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| Paul Beneder is catching up with the Japanese |
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| Written by Martin Rep |
| Monday, 18 May 2009 06:47 |
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Mahjong News: Why did you decide to go to Japan? Paul Beneder: I was president of Kasu Mahjong, but I have transferred my duties during my absence. When I will come back in 2010, I really hope to be able to contribute to Kasu again. There were various reasons for me to go to Japan. I wanted to study here, I have an interest in the culture and the people of Japan, and I would like to experience something which is quite new. At the moment, I am following lessons at a language school. And I earn a bit of money by playing riichi mahjong. Mahjong News: Do you have time to play mahjong? And which variants? Paul Beneder: Each week, I play at least ten hours of mahjong, in various parlors. About one of out six Japanese knows how to play mahjong, and most of them play riichi. The Chinese of course also know other rules. Today I happen to have an appointment to play Shanghai mahjong with some folks. MN: And where do you play? PB: In mahjong parlors exclusively. The prices per session and pro person are quite moderate: about two euros. Playing at automatic mahjong tables is very convenient, many drinks are free and if you have to make a short telephone call, there is always someone who can stand in for you. At least, this was the case in the some ten parlors I have played in.  MN: Do you learn a lot about mahjong?PB: Yes, especially the paraphernalia and the strategy. In the beginning, the Japanese playing speed was way too high for me, but after three days already I could, more or less, keep pace with them. A session, mostly, does not last any longer than 40 minutes. Besides, I have learned many specialised terms, like Jigokumachi. That is a tenpai hand that cannot win anymore, because all possible ron tiles are already included in other combinations. And, which is quite natural for all Japanese: the immediate calculating of the scores. After a ron, all Japanese at once say how many yaku a hand is worth, and how many mini-points you have to pay. I still have to check the tables every now and then, but for the most important hands I now know the cost. And furthermore, I now know how a mahjong parlor is run, how things go at an automatic mahjong table - and much, much more. MN: Jenn Barr is an American, who lives in Tokyo and runs a smoke-free parlor. Did you already meet with her? PB: Oh yes, often. I have seen her parlor, and it is just great: clean, bright and friendly. Although the cigarettes in Japan are much too cheap - some 2,30 euros - the smoking problem in this country are not as large as I had thought. Of course, in most parlors here people do smoke. But in two sessions, most of the time just one of the players smokes one cigarette. Or even less.  MN: So, after you come back, you may be the next European riichi mahjong champion…PB: I have planned to come back to Austria in April 2010. I am not likely to be the riichi champion, there are better tournament players in Europe, and they are more active than I am. But of course, I will pass my mahjong knowledge to the Austrian players, so perhaps one of them will have a chance to win that title. |
| Last Updated on Thursday, 06 August 2009 06:13 |
TOKYO - He plays at least ten hours mahjong each week and he is having a really great time. Mahjong News had a talk with Paul Beneder, president of the Austrian mahjong Club Kasu about his stay in Japan. 
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