Hokuryu Town's "Healthy Mahjong" is a fun and fun way to activate the brain and "create a purpose in life, improve health, make friends, prevent nursing care, and prevent dementia."

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Healthy mahjong is being held at the multipurpose hall of Hokuryu Town's commercial revitalization facility, "Kokowa."


When entering the building, please be sure to disinfect your hands.


Healthy Mahjong: A brain-activating intellectual game

Healthy Mahjong with three main themes: "No drinking, no gambling, no smoking"

Healthy Mahjong is a healthy culture brand that aims to "create a purpose in life, improve health, and make friends" in line with the needs of the times, with three main themes: "No drinking (alcohol), no gambling (money), and no smoking (tobacco)." (Reference: Asahi Shimbun "Healthy Mahjong: No Gambling, No Drinking, No Smoking" is Popular）

Healthy Mahjong has been proven to activate the brain and help prevent dementia

Professor Shinohara Kikunori of Suwa Tokyo University of Science, a neuroscientist, conducted a "Survey on the effects of Healthy Mahjong on brain activity." The results of the study two years later demonstrated that Healthy Mahjong activates areas of the brain that are prone to deterioration, leading to the prevention of nursing care and dementia. (Reference: Mahjong Newspaper January 2008 issue）

The Japan Healthy Mahjong Association (Inc.) and the NPO Healthy Mahjong National Association are active nationwide.

More than 30 years ago, in 1988 (Showa 63)Japan Health Mahjong Associationwas established, and in 2004 (Heisei 16)NPO Health Hemp General Associationwas established to promote the nationwide spread of healthy mahjong.

Also, every year,High School Girls Open Tournament" was held, and furthermore,Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award "All Japan Health Mahjong Championship"are being held, and healthy mahjong is spreading nationwide.

Sponsored by Hokuryu Town "Healthy Mahjong" Smile Association

Hokuryu Town's "Healthy Mahjong" is held by members of the "Smile Association" (chaired by Sato Mineko), a group run by volunteers from Hokuryu Town, who can gather freely on any of the activity days (Monday, Wednesday, or Friday).

Healthy Mahjong has been held about once a week since around February this year, but was temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has recently resumed and is now in its 15th year since it began.

Most of the participants are beginners and inexperienced people.

Guidance from Hokuryu Town resident, Setsuya Suzuki

The people who will be teaching us the basic rules are local residents.Setsuya Suzuki(68 years old) Setsuya Suzuki first encountered mahjong when he was in elementary school. He learned and played mahjong with his whole family.

A detailed manual written by Suzuki

For beginner members, Setsya Suzuki has created a detailed, handmade 16-page healthy mahjong manual, which includes detailed descriptions of the types and names of mahjong tiles, hand roles, and point calculations.


Careful guidance from Setsya Suzuki

While watching the moves being made during play, we will carefully explain how to play and handle mahjong tiles.


"What should I throw away?"
"I don't know how to hit it anymore."
"It really requires a lot of thinking, so it's quite stimulating."
"Even if I learn the rules and names, I forget them right away, so it's really difficult!"
"I'm an 80-year-old learning to write, chatting and having fun!"

Laughter can be heard from the members, such as:


"It's a good brain exercise because it requires a lot of use of the fingers and the brain. Everyone works so hard, it's really worth teaching," says instructor Suzuki.


Take a break with something sweet!


With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, we offer "Healthy Mahjong," a healthy intellectual game that stimulates the brain by moving your fingers and thinking about ways to play while enjoying conversation with friends.

Other photos

・Hokuryu Town's "Healthy Mahjong": Fun and smiling brain stimulation photos (31 photos) can be found here >>
　

◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi