ARNHEM - 2010 is the European riichi-year. In Hanover, Germany, the second Europen Riichi Mahjong Championship will take place, on July 10~11th. But the most striking event will be the Washizu in Holland Tournament, one week later in the Dutch town of Arnhem (near the German border). On this invitation tournament, Washizu Riichi will be played, with transparent and non-transparent tiles.

This event casts its shadows. Riichi is 'hot' these days, with an increasing number of tournaments. (Recently, the Austrian Riichi Open 2010 was announced.) Washizu Mahjong may be a niche within the riichi world, the Washizu in Holland Tournament promises to be a special event.

And, the other day, on two different spots in the Netherlands, two different drafts were made for Washizu Mahjong tables. One by Ada Ketzer and one by Cor Hoogland.

For Washizu Mahjong, special arrangements have to be made, in order not to reveal too much of the game. The players can see each others tiles - the transparent ones, that is, which make out three-quarter of the tiles; the rest is opaque.  But the tiles in the Wall have to be hidden. In the 'Akagi' manga which has inspired the organizers of the tournament, there is a hidden space beneath the desktop, which is covered by some rubber-like cloth.

The table which Cor Hoogland finished the other day, looks a lot like that table. It has a double desktop. Between these desktops, a room is hidden where the tiles of the wall reside.

Ada Ketzer prepared a similar table, but with just one desktop. She used an old kitchen table. In the centre, a square was left  open, and a box was hung underneath.

Martin Rep of organizer Mahjong News is not sure what tables will be used during the Washizu in Holland tournament. "It is a try-out", he says, "and a friendship tournament in the first place.  That means, we hardly have any budget. We are glad to have seven Washizu sets during the event. I think we can be very happy with these two tables. For the other ones, we are figuring something out with card boxes or something like that."

Rep invited 28 players for this 'secret tournament', as he likes to call it. Amongst those who have promised to join, are Japanese player Takunori Kajimoto, Chinese players Ma Yongliang (#8 in the OEMC 2005 and winner of the Second Chinese championship, 2004) and Helen Xu - they both also will play in the EC Riichi -, American Benjamin Boas and Finn Tom Mustonen. 

Stamps

Jan Ketzer has had special Washizu stamps printed, which can be used for real stamps. This is almost a tradition. In 2005, Mr. Ketzer published stamps on the occasion of the OEMC 2005, and this year he had them printed to sponsor the World Championship (MCR) 2010 in Holland.

Website of the Washizu in Holland Tournament