Latest news with #NationalMahJonggLeague
Wall Street Journal
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
A Printing Error Ruffles the Mahjong World
For mahjong enthusiasts, the most anticipated day of the year comes in early spring. Devotees of the 19th-century Chinese tile-based game are known to stalk postal carriers the first week of April, anticipating the annual release of the official National Mah Jongg League card. The object of their desire costs $14 or $15, depending on the size, and outlines which tile combinations allow players to declare 'Mahjong!' and win the game.
Forbes
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Strategy, Ritual, And Connection: How Mahjong Continues To Gain Traction
People playing mahjong. In a world of ever-faster trends and fleeting attention spans, one game continues a quiet build of a powerful, loyal following—Mahjong. Rooted in 19th-century China and steeped in ritual, the tile-based game is seeing a renaissance. With the National Mah Jongg League now reporting over 350,000 members, and luxury retailers from Ralph Lauren to design boutiques releasing high-end sets, Mahjong is stepping confidently into a new chapter. Part game, part lifestyle statement, part cognitive tool—it is a blend of nostalgia and novelty, and its appeal is spreading fast. Originally developed in China in the Qing Dynasty, Mahjong reached the US in the 1920s, introduced by Chinese immigrants and adapted into a distinctly American format. Today, Mahjong's audience is broader and more diverse than ever. Its growth isn't accidental. It reflects a deeper trend: a desire for experiences that blend cultural heritage, connection, and purpose. Recent social movements around reclaiming and respecting the game's Asian origins have only deepened the awareness of Mahjong's roots. It's no longer niche or novelty—it's becoming a new kind of classic. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Mainstream retailers and heritage games brands like Jaques of London and Hoyles Oxford are stocking ... More elegant sets in increasing numbers. Specialty retailers like are building communities alongside commerce—offering guides, hosting events, and turning interest into lifestyle engagement. This isn't just a story of tradition—it's a modern consumer movement. Four key forces factored in driving Mahjong's contemporary success are: 1. Social Connection in an Isolated World Mahjong is innately social. It requires four players, encourages conversation, and unfolds with rhythm and pauses that allow for relationship-building. It's not just competitive—it's connective. In an era where digital burnout and loneliness are rising, Mahjong offers a tangible antidote. It has become a ritualised return to presence—a chance to sit together, talk, and play in a world of scrolling. 2. Mental Stimulation with Measurable Benefits The game is intellectually rich, combining memory, pattern recognition, probability, and strategic decision-making. For many middle-aged and older players, it's more than entertainment—it's brain training. Multiple studies suggest that regular gameplay may help reduce cognitive decline, improve memory and sharpen attention. For players of all ages, it delivers something rare: a fun experience that feels mentally productive. 3. Cultural Adaptability Meets Personal Identity Mahjong's long-standing ability to evolve has helped it thrive. Across East and Southeast Asia, it has morphed into countless regional styles. In the West, American Mahjong has emerged with its own distinctive format and community. That adaptability has allowed different groups to make Mahjong their own. For some, it's heritage; for others, it's discovery. It fits in a dinner party, a mother–daughter tradition, or a rooftop bar event. Its universality is part of the magic. 4. The Rise of the Tangible In a world dominated by screens, Mahjong offers a tactile, visual pleasure. The weight of the tiles, the shuffle of hands, the click of ceramic—it delivers something digital experiences can't. With luxury brands like Hermès offering Mahjong sets priced in the thousands, it's also evolving into a design object. Functional, beautiful, and status-defining—it ticks every modern lifestyle box. Ralph Lauren is custom-designed with leather-backed cherry wood tiles, each painted and engraved. ... More The accompanying leather-and-metal box opens to reveal a built-in game board as well as matching push sticks, a set of dice and betting coins. Mainstream retailers and heritage games brands like Jaques of London and Hoyles Oxford are stocking elegant sets in increasing numbers. Specialty retailers like are building communities alongside commerce—offering guides, hosting events, and turning interest into lifestyle engagement. Meanwhile, fashion and interiors brands are seizing the opportunity to place Mahjong as a cultural object. The Hermès Macao Mahjong Set, (now retired) housed in a lacquered wood box with leather detailing, has become a conversation piece and collector's item. Ralph Lauren It's no surprise. In a landscape where retailers are constantly searching for ways to tie commerce with culture, Mahjong offers a rare alignment of purpose, community, and pleasure. Mahjong's growth may seem niche, but its impact could be profound—especially for businesses looking to tap into the experience economy, ageless play, and modern rituals. This resurgence isn't about a trend—but a collective craving for reconnection, structure, and beauty. In a marketplace that often rushes to chase what's next, Mahjong has stayed still—and in doing so, has become more relevant than ever. Because when strategy, storytelling, and community come together on the same board—you don't just win. You build something enduring.
CBS News
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
What is Mahjong? Here's why it's becoming so popular in Massachusetts
HINGHAM - Mahjong is becoming popular in Massachusetts and there's a business south of Boston ready to teach you all about it. Gretchen Robards is the founder of South Shore Mahjong in Hingham. She's also an instructor. "I started in January of last year with a handful of girlfriends just to have some fun. I did not think I was launching a business and then all of a sudden it morphed and here we are," she told WBZ-TV. "It has taken off like wildfire here. We have crews from Duxbury, from Milton, all over the South Shore, up in Boston, up to Andover." How to play Mahjong Mahjong is similar to Rummy in the sense that both games involve drawing and discarding to create sets. But make no mistake, Mahjong's tiles make it much more complex. "Twenty minutes in they're like, 'Oh my gosh this is a crazy game,'" Robards said. It's true, American Mahjong is "crazier" than the game you may have played on your computer. It includes three suits of tiles - Bams, Craks and Dots, as well as neutral tiles - Winds, Jokers and Flowers. While tiles may slightly vary from set to set, almost all pay tribute to Chinese culture. "So apparently back in the 1800's with the field workers, the sparrows were sort of a pest and they made a lot of noise in the trees. And from what I understand, the game was invented to be a sort of positive energy to that negative. So the sparrow features prominently in the game, there's always a bird in the bamboo. But the noise of the tiles is supposed to simulate the chatter of the sparrows," Robards explained. Then there's the card, issued by the National Mah Jongg League. Each year, they release a new version with different combinations to keep the game fresh. "At first glance, it's kind of like NASA code. It's totally overwhelming. But you learn by taking classes and by playing that these numbers and letters are placeholders for tiles. So your goal is to match the tiles that are on your rack to one of these combinations," Robards said. It's challenging for new players to keep it all together, but for them, this is about more than just playing game. "Sense of community" "I just love the sense of community that it's created. It's getting me re-in-touch with people I used to know when the kids were little. Older people, younger people," Michelle Cayer told WBZ-TV. "Just to meet some new people and have something fun to do, if you don't ski or snowboard anymore," said Tara Boye. This generation of Mahjong tables are bright and cheery and the ritual of setting up is half the fun. But Robards said there is truly nothing like the moment when it all comes together. "It's fun to be growing the community, seeing a lot of people pick up on it, and knowing that people have this new passion that they're going to have for life with their families and friends," Robards told WBZ. "And I make sure that when people leave after lessons, they know how to play, and if you don't get it, I'm not letting you out. Like you're coming back in, we're going to make sure you get it!"
