Pon no Michi (The Way of Pon) is another anime series about cute characters playing board games. It’s a slice of life tale about girls who love playing mahjong. Similar to Hikaru no Go or Yu-Gi-Oh!, there seems to be supernatural elements like spirits who really like playing games. This original anime series by OLM Team Inoue will premiere in January 2024. We have a trailer to tide us over until then.
OLM has set up a promotional home page for Pon no Michi. Additionally, potential viewers can also visit the official Twitter page and official TikTok page. Behind the scenes information, and extras such as voice actor interviews and the key visual, are available there.
Character visuals of Nashiko Jippensha, Pai Kawahigashi, Izumi Tokutomi, and Riche Hayashi have also been released.
Find a Home, Play a Game
Pon no Michi’s plot points are relatively scarce right now, but we do know some things. The primary setting is Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. One of the main characters, Nashiko Jippensha (voiced by Kaori Maeda), is kicked out of her house for reasons unknown. She laments her loss and remarks that she no longer has a place to hang out with her friends.
Nashiko learns that the parlor her father used to run is now vacant. Seeing an opportunity, she takes over and begins to renovate it for her own use. Though a complete novice at mahjong, she intends to play the game with her friends. She invites her friends, including Pai Kawahigashi (voiced by Iori Saeki), a friend with an affinity for cute things and with an understanding of the rules of mahjong. As well as Izumi Tokutomi (voiced by Shion Wakayama), a casual and easy-going girl who plays mahjong at family gatherings. Finally, Riche Hayashi (voiced by Yui Kondou) had previously visited the parlor when Nashiko’s father ran it, and she is glad to see it restored.
There is another denizen of the old parlor. Chonbo is a spirit of mahjong who has resided there since the time of Nashiko’s father. Few people are able to hear its voice.
Thus the stage is set for a heartwarming slice of life series where cute girls play mahjong.
Pon no Michi Origins
Pon no Michi is an original series being developed by OLM’s Team Inoue. It was originally created by IISP. Tatsuma Minamikawa is writing and directing the series. Rounding out the team leads, Negi Haruba has designed the characters.
If you want to see more cute girls playing mahjong, the J-List shop has what you need. The Kaavi 1/7 Figure from Mahjong Soul is available for pre-order.
Are you looking forward to this original mahjong-centered series? Do you have any early best girl vibes from the cast of Pon no Michi? Do you play mahjong? Let us know in the comments below.
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