Early adoption
Mahjong arrived in Japan in the first decades of the twentieth century, brought back by people who had lived in China. In the 1920s, during the lively Taishō and early Shōwa years, it became fashionable among writers, artists and the urban middle class. Mahjong clubs and parlours opened in Tokyo and other cities.
Japanese players adopted the game's structure but began adapting the rules almost immediately.
The birth of riichi
After the Second World War Japanese mahjong developed in its own direction. The riichi declaration — announcing that your concealed hand is ready, in exchange for a bonus and a deposit — became standard, and so did dora bonus tiles. Scoring settled on the han and fu system, and flowers were removed.
The result was a game with a strong defensive element: because riichi announces readiness, other players can respond by discarding only safe tiles.
Parlours and media
Mahjong parlours (jansō) became fixtures of Japanese towns, ranging from smoky backstreet rooms to modern, brightly lit halls with automatic tables. Mahjong magazines, manga and later video games built a massive following. Manga such as Akagi and Saki are among the best known.
Professional mahjong
Japan has professional mahjong organisations, the oldest major ones founded in the 1970s and 1980s, which hold qualifying exams and run title tournaments. In 2018 the M.League launched as a team-based professional league with sponsored teams, broadcast online, attracting a large audience and further raising the game's profile.
