GeN usually don't like self destructive behavior in characters. This trait is usually found in some main characters to interpret their own way of being heroic. But I think the types of characters that I usually see with this trait are found in supporting characters that try to deserve the spotlight. I find that really annoying sometimes in anime. It just make scenes feel stretched out more than it needed to be while it try to pull your heart strings and make you feel motivated to root for them. this makes me roll my eyes in boredom which then I'd try to sit through the rest of the episode riding from that feeling.There is this one character in particular who possesses this self destructive behavior but rubbed me off the right way and made the show much more entertaining (I'm not a sadist btw, I just like to be entertained). This character is non other than Toki Onjouji, the winner of Saimoe 2012.
Toki Onjouji, one of the most memorable characters in Saki.
(Spoilers for Saki Achiga-hen)
Toki Onjouji is a character from Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A. She's from Senriyama Girls High School's mahjong club who earned their spot in the nationals being held in Tokyo. Her body condition is physically weak and often takes naps whenever she gets the chance. Her mahjong play style is exceptional due to her special ability: the ability to see one turn ahead. Now, to include a supernatural ability into this down to earth world of mahjong instantly made me say "wtf is this shit?!". But from episodes 9 to 12 proved that this ability was absolutely necessary to stand a chance against the national champion, Teru Miyanaga. Toki, at first, tried to hold off Teru's winning streak by constantly using her ability with the assistance of Kirame Handa and Kuro Matsumi who was at a loss of not winning this entire game. The match went so long and Teru was winning with an overwhelming lead. In order to not have any body else to be 'busted out', Toki pulls off a forbidden ability to see two turns ahead. The first time she tried this, it caused her to black out. She was forced to promise not to use it ever again. But she already broke that promise by trying to practice using it at home just in case she needed it. So, she uses her ability, Double, seeing two turns ahead, in order to make Teru not win a few more rounds. As the match gets closer to the climax, Toki is drained of stamina and concentration. Forcing herself to use Double leaves more exhausted, to the point that lifting a tile proved to be more difficult. Teru decides to make the match longer in order to grab as much points as she can. Toki is then pulls off another ability, one step higher than Double, a Triple. This makes her see the next three turns. Realizing that all three of them have a very slim chance of winning against Teru, she bets it all on Kuro to make a comeback in points since she has quite a few doras. Toki uses her Triple for the second time, almost blacking out, to help Kuro realize her chances of winning. The match ends with Teru still with an overwhelming lead with the other three contenders have a fighting chance in the next matches.
(End of spoilers)
Seeing how this match played out was an absolute treat to see the potential in Toki against a demon like Teru. Her voice actress, Yui Ogura, portayed her really well as a sickly but strong will mahjong player. But what really impressed me is how visual state Toki was during her match. Every time she uses her different levels of her foresight, the screen shows how she sees the next turn/s slowly, almost like a motion blur. Her vision of using Double included another overlay of screen tearing and glass crackling as it portrayed her condition to be between life and death. On the real world, how you actually see Toki, she looks obviously worn out, tired and exhausted. You can slowly see the color leaving her face as the match goes on. Her body posture slouches either forwards as she plays a tile, or backwards as she tries to take a few breaths. The most lasting impression that you'll see throughout her struggle is her vacant and weary eyes. She would weakly try to glance the other players on the table and returns to herself, not even blinking. Seeing Toki like this felt similar to Kana Ikeda's reaction when she was reduced down to zero points, but only Kana was revived later in her match and yet Toki was instead spiraling downwards. It was interesting feeling seeing her constantly use her skill like that since both her and myself know it was for the greater good, to hold out from Teru. Her play in the match wasn't too impressive but it was definitely a memorable match, one of the best highlights in Saki. It was worth while sitting through the few highs and the many lows that makes this series so god-like.
Her stamina slowly escapes her during her match as
the first player for her school in the semi finals.
Exhausted.
She manages to play in this state.
She still finds confidence in a state that
she can't look directly at any other player on the table.
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