午夜剧场

According to the "Leisure White Paper 2019," the participating population of mahjong is 5.8 million. Approximately 1 in 22 people in Japan enjoys 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 (such as playing in dim, cigarette-smoke-filled rooms).

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. While I am focusing on women, the penetration among women is a barometer of the shift toward a positive image.

The biggest transformation would be 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 year's draft.

The M-League is broadcast on AbemaTV and fascinates many people. Sometimes, it even has more viewers than professional baseball. Why is it generating 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, and 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 you will be rewarded even if you try your hardest, but you still try your hardest. And various results emerge. That creates an unscripted drama and generates enthusiasm.

In the M-League, things other than the matches are also broadcast, such as winner interviews and the waiting rooms where teammates cheer each other on. These likely accelerate the dramatic nature of the league. It is said that the number of viewers who do not actually know how to play mahjong is increasing.

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