[Father's Day Special] Direct Coaching by Professional Mahjong Players! Free 'Mind Sport' Trial Event for Parents and Children at MAZEL Mahjong School in Tachikawa

MAZEL Mahjong School, Japan's first decision-making training facility operated by ESPconsulting Co., Ltd. (Tachikawa, Tokyo; Representative: Akiko Shiki), will hold a 'Free Parent-Child Mahjong Trial' on Father's Day, June 21, 2026, for elementary, middle, and high school students and their parents.

This event offers a special opportunity to experience Mahjong as a 'mind sport' in a clean environment, currently booming among children against the backdrop of the popularity of M-League.

We propose a new way to spend Father's Day, away from digital games and smartphones, to nurture children's 'latent potential' and 'lifelong decision-making skills' through face-to-face communication.

Direct guidance will be provided by professional players belonging to the Saikouisen Japan Professional Mahjong Association!

■ Why Mahjong for Children Now? Real-World Communication and Educational Value Needed in the Digital Age

In recent years, the movement to enjoy Mahjong as a wholesome 'mind sport'—without gambling, smoking, or drinking—has spread rapidly. It is gaining significant attention in educational and parenting circles as the ultimate educational activity to develop 'non-cognitive skills,' the unquantifiable life capabilities.

Today, the spread of smartphones and digital games has increased communication that ends entirely within screens, leaving real interpersonal relationships among children weak. This is why our school values the time spent around Mahjong tiles, looking at each other face-to-face. Exchanging words while making eye contact and gauging feelings from others' expressions and gestures. We believe this accumulation of living communication provides adults the opportunity to notice children's small emotional changes and signs, playing a vital role in preventing various isolation issues facing modern society.

Our school was envisioned with a strong passion to 'deliver this wonderful mind sