CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

Has any one tried to play the poker/gambling version of this game? It is so hard and confusing. I saw this anime called Akagi, and it is about someone who plays this game and he is really good, so I thought I would check it out. Well when I saw how terriblely hard it was I decided to wait until I have a lot of free time to play this game. It looks like fun and it would be another nerdy japanese game for us to learn so look into it.

I've played mahjong, love it and now, have kidnapped my brother's mahjong set.

I don't gamble with it using real money though (i.e. 'pretend' money, candy, madeup penalties or nothing at all). Apparently, there are two versions (??): 4 player and 3 player. Now I've only played the 4 player game.

I don't think it's too difficult but certainly, like any game out there, it requires a bit of strategizing and good luck. You don't need to be able to read the Chinese characters but at least you need to recognize them well enough to form the patterns you want to win the game.

Disclaimer: Mahjong is well-known among the Asian culture as a gambling game (popularized by gangster movies) and for some people, an addiction to gambling is sometimes cultivated by playing this game. Take my advice, play it for fun and moderate yourself.

Did you know there are three (that's right, three) mangas about it? Oh, and btw, Blue Seed's Omake Theatre has the funniest Majhong sequence in anime:
"I must express my anger!"
"Me too!"