04:32Japanese children in Tokyo are increasingly spending their after-school time learning to play 'Mahjong', a tile-based game developed in China in the 19th Century, to help sharpen their decision-making skills.
Footage captured on Friday at the Neuron Mahjong School shows children between the ages of seven to eleven playing the game together with friends and schoolmates. Parents and other children were also seen signing up for Mahjong classes.
"Many ordinary games are easy to play. But Mahjong is complicated and because it is complicated, I can think about it that much more," said Yotsuba Kubo, an 11-year-old player. "There are many different players, so it's interesting to be able to play with different people, and I guess that's fun."
Mahjong instructor Hibiki Suzuki said that learning the game is beneficial for children's critical thinking skills, noting that 'the good thing about Mahjong is that the children can use their brains and train themselves to think about how to play a hand by themselves.'
"Of course, it is important to move your body, but I think it is also very good practice to train your brain," she said.
The number of children playing Mahjong has continued to rise since 2010. In recent years, the younger age group has begun to get more involved, with junior school-age children making up the majority, according to a local media report. The percentage of girls learning to play the game is also on the rise.
Neuron Mahjong School, which operates approximately 140 schools nationwide, is a non-profit welfare organisation that aims to promote a healthy culture through Mahjong.
Can’t go wrong with Mahjong! - Japanese children getting involved in Chinese tile-based strategy game
Japanese children in Tokyo are increasingly spending their after-school time learning to play 'Mahjong', a tile-based game developed in China in the 19th Century, to help sharpen their decision-making skills.
Footage captured on Friday at the Neuron Mahjong School shows children between the ages of seven to eleven playing the game together with friends and schoolmates. Parents and other children were also seen signing up for Mahjong classes.
"Many ordinary games are easy to play. But Mahjong is complicated and because it is complicated, I can think about it that much more," said Yotsuba Kubo, an 11-year-old player. "There are many different players, so it's interesting to be able to play with different people, and I guess that's fun."
Mahjong instructor Hibiki Suzuki said that learning the game is beneficial for children's critical thinking skills, noting that 'the good thing about Mahjong is that the children can use their brains and train themselves to think about how to play a hand by themselves.'
"Of course, it is important to move your body, but I think it is also very good practice to train your brain," she said.
The number of children playing Mahjong has continued to rise since 2010. In recent years, the younger age group has begun to get more involved, with junior school-age children making up the majority, according to a local media report. The percentage of girls learning to play the game is also on the rise.
Neuron Mahjong School, which operates approximately 140 schools nationwide, is a non-profit welfare organisation that aims to promote a healthy culture through Mahjong.
Japanese children in Tokyo are increasingly spending their after-school time learning to play 'Mahjong', a tile-based game developed in China in the 19th Century, to help sharpen their decision-making skills.
Footage captured on Friday at the Neuron Mahjong School shows children between the ages of seven to eleven playing the game together with friends and schoolmates. Parents and other children were also seen signing up for Mahjong classes.
"Many ordinary games are easy to play. But Mahjong is complicated and because it is complicated, I can think about it that much more," said Yotsuba Kubo, an 11-year-old player. "There are many different players, so it's interesting to be able to play with different people, and I guess that's fun."
Mahjong instructor Hibiki Suzuki said that learning the game is beneficial for children's critical thinking skills, noting that 'the good thing about Mahjong is that the children can use their brains and train themselves to think about how to play a hand by themselves.'
"Of course, it is important to move your body, but I think it is also very good practice to train your brain," she said.
The number of children playing Mahjong has continued to rise since 2010. In recent years, the younger age group has begun to get more involved, with junior school-age children making up the majority, according to a local media report. The percentage of girls learning to play the game is also on the rise.
Neuron Mahjong School, which operates approximately 140 schools nationwide, is a non-profit welfare organisation that aims to promote a healthy culture through Mahjong.