"Healthy Mahjong": 80% Interested, 10% Experienced – Expectations for "Brain Health" and "Community Building"

Asahi Shimbun Company (Representative Director and CEO: Katsu Sumida), through its media and community platform for people aged 50 and over, "Asahi Shimbun Re Life Project," conducted a survey on the awareness and actual status of "healthy mahjong." The survey showed that 61.8% of respondents knew about healthy mahjong, and a high interest of 78.3% was indicated when combining those who were "very interested" and "somewhat interested." Among this interested group, expectations for brain function-related items were particularly high, with judgment, concentration, and memory being chosen most frequently. On the other hand, only 11.4% of respondents said they had "actually participated in healthy mahjong," and the reality emerged that anxiety about understanding the rules, such as 37.6% saying they "don't know the rules at all," is a barrier to participation.

The survey was conducted from September to October 2025, targeting members of the Re Life Project's community "Readers' Meeting," and received responses from 932 people, mainly in their 50s to 70s. It explored what kind of interest and expectations "Re Life Readers' Meeting members," who enjoy the latter half of their lives in their own way, have for healthy mahjong.

(1) 61.8% "Know" about "Healthy Mahjong," 78.3% are "Interested" 61.8% responded that they "know about healthy mahjong." On the other hand, 38.2% "did not know," indicating that while there is some recognition, there is still room for wider penetration. Regarding interest, 30.9% were "very interested" and 47.4% were "somewhat interested," totaling 78.3% showing interest.

(2) Background of Interest: Expectations for "Judgment, Concentration, Memory" – Value as a Place for Interaction Also Emerges 730 people responded that they were "very interested" or "somewhat interested" in healthy mahjong. Among the expected points (multiple answers), "using judgment" (571 people), "using concentration" (489 people), and "using memory" (476 people) were ranked high. "Helping to make friends" (394 people) was also frequently chosen, highlighting its aspect as a place for interaction, such as creating new connections with neighbors.