Ken Sonoda: A Recommendation for "Miru-jan" (Watching Mahjong) in the M-League

2020/05/24

According to the "Leisure White Paper 2019," the mahjong-playing population is 5.8 million. About 1 in 22 people in Japan enjoy it. There is no doubt that mahjong is a game loved by many... but I think quite a few people still have a dark image of it (like playing in a dim, cigarette-smoke-filled room).

In fact, the image of mahjong has changed significantly over the past few years. The game of mahjong itself is very wholesome, intellectual, and fun, so it is only natural. Mahjong classrooms have become social hubs for grandmothers, young women have started working in mahjong parlors, and programs where idols play mahjong are being broadcast. I am mentioning women specifically because their penetration into the game is a barometer for the shift toward a positive image.

The biggest transformation is likely the "M-League," established in 2018 through the efforts of Susumu Fujita, president of CyberAgent. It is a team-based professional mahjong league, and with major corporations providing sponsorship, players have become able to "make a living by playing mahjong." Fortunately, I was also selected by Hakuhodo's team, the "Akasaka Drivens," in the inaugural draft.

The M-League is broadcast on AbemaTV and fascinates many people. Sometimes it even has more viewers than professional baseball. Why does it generate such enthusiasm? I believe it is because mahjong is an unreasonable game. Even if you follow perfect procedures, you can end up with a sad result; conversely, even if you make a complete blunder, you can end up with a happy result. This doesn't happen in Go, Shogi, or other sports. While there are elements of luck, basically the stronger side wins. In mahjong, you don't know if your hard work will be rewarded, but you do it anyway. And various results emerge. That creates unscripted drama and generates enthusiasm.

In the M-League, things other than the matches are broadcast, such as winner interviews and the waiting rooms where teammates cheer each other on. These also further accelerate the sense of drama. It is said that the number of viewers who don't actually know how to play mahjong is increasing.

Among those who play mahjong, some may think "it's only fun if you play it yourself," but please give AbemaTV a try—you won't regret it. It's even better if you start empathizing with a particular team or player. I guarantee you'll get hooked on the fun of "Miru-jan" (watching mahjong)!