January 7, 2007
Jenn's Corner #4
Ok, I've been busy trying to get the calendar updated (it's getting there!), preparing the next chapter for the "Rules" page, putting together Garthe's links (check out the "World Associations" section of the "Links" menu!!) and studying up on poker, which is what Garthe and I spent most of our time doing in Las Vegas. We also looked around for promising venues for a future Mahjong Tournament!! Yay us! So yes, someday we would like to hold a Mahjong tournament in Las Vegas. Anyone interested in joining us?
By the way, we also posted our first Professional Interview with Takki (short for Takizawa) and it is definitely worth checking out! We haven't gotten a picture to go with it yet, but we will soon (did I mention that he is HOT?) and we will also be interviewing more professionals and other great people in the Mahjong World so make sure you keep looking at our website and not just the blog!
Speaking of which, what exactly is a Professional Mahjong Player? What a strange concept... So, let's enter the world of Professional Mahjong. Garthe and I are considered to be professional Mahjong players to many people. This word is used in Japanese and in English, but I have found the meanings to be so different, that it seemed a worthy column subject.
In English, to be a professional at something means that you accept money for doing something. If you play sports for money, you are a professional athlete. If you play sports for competition, you may retain your amateur status. In the gambling world, it is a bit different. Since there are no teams to pay the players, in the limelight, it is the sponsors and the prize money bankrolling the pro's.
In Mahjong, there are very few 'real' pro's in the world. Most of the people that play mahjong for a living and not for a hobby, reside in Japan. Even within Japan the term "Pro" has been so loosely transferred to their language and so loosely defined that Garthe and I, as the only Americans in this business full-time, have found a lot of frustration and confusion. So let's look at what professional mahjong seems to be, and what it could be.
Every "Pro" in Japan must pass a test and join a league. Once you are a member of a league, you may be considered "Pro" by the layman, but, not necessarily by fellow "Pro's". Actually, the term "Pro" to many league-members in Japan, does not have anything to do with money. They believe that "Professional" is a word based on a person's skill level. This creates double-standards and confusion for native English speakers like us who now have to be careful not to pronounce ourselves as "Professional" to the "wrong" people, but still appear as professional to people who want to give us money.
The way I see it, Garthe and I make a fair amount of our living by appearing in Mahjong Fight Club (Konami) and making guest appearances as Professional Mahjong Players, I strongly believe that we are considered professionals. Yes, we took the test, went to the monthly study sessions and we pay the dues, but there are 300-500 members of our league who did that same thing at any given time and play Mahjong full-time. What sets us apart from the other members of the league to make us professionals? In my opinion, not much.
To me, Mahjong is not only my favorite thing to do and an important passtime for me, it is also my job. When you get a job, it is all about what you can bring to the table. So what do I personally bring to the table as a Professional Mahjong Player that made me appealing as a candidate for this position in the Japan Professional Mahjong League, on Mahjong Fight Club and Mondo 21? Personality is a huge part of any job interview. My dedication, my willingness and desire to learn new things and work hard were definitely big factors. Selling points may include my uniqueness (what other blonde 23-year olds speak Japanese and play Mahjong in Tokyo?) and my ability to speak a couple of languages. How is my ability compared to the other Professionals in our league? Not the worst, and not the best (yet), but it is all about making yourself appealing to the employer. So here we are, starting in D2 (the current lowest) League and working our way up.
So what is a typical day in the lives of us Pro's? Well, I'll tell you about mine, although everyone is quite different. I wake up and when I'm trying to be cool, I do some yoga. I also try to get at least one website update (on my personal website or on Reach Mahjong: The Only Way to Play) and then head out to play some Mahjong Fight Club. When Garthe and I have time, we go play some casino-style mahjong together and when we don't then I might go by myself or go home and play online or do more website updates. The first weekend of each month is League tournaments. We have 5 in each season and 2 seasons per year. The top 10 or so usually move up to the next league. It lasts for 2 days because of all the various leagues and when we have time we go watch the other leagues. Three days a month there is also a Champion's League, which is kindof like a practice league. We have to play 5 times per season and the top 15 are eligible for titles. Other than that there are 3 or 4 tournaments hosted by JPML per year and we participate as much as we can. On Monday nights we participate in an international Mahjong club that plays once a week and on Wednesdays we participate in a mini-poker tournament. Free time is usually spent playing Mahjong Fight Club.
So that's it in a nutshell. Any questions?
7 comments:
Hi, it's me again.
1. Sorry for asking this question and I don't mean to suggest anything nasty. Is it possible to get kicked out of the JPML if you stay in D2 too long, or when you become a Pro Janshi there, you are a permanent member??
2. Because the exams are all currently conducted in Japanese, will the JPML ever make considerations for English versions?
I ask this because my actual Japanese sucks, still studying JLPT 4 standard if you've heard of that system.
And that in order for foreigners to work/study in Japan, they have to have a Bachelor's degree and/or JLPT 2 standard I heard?
