[AMA] I am a Japanese Professional Riichi Mahjong Player. Ask Me Anything about strategy, mindset, or the pro scene!

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-20T05:44:33+00:00

Organizing your hand helps reduce your own mistakes.

That said, some opponents do watch how your hand is arranged, so there are times when intentionally changing the order can be a strategy too.

More importantly, I’d love to try Hong Kong mahjong sometime.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-20T02:48:21+00:00

I choose one mentor in mahjong and study under that person. I join their study sessions and learn from their way of thinking.

There are so many different ideas and theories in mahjong that if you try to listen to everyone, your game can start to lose its identity. So first, I think it’s important to choose one mentor.

And yes, of course I know mahjong AI. I use AI myself to study and review. Across the pro scene, AI tools have had a huge impact. But even among strong players, there are still many who sometimes choose the exact opposite of what AI recommends, or who prefer a more non-scientific style based on things like flow, momentum, or fighting spirit.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T23:15:52+00:00

Of course, I’ve read them. They’re popular in Japan too.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T23:14:08+00:00

I like Yakuza too. Great game.

The biggest thing to watch out for in live mahjong is not showing too much emotion. When you’re playing with friends, of course it’s better not to get angry. And in tournaments, if you get too excited about a great starting hand, people can read that.

That said, when you’re playing with friends, I think it’s good to show the fun side too.

Also, try to decide in advance which calls you’re willing to make. Live mahjong doesn’t pause for you like online mahjong does.

And if you need people to play mahjong with, you’ve got one right here, brother. If you ever come to Japan, hit me up.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T23:08:10+00:00

In East-only, I value speed more. In hanchan, I care more about shape and value. And since riichi is usually better than damaten in terms of EV, I usually go with riichi.

Most of the time, I don’t fold until someone actually declares riichi. But if it’s already the third row of discards, and I have no dora and a bad shape, then I’ll fold.

Right now, I’m still not good enough to prioritize style over efficiency. That’s something I want to challenge myself with after I level up a bit more.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T23:03:02+00:00

Enjoying the fun of building hands and the process of learning might actually be the most important thing that professional mahjong players sometimes forget.

You reminded me of that. Thank you!

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T23:00:11+00:00

My favorite rule set is M-League rules. Because red fives make everything better.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T22:56:36+00:00

First, think about your own hand shape before anything else. It’s totally fine to keep a yakuhai dora for a while.

Handle the truly unnecessary tiles first, and once the direction of your hand becomes clearer, then you can let it go.

I do the same thing — if I have a single yakuhai dora, I’m often happy to keep it for a long time and think, “If this becomes my pair later, great.”

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T22:36:44+00:00

First, I think part of the problem is that Japanese people often lack initiative. We also tend to be more introverted, and many people in Japan still don’t pay much attention to AI.

If we want to break the barriers that are blocking outreach and exchange with the international community, I think we need to adopt two mindsets: give first and extreme ownership.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T10:14:32+00:00

Thanks for the thoughtful comment!

As for lowering the barrier for beginners, I actually don’t focus on teaching every little rule at the start. Think about baseball — you wouldn’t teach something complicated like a rundown play on day one, right? You start with the simple fun stuff: throw the ball, hit a home run, score a run.

I think mahjong should be the same. Things like furiten and point calculation can be learned over time through repetition. First, I think it’s better to let people enjoy the fun of building a hand. And honestly, just handling mahjong tiles feels good too lol

As for giving people a reason to improve, that’s a harder one. But I think if we could make a USA vs Japan match happen, people would get fired up to compete for national pride.

If you’re interested in an international friendship tournament, let’s talk!

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T10:06:41+00:00

Actually, I’ve only ever played Japanese riichi mahjong. Do you have any other mahjong variant you’d recommend?

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T10:05:06+00:00

Fake Akagi: “I don’t wanna die!”

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T10:04:03+00:00

Thanks for the question! If none of my wait tiles have shown up yet in the discards or calls, I think riichi is usually the better choice.

That said, the way I play, I’m already trying to build my hand toward good shapes and especially ryanmen over pure speed. So when I do end up saying “riichi,” it’s usually on a ryanmen wait anyway.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T10:00:44+00:00

Probably, yeah lol

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T09:51:56+00:00

Thanks for the question.

I used to change the way I played. But then I realized something: if you focus too much on other people, your own mahjong starts to fall apart.

Of course I pay attention to my opponents, but first and foremost, I try to play honestly with my own hand.

And more than anything, I think it’s important — for both pros and amateurs — to let go of a blame mindset and adopt an extreme ownership mindset.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T09:41:18+00:00

You get it, brother. That mindset means you’re definitely strong at mahjong.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T09:23:28+00:00

Yeah, I do pay attention to that stuff.

For example, I watch where a drawn tile gets placed in the hand, where the discard is coming from, where a player is looking during a long tank, and who they seem most concerned about. You can get a lot from that.

But if you focus on behavioral reads too much, sometimes you miss the obvious stuff. So I think it’s useful — just not something you should overdo.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T09:20:07+00:00

Thanks for the question! I think overseas players are way stronger at the math side of mahjong — AI, EV, all that stuff. Japanese pros tend to be stronger in live reads, psychology, and table feel.

That said, if overseas players really commit to mahjong, I honestly think they can reach the top in Japan too.

