Mahjong Growing in Popularity Among Japanese Students

Craze fueled by game's portrayal in manga and anime and belief it can make one smarter

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Mahjong once had a reputation for being a "pastime for adults" and a form of gambling, but the tile-based game is now growing in popularity among junior high and high school students in Japan.

The first national High School Mahjong Championship was held this summer, and classes for young players are hives of activity as enthusiastic attendees pit their skills against one another.

The mahjong craze has been fueled by the game's portrayal in manga and anime, as well as by a belief that playing can make one smarter.

In a classroom at prefectural Kishine High School in Yokohama after school one day in mid-July, students from the school's mahjong club sat around several tables.

"Let's draw... I have Big Three Dragons," one boy declared, revealing that he had a rare "yakuman" hand that automatically scores the maximum possible points.

The other students rushed over to the table and looked on enviously at the tiles in front of the boy.

This mahjong club was established in 2024 and has 18 members, both boys and girls, from first-year to third-year students. They meet twice a week to polish their mahjong skills and are aiming to take the top spots at the championship.

High school students compete in teams of two at the tournament, which determines Japan's top mahjong players for the age group.

A total of 286 teams from 180 schools across Japan, including Kishine High School, took part in the first championship.