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Nintendo's Forgotten Product Lines

Mahjong

by Danny Bivens - November 26, 2013, 6:37 pm EST

Forget about that mahjong parlor! You can play at home with this hot new set!

Nintendo has been selling Mahjong sets under the Yakuman brand since 1964. A revised version of the game, which was recently announced, is set to be released on November 29 in Japan. This new set comes with everything you need to play the game in terms of tiles, chips, and dice with an optional mat available separately. 

Mahjong came to Japan about 90 years ago and differs slightly from other versions of the game. The Japanese version is typically played with 136 tiles with four players. The base rules for the game remain the same, however there are some additional rules. Mahjong is relatively popular in Japan and is sometimes played for money in various mahjong parlors throughout the country. Below, you can get a good look at the latest set from Nintendo which retails for 18,900 yen (about $189 USD).

Here is a good look at all of the included pieces in the set


The set tiles all feature a bamboo-like design on the back. Making a return as well is an original Nintendo emblem featuring a turtle. The set itself is mostly void of anything company markings aside from the chips which subtly feature the Nintendo logo.


The Yakuman Mat, which can be used for playing a game of Mahjong, is available separately for 5,250 yen (about $52.50 USD).

Note: The exchange rate at the time of writing was roughly $1 USD = 100 yen.

Images

Talkback

azekeNovember 26, 2013

I recommend "History of Nintendo" books by Pix'n'Love if you're interested in that kind of stuff. Lots of information about Nintendo's products before they entered videogames, highly fascinating stuff.

That sounds awesome! I'll have to be sure to check it out!

azekeNovember 27, 2013

Just make sure you handle books with care. Binding isn't all that good in first two volumes -- i have first book with few pages literally falling from it.

Also i heard complaints that english translation isn't all that good (english being my third language, i honestly can't tell), so if you're fluent in French -- you might want to check out books in original French.

I'm going through the first volume in French, it's good stuff!

Towards the end, it almost becomes a catalog of old Nintendo toys, but there are still fun facts to be learned. For instance, I didn't expect to see that the Game Boy's Game Link cable had a predecessor... in 1982. For Nintendo's Yakuman portable electronic Mah-jong game!

CericNovember 27, 2013

I was expecting something more to tell you the truth.  I mean I didn't know all the variations of play cards they have but I did know they made all those cards.  I also knew they made a lot of what would be thought of as traditional Japanese games.  I was sort of hoping to find out they made bikes or an action figure line not related to any of their game properties.  Lego like things.  You know something that just makes you go "Oh that is a toy."

Damn Nintendo for disappointing us!  :P

I seriously want to get one of Hyakunin Isshu sets. To play a competitive game all by myself. Woo?!

Quote from: Ceric

I was expecting something more to tell you the truth.  I mean I didn't know all the variations of play cards they have but I did know they made all those cards.  I also knew they made a lot of what would be thought of as traditional Japanese games.  I was sort of hoping to find out they made bikes or an action figure line not related to any of their game properties.  Lego like things.  You know something that just makes you go "Oh that is a toy."

You mean exactly like this?

They made plenty of toys, of board games, of little "travel size" toys, electronic toys. They had their own designs, and they licensed toys and games from other companies for sale in Japan as well.

CericNovember 27, 2013

Quote from: Pandareus

Quote from: Ceric

I was expecting something more to tell you the truth.  I mean I didn't know all the variations of play cards they have but I did know they made all those cards.  I also knew they made a lot of what would be thought of as traditional Japanese games.  I was sort of hoping to find out they made bikes or an action figure line not related to any of their game properties.  Lego like things.  You know something that just makes you go "Oh that is a toy."

You mean exactly like this?

They made plenty of toys, of board games, of little "travel size" toys, electronic toys. They had their own designs, and they licensed toys and games from other companies for sale in Japan as well.

Yes, I'm fairly sure We've posted those before but, yes.  Only still making.

sehrgutDecember 06, 2013

They actually still manufacture harifuda cards for tehonbiki as well. Only the Daitōryō are available, and they're sold without the nice plastic case the hanafuda and kabufuda come in: they're just the inner paperboard box.

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