A  N E W  I M A G E  F O R  A N  O L D  G A M E

Mahjong—originally a game imported from China—has enjoyed immense popularity in Japan for a long time. At its height in the sixties just about very other 'salari-man' seemed to play the game at one time or another. But the game has always had a terrible image problem. It has been associated with gambling, too much alcohol and unsavory elements of Japanese society. Not necessarily justified.

Since the nineties, the Japanese Mahjong Society and publishers of mahjong magazines, in a heroic attempt to save the game from an untimely death, have been doing their utmost best to change the game's bad image. The society has started mahjong classes, organized an annual mahjong tournament where Japan's top universities send delegates to compete with each other, created a cute mascot and has even elected a true Mahjong Queen. For the past few years this has been the charming Aki Hondo, a model who has taken this opportunity to master the game.

Over the past few years a Mahjong Museum in Japan and another one in China have been built and the Japanese mahjong community is now starting to reach out to other Mahjong lovers all over the world. Says Association Chairman Kinoshita: "Mahjong is a sport that keeps your brains healthy. We want everybody to play it."

Contact kjduits@ikjeld.com if you would like to carry these photographs.

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