Martin Rep, the editor of Mahjong News and the organiser of the tournaments Cherry Blossom and Kinryu Majan is organising yet another but unique tournament in Holland this summer. Without a doubt, its Washizu Majan. I have wanted to play a real Washizu game since the moment I saw the tiles in the Akagi series, but have yet to do so although I have a transparent tile set. I’ve played a little now and then, but never in the sense of a serious game. I can’t wait to see how this event will turn out, with so many quality players coming from around the world. From what I’ve heard, there’s a little chance that even Fukumoto will be there!

This is the description of the tournament written by Martin Rep, the organiser. Make sure you check out the tournament’s website here.

A completely new riichi mahjong tournament will take place in ‘the Estate’, ‘de Buitenplaats’ in Arnhem, the capital of the Dutch province of Gelderland on Sunday, July 18th.

It will be a riichi mahjong event – but with very special rules, and with very special tiles. The sets which will be used, will consist of both transparent and opaque tiles. This will mean a total new approach of the game.

The tournament is inspired on the Japanese manga Akagi. The artist, Nobuyuki Fukumoto, lets his main character, Akagi Shigeru, play against an evil person, named Washizu. Washizu’s mahjong set consists of transparent and non-transparent tiles.

The manga is thrilling. But in real life, a game like that is never played. Nowadays, Washizu mahjong sets are for sale, though. So I decided to meet the challenge. I have decided to organize the first Washizu Mahjong Tournament in the world.