.League remains the Japanese competition most visible abroad, but it tells only part of the professional riichi story. Established organizations maintain their own leagues, title events, and open tournaments. On August 15, 2026, Soichi Hinago won the Saikouisen Classic. The Japan Professional Mahjong Association continues Champion Road, a series of one-day events open to professionals and amateurs.
Soichi Hinago wins the 20th Saikouisen Classic
Soichi Hinago won the 20th Masato Iida Cup Saikouisen Classic with 55.5 points after a ten-hanchan final played on August 8 and 15. Ryo Koike finished second with 21.2 points, and Takeshi Igarashi placed third with 4.4.
Michael placed fourth on -9.4 points. Toshiya Yamazaki finished fifth on -72.7 and played only the first day. The official standings were published on August 17.
Champion Road brings professionals and amateurs together
Champion Road is organized by the Japan Professional Mahjong Association, commonly shortened to NPM in English. Each stop takes place on a single day and uses the association’s rules with red dora. After qualifying rounds, the top 28 survive the first cut, then the top 12 advance before the final.
The series also awards Grand Champion points according to finishing position at each stop.
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Different organizations play different roles
Saikouisen and NPM are separate organizations. NPM is one of the four Japanese groups that signed the WR Pro recognition agreement with World Riichi, alongside JPML, Mahjong Union, and RMU. The agreement separately mentions access to the “Saikyousen Professional Qualifiers.” Saikouisen is not one of its four signatories.
In practice, NPM and the other three signatories sit inside the WR Pro agreement, while Saikouisen awards its titles outside that framework: Japanese professional riichi has no single pyramid. M.League brings together elite teams and broad media coverage. Professional associations run their own members and rules, and each decides who becomes a pro in its ranks.