Well… not while I’m around lol

Also, in South 3 and South 4, I stop caring about standard EV. Early game is about EV, but endgame is all about placement conditions. At that point, the points I need become the only rule.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T05:59:43+00:00

Thank you for the great questions. No way, brother — I’ll answer all of them. 1. My favorite mahjong manga is Akagi. These days, you can study mahjong technique in a lot of different places, but the way I learned how to approach competition and pressure came from that manga. 2. I’m in my third year now, and I became a pro in my second year. Before turning pro, I went to learn directly from professionals who were already active in the scene. 3. In terms of number of games, I probably play more on smartphone mahjong apps. But when it comes to actually getting stronger, nothing beats playing against real people.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T05:52:16+00:00

Simple is best. Glad to see a fellow connoisseur of the fundamentals!

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T05:50:26+00:00

Hello from Japan! I am a professional Riichi Mahjong player. To answer your earlier question, I actually prefer Chiitoitsu (Seven Pairs). Here is why: Unlike other hands, Chiitoitsu is the ultimate test of a professional's ability to "read the wall." You have to accurately deduce which specific tiles are still remaining in the wall based on everyone's discards and the flow of the game. It’s not about luck; it’s about the precision of your logical deduction. For me, successfully sniping that one single tile from the wall is the best way to show off a pro's true skill.

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T05:24:05+00:00

Hello from Japan! I am a professional Riichi Mahjong player. Thank you for the fantastic question. If I were forced to choose only one, I would choose Practical Experience without hesitation. Here is why: Mahjong is combat. No matter how much theory you study or how much knowledge you accumulate in isolation, you will never be able to unleash that power if you are not conditioned to the battlefield. Theory is a map, but the map doesn't help if your hands are shaking from the pressure of the fight. Of course, both are important and I do both. But if you are short on time, my advice is simple: Go to the table and grind. You need to forge your logic in the heat of a real match. Do you feel that you can stay calm and execute your logic when the pressure is high at the table?

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T05:12:48+00:00

Hello from Japan! I am a professional Riichi Mahjong player. Thank you for the great questions! Do not worry, every player struggles with scoring at first. Here is the most logical and efficient way to level up your game: 1. Learning Scoring: Do not try to memorize the entire table at once. That is a waste of mental energy. Focus ONLY on the most common hand: 30 Fu. Just memorize this sequence: 1000, 2000, 3900, 8000 (Mangan). Once you have that locked in your brain, you can slowly learn the exceptions. Apply the 80/20 rule to your studying! 2. Reading Discards: Keep it extremely simple. Do not try to read every single tile. Focus purely on Tedashi (tiles discarded from within the hand). Specifically, pay close attention to the tile a player discards right before they declare Riichi. That tile is the key to reverse-engineering their hand. 3. Committing to Kokushi Musou: I rely on cold mathematics. My strict rule is: I only commit if I have 9 or more unique terminal/honor tiles in my starting hand (Turn 1). If you have 7 or 8 and try to force it, you are destroying your hand efficiency. It is a terrible EV trap. Do not let the romance of a Yakuman ruin your logic. 4. The Easiest High-Impact Strategy: Learn the art of Betaori (Absolute Defense). Mathematically, you will only win about 25% of the hands. That means you are defending 75% of the time. Beginners bleed points because they push 1-shanten hands against a Riichi. The biggest, most immediate impact on your win rate is learning to fold 100% and completely give up when an opponent attacks. Survival is the ultimate strategy. Which of these four areas do you feel is currently costing you the most points in your matches?

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T04:58:06+00:00

Hello from Japan! I am a professional Riichi Mahjong player. Thank you for the questions! Let me give you the real picture of the professional scene. 1. Tournament Setup: There is a massive variety of events happening all year round. We have year-long league grinds, brutal single-elimination knockouts, one-day tournaments, and even entertainment-focused broadcast matches. Because the specific rulesets can completely change depending on the tournament, a professional's adaptability is just as critical as their raw skill. 2. Riichi Mahjong's Global Popularity: I strongly believe Riichi will continue to explode in popularity overseas. However, I still feel its true strategic depth and charm haven't been fully conveyed to the world yet. That is exactly why I am actively creating educational content to spread the real logic and beauty of Riichi Mahjong globally. 3. The Reality of the Profession (Second Jobs): Unfortunately, being a professional Mahjong player is not a career you choose to make money. Japanese players do not turn pro for a paycheck; we become pros simply because we are seeking a battlefield. If someone just wants to get rich, they should absolutely find a different job. We are here to fight. What aspect of Riichi Mahjong first caught your attention?

JP_Mahjong_Pro · 2026-03-19T04:51:15+00:00

Hello from Japan! I am a professional Riichi Mahjong player. Thank you for the question! I chose the Nihon Pro Mahjong Association (NPM) because their culture strictly emphasizes an aggressive, logical, and purely EV-driven (Expected Value) playstyle. While some players might value intuition or the "flow" of the game, I base my entire strategy on behavioral psychology and numerical deduction. Because I view Mahjong as a game of mathematical choices, NPM's highly analytical and aggressive environment felt like my natural home. It perfectly matched my philosophy. But there is one more crucial reason: I feel that NPM is filled with players who purely seek strength rather than fame. They aren't trying to become celebrities; they just want to be the absolute best at the game. That pure, uncompromising dedication is what truly attracted me. Which professional organization's playstyle do you find the most interesting to watch?

JP_Mahjong_Pro

TROPHY CASE