How to Play Japanese Riichi Mahjong – A Complete Guide

How different is Japanese Riichi from Chinese Mahjong?

It goes without saying that Japanese Riichi originated from Chinese Mahjong. The tiles are nearly identical, using Chinese characters (called kanji in Japanese and hanzi in Chinese). But despite the shared roots, there are several key differences that set Riichi apart.

If you already know how to play a variant of Chinese Mahjong, you’ll still need to learn some new rules before jumping into Riichi. And if you’re brand new to Mahjong, expect a steeper learning curve — not only do you need to understand the rules, but also learn specific winning hand patterns before you can score your first win.

Bonus tiles work differently
Riichi is usually played with 136 tiles, omitting the eight flower and season tiles that serve as bonus tiles in Chinese Mahjong. Instead, Riichi introduces a different bonus system called dora.

There are two main ways to get dora:

Dora Indicators: At the start of the game, one tile in the dead wall (a separate stack of 14 tiles) is flipped over as a dora indicator. The bonus tile is the one that follows it in its suit. For example, if the indicator is 7 dots, the dora tile is 8 dots. More indicators can be revealed if players declare kan or riichi. The more indicators revealed, the more potential dora you could score.

Akadora (Red Dora): These are usually the three red fives — one in each suit (dot, character, bamboo). Each one you hold gives you an automatic dora bonus.

Winning conditions are stricter:
Like Chinese Mahjong, a winning hand in Riichi still consists of 14 tiles — four melds and one pair. But here’s the key difference: you must have a yaku — a valid winning pattern or condition — to win.

Yaku is not the same as dora. Yaku is what qualifies your hand to win; dora simply adds extra points after you’ve met the win condition. That’s why beginners need to learn a few simple yaku first — like keeping your hand closed for a riichi, or going for patterns like tanyao (all simples) — before aiming for flashier hands.

Riichi is designed to reward more strategic and competitive play. You can’t just win with any common hand — it has to meet specific criteria, which can be challenging for beginners but deeply rewarding once you get the hang of it.

The foundation to play riichi

At its heart, Japanese Riichi is built directly on the traditional Chinese Mahjong framework. The core elements — suits, tiles, and hand structure — remain true to the classic game, but Riichi introduces new mechanics and scoring elements that make it uniquely strategic and competitive.

Suits and Tiles:
Japanese Riichi uses the standard three suits:

• Dots (Pin/Pinzu)
• Bamboo (Sou/Souzu)
• Characters (Man/Manzu)

Each suit includes tiles numbered 1 through 9. Riichi also retains the honor tiles — the four winds (East, South, West, North) and three dragons (Red, Green, White).
Unlike some Chinese variants, flower and season tiles are not used in Riichi, and the tile count is usually 136.

A unique feature of Riichi is the inclusion of red fives (aka dora) — one red 5 in each suit — which act as bonus tiles to increase hand value (mentioned above).

Sets and Melds:
The structure of the hand is familiar to traditional players:

• Pons (three identical tiles)
• Chis (three consecutive tiles in the same suit)
• Kans (four identical tiles)
• Pairs (two identical tiles)

To win, players must form four sets and a pair, totaling 14 tiles. However, a winning hand must contain at least one Yaku — a valid hand pattern or condition — or the hand is not eligible to win, regardless of its structure.

Game Setup and Play:
The setup and turn sequence resemble Chinese Mahjong: players sit in wind positions, build a wall of tiles, and draw/discard in clockwise order.

However, Riichi introduces distinct features like:

• Riichi Declaration: a player in tenpai (one tile from winning) can declare riichi, locking their hand in place in exchange for potential extra points.
• Dora Indicators: flipped tiles from the dead wall that determine bonus dora tiles, affecting score.
• Furiten and tenpai/no-ten scoring rules: subtle mechanics that influence risk and strategy.

Japanese Riichi focuses heavily on hand value, risk management, and reading opponents, offering a more tactical, scoring-focused version of Mahjong — while preserving the core spirit of the traditional game.

Key Differences: Scoring System and Special Hands

While Japanese Riichi Mahjong retains the traditional Chinese tile set and hand structure, it stands out for its unique scoring system and mandatory hand conditions. These rules give Riichi its distinct strategic depth and competitive edge.

Scoring Rules:
In Riichi, simply forming a complete hand isn’t enough — you must meet at least one Yaku (a valid winning condition) to declare a win. Without a Yaku, even a perfect-looking hand cannot be scored. This requirement adds an extra layer of challenge, especially for beginners.

Scoring is based on two main elements:

• Han: Points earned from Yaku and bonus tiles (like Dora)
• Fu: A base point value determined by the hand’s structure and method of win

Together, Han and Fu determine the final score, with detailed point tables used to calculate how many points the winner receives — and from whom. Declaring Riichi, using Dora indicators, or drawing the winning tile yourself can significantly increase your score.

Special Hands:
Riichi includes a list of powerful Yakuman (limit hands) that offer the highest possible scores. These hands, such as Kokushi Musou (Thirteen Orphans), Suu Ankou (Four Concealed Triplets), and Daisangen (Big Three Dragons), are extremely rare but incredibly valuable.

Unlike British Mahjong’s emphasis on fixed special hands with themed combinations, Riichi’s Yakuman are standardized and recognized across most rulesets, adding an element of prestige for experienced players who can pull them off. Even more, some Yakuman can be combined for double or triple limits, rewarding extremely skillful play.

Where to play Japanese Riichi Mahjong in London

Good question! At Dear Asia London, we now offer Riichi Mahjong tables during our regular Saturday Mahjong Play Sessions. We’re based in Central London (E1, Aldgate) — an easy-to-reach location whether you’re coming from North, South, East, or West London.

We’re aware of a few Riichi meetup groups in Richmond and Southwest London, but if you’re looking for a central option, our Saturday sessions could be perfect for you. Just visit our BOOK TICKETS page to find a date that suits you.

Our Just Play sessions include a Riichi table, and tickets are very reasonably priced. However, we don’t recommend joining if you’re a complete beginner to Mahjong. If you’re new, we suggest starting with our Mahjong Beginner and Intermediate Workshops. While these focus on Chinese Mahjong, they’ll give you the fundamentals — making it easier to understand Riichi differences later on.

And of course, if you’re not London-based, there’s a vibrant online Riichi community on platforms like Mahjong Soul and Tenhou — where Riichi is the main style played.