What You Need to Play Mahjong

• 136 Japanese Mahjong tiles (including red fives if available).
• A square table, preferably a Mahjong-specific table.
• Scoring sticks (tenbou) for tracking points.
• Dice to determine the dealer and wall break.
• Optional: Automatic Mahjong table for fast shuffling and setup.

Setting Up the Tiles

Each player builds a wall of 34 tiles, stacked two high. Together, the four walls form a square, creating the live wall and dead wall. This is the foundation of every hand.

Determining the Dealer

Roll dice to decide who is East (the dealer). The dealer starts with 14 tiles, while others start with 13. After each hand, dealership rotates clockwise unless the dealer wins, in which case they continue as East.

Building the Wall

After the dealer rolls dice, players count off to determine where to break the wall. Tiles are drawn clockwise from that point, beginning the game.

Distributing the Tiles

Each player receives 13 tiles, while the dealer takes 14 and discards one to begin. This starts the draw-and-discard rhythm central to Mahjong play.

Preparing Scoring Sticks and Scoreboard

Each player begins with 25,000 points in scoring sticks. These track wins, losses, and standings. Some groups also use apps or electronic scoreboards for convenience.

Playing with a Folding or Automatic Table

While any flat surface can work, Mahjong-specific tables improve gameplay. Folding tables are portable and affordable, while automatic tables shuffle, build walls, and deal tiles automatically—saving time and ensuring fair play.

At MJ Mall, you can find authentic Japanese automatic tables such as:

• AMOS JP-EX COLOR Folding Type — a compact folding design that stores easily and is perfect for home use.
• AMOS JP-EX COLOR Low Table Type — a low table style that fits traditional Japanese interiors and delivers a true parlor feel.

These AMOS models combine Japanese build quality with modern convenience, letting you recreate an authentic Riichi experience at home with minimal setup time.

Conclusion

With the right setup—tiles, scoring sticks, dice, and a proper table—you can enjoy authentic Japanese Riichi Mahjong at home. Choose a portable folding table or invest in an automatic one for maximum convenience and consistency.