Riichi Mahjong: The Ultimate Guide to the Japanese Game Taking the World By Storm

by Scott D. Miller

Mahjong-the most popular game in the world. This is the game that legends adorn, of scholars, and treasures, where dragons are borne. With winds that blow and fortunes that flow, it's here through it all, our good fortune will call.

Prepare to learn about a four-player tile game of winning hands, luckytiles, sacred discards, glory, and woe. Are you up to the challenge?

157 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2015

Reviews

[Beth]

I've gotten interested in playing riichi mahjong recently, and this book did a good job setting me along the path toward winning my first match against AI players in "Mahjong Takomi" (Steam version). A lot of it was impenetrable and confusing at first: unsurprising, since the game's playing pieces and terminology are predominantly in Japanese, or use Japanese characters. (It didn't take long for me recognize the kanji for numerals one through nine by sight, since that is absolutely necessary to get anywhere with the game.)

As a complete beginner, I had an easier time with YouTube tutorials than with this book. The flow of the game, the various tile patterns, and so on, were much clearer with real tiles in motion in someone's hands. Here, concepts were often presented in plain text with no accompanying illustration. That difference may have to do with what teaching methods work best for me. Going forward, this book will be much more useful to me, though, its glossary and scoring tables in particular.

While I don't have easy access to other people who play riichi mahjong "in real life," I'll give "Mahjong Soul" or some other platform a try once I overcome my newbie jitters.

[Altivo Overo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Japanese variant of the ancient Chinese game adds some tactical strategies and even makes "losing" profitable under some circumstances. The book is a well written introduction, but will require more than one reading to absorb the details. Mahjong can be played with a special card deck or with the traditional painted tiles of wood, plastic, or bone.

[Tristan Judice · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who had learned to play Riichi Mahjong online prior to reading this book a lot of the information was sort of redundant as there was only a few pages dedicated to more advanced strategies. That said it was very helpful in understanding the history of the game and some rules/regulations I had taken for granted due to having them been automated for me online.

[Mikko Saari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott D. Millerin Riichi Mahjong -kirja lupaa kannessaan olla ”The Ultimate Guide”. Kova on lupaus, mutta kansien välistä löytyy kyllä kiitettävä määrä katetta. Mahjong on vanha kiinalainen tiilillä pelattava rommipeli ja japanilainen riichi sen tällä hetkellä suosituin muoto.

Miller esittelee kirjassaan kattavasti riichin säännöt ja pelaamisen tavat ihan nollasta lähtien ja melkoisella perusteellisuudella. Japaninkielistä sanastoa opetetaan kattavasti ja seassa on myös erinomaisia ”Points to Ponder”-osioita, joista enemmän lajia harrastanut saa mielenkiintoista taustatietoa.

Vaikka Suomessa pelataankin pääasiassa Euroopan mahjongliiton EMA:n standardoimaa riichiä, pidemmälle ehtineitä harrastajia kiinnostaa varmasti myös Millerin laaja kattaus riichin eri muunnelmiin ja vaihtoehtoisiin sääntöihin. Kirjasta selviää esimerkiksi se, millaisilla säännöillä Japanin ammattilaisliigoissa riichiä pelataan.

Lopussa on pieni johdatus pelin strategioihin. Tämä osio olisi saanut olla pidempikin, mutta hyvä näinkin. Jos aihe kiinnostaa enemmän, Daina Chiban Riichi Book 1 on perehtymisen arvoinen, sillä siinä ei muuta olekaan kuin riichin strategiaa.

Kirja taitaa olla olla käytännössä omakustanne. Siihen nähden se on siistiä työtä. Taitto on vähän kotitekoisen näköistä, mutta ei sillä tasolla, että se haittaisi sisällön omaksumista. Tämä kirja sopii erinomaisesti jokaisen riichi-harrastajan käsikirjastoon.

[Jay Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good explanation of basics for riichi mahjong. The book does not go into great detail on riichi strategy but focuses on basic mechanics and origins of the game. It also discusses common house rules and game variations. Worth the read for anyone looking for a nice basis of learning to play, but if you're looking for a book with a primary focus on strategy, you should look for another book.

[Ty Newcomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second time reading this book! This book is an amazing tool for all players and lovers of riichi mahjong. From beginners to experts i think this is gives insight to anyone. one thing to note however, is that this book just touches on strategy of the game with only a few pages. strategy is of course the most in depth aspect to any game and this author would rather honor that with a book dedicated towards strategy specifically. this book has all the ins and outs of the game, the tangible knowledge of the physical game - setting it up, scoring, hand compositions; as well as sharing a great bit of history and some personal anecdotes along the way. I was really impressed with how in depth this book goes into describing all the variations to riichi to be inclusive to the fact so many people play this game and it changes from place to place.

I do admit i was bummed there wasnt more strategy, but I understand the purpose of this book and I think it is a very interesting read, hence reading it twice!!