3. Is it possible to view the Mondo 21 Mahjong, or any Japanese Pro matches online? Or do you have to subscribe to their cable TV service?
I've only seen a few short video clips (<10 minutes) on Youtube for a show called "Wareme de Pon", cases where people win with Mangan+ hands. I also saw a few MJ3 video clips of various Yakuman hands by a certain person.
Thank you in advance.
Recently, Walter of Mahjong Montreal referred me to your blog. I just wanted to say that I'm digging your columns. It's inspiring. Good job!
Hey John, nice to hear from you again!
1. No worries. It's a great question. In JPML people are not kicked out just for not moving up to D2, but some leagues do require re-testing for those who place in the bottom of the bottom league.
2. Yes, right now the tests are only in Japanese. While the league in Japan will probably always be conducted in Japanese, although I can't predict this part of the future yet. There are branches throughout Japan and each conducts it's own test. It may be possible that JPML expands to other countries in which case the name might change and tests would be conducted in the local language.
I have heard that to get a working visa in Japan, you need a bachelor's degree, but to study you just need to be accepted to a school that will sponsor the visa for you. I, personally, earned my bachelor's degree in Japan and got a working visa later. My university was in English so there was no JLPT requirement.
Might want to check out International Christian University, Temple University Japan Campus or Sophia University. Language schools will also sponsor visas.
3. I have heard that some people put parts of Mondo and Wareme de Pon (which is inflated Mahjong btw) on You-Tube. You can buy the DVDs on Amazon (be sure to check region restrictions and Ron2 is going to have a showing on Gyao, which is a free online TV channel.
http://www.gyao.jp/
When we get the broadcast dates we will put it on the News page, so check back!
Nice to meet you Jean-Francois!
It's great to get new readers! Thanks so much and your comment inspires us too!!
Hey all, Jenn seems to have answered the questions pretty well. The only thing I would add to answer #1 is that we may find out what happens to players who wallow at the bottom of D2 too long if I don't start turning things around soon. Of course, if I can just side step that issue by winning Champions League.....
About working in Japan, there are all sorts of finagles. You only really need the bachelor's degree to get your visa and even then I know people who have gotten around it. If you can convince a company to give you a job, they're often strong enough to convince immigration to give you a visa whatever might be wrong with you. And Canadians, Australians, etc, are often one step ahead in that they can get the Working Holiday Visa before they even get here. And almost no one seems to require any Japanese ability for English teaching jobs. Though other jobs will probably be different. Are you thinking of living in Japan?
3. Waremem de pon - Like Jenn says, is inflated mahjong. Entertainment industry types like the gambling aspect more so they will often use rules that make it easier to make big scores. The "Wareme" rule (let's call it the "split" rule, a loose translation) doubles the score paid or received by the "split" player for that round. The "split" player each round is the one whose wall was split or broken first when players took their starting tiles. So if the Dealer rolls 5 at the beginning, the dealer is the "split". If he rolls 7 to start, the player across from him is "split". And so on. It makes for a much faster game as big hands suddenly become twice as big and will knock a player out in one fell swoop.
And Mondo 21 would obviously be more intersting if they asked me to play more. Clearly, someone over there doesn't know what's interesting.
-"Ron2 is going to have a showing on Gyao, which is a free online TV channel. "
I'm looking forward to it. It will be very useful for us. It's extremely difficult in Western countries to explain the pace and the ambiance of true Mahjong, especially the Japanese variant. Most Americans I met think Mahjong is an old people's game, fit mostly for Jewish grandmas... "Have some scones with that tea, my Dear"
Walter,
I agree!!
Most Americans I know think the same thing! Most people can't believe I look like I do (blonde and still in my 20's) and play the game professionally!
We hope that some poker parodies and this website too will attract everyone including MY peers!! hehe
I prefer cookies...
Thank you Jenn and Garthe for your answers. I just started university, so me visiting Japan for the first time or for holiday job will occur at least several years from now. I doubt I'll ever live permanently in Japan, maybe as an English teacher/assistant like you and many other foreigners for a short while.
Yes, I understand the Wareme (wall breaking, double pay/receive) rule and it's the rule which I hate the most in Japanese Mahjong, so I say Nashi to it. I like saying Ari to Yakitori (Roast Bird penalty) though, but setting it to 5000 points. A "mild" punishment for not winning anything in the whole game.
I am also looking forward to Mondo21 matches being broadcast on Gyao, but I have ADSL (512kb/sec) internet speed in Australia which is very slow, dunno if I can stream on time. Our suburb doesn't even have ADSL 2+ or proper cable speeds.
Walter, it's not the ambience which I have trouble explaining, it's that many Westerners think that "mahjong" is that computer matching solitaire game. But that game is called Shanghai or "mahjong solitaire". It's annoying for me to explain what real 4 player mj is to nearly every non-Asian who mistakens it for something else. This problem NEVER occurs with Poker, which I envy it about.
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