a noteworthy work as an early work by Gainax, and is a must-see for anime fans.

Further information and supplementary information

"Mahjong Hishoden: Crying Dragon" was created during the OVA boom of the 1980s, and its style reflects the era. In particular, the experimental elements of OVA works of the time, and the technique of creating a deep story within a limited time, can be seen in this work.

In addition, Junichi Nojo's original manga is known for its realistic depiction of the world of mahjong, and the anime faithfully reproduces that worldview. In particular, there are many explanatory scenes throughout the story to help readers understand the rules and tactics of mahjong, making it enjoyable even for beginners.

Furthermore, this work occupies an important position as one of Gainax's early works. Gainax would later produce smash hits such as "Neon Genesis Evangelion," but "Mahjong Hishoden: Crying Dragon" could be considered the origin of those works. It is also a valuable resource for learning how Gainax's style and direction were formed.

When watching, please pay attention to the subtitles of each episode. "Shouryuuhen" depicts Ryu's growth and setbacks, while "Ryurouhen" depicts his comeback and new challenges. Through these episodes, Ryu's humanity and passion for mahjong are explored in depth, sure to move viewers.

Also, check out the related work "Mahjong Hishoden: Crying Dragon Hiryu no Shou." The publisher has changed to Toshiba, and the quality of the video and audio has improved, allowing you to enjoy a deeper story. By comparing the two works, you can feel the evolution of the Mahjong Hishoden series.

Finally, when watching this work, we recommend that you have materials on hand to help you understand the rules and tactics of mahjong. This will allow you to enjoy the work more deeply. Also, if you are interested in OVA works from the 1980s, it would be interesting to compare it with other works from the same period. "Mahjong Hishoden: Crying Dragon" is one of the most highly acclaimed works, and will provide viewers with a lot of excitement and emotion.