M.League Draft 2026: Three Teams to Select Players on June 25

The M.League, Japan's professional mahjong league, has announced that three teams—Sega Sammy Phoenix, U-NEXT Pirates, and KADOKAWA Sakura Knights—will participate in the upcoming draft meeting for the 2026-27 season. The draft is scheduled for June 25, 2026, at 6:00 PM JST and will be broadcast live on the Mahjong Channel via ABEMA.

According to league rules, the drafting order will be determined by the final standings of the 2025-26 season, starting with the lowest-ranked team. Each team will select one player per round, and once a player is chosen by one team, no other team may select that player. No competitive lottery or bidding will be held.

Notable players available in the draft include Asahina Yuri (Renmei), Uoi Yumi (Renmei), Maeda Naoya (Renmei), Kondo Seiichi (Saikouisen), Murakami Jun (Saikouisen), Asai Doki (Kyokai), Misaki Chiyu (Kyokai), and Oshida Yukio (Maajan Rengou). These players represent various professional mahjong organizations and are expected to attract significant interest.

The M.League, which features a regular season and playoffs, has expanded its talent acquisition process through the draft system. All teams have already completed contract renewals for existing players, setting the stage for the draft to fill roster spots for the upcoming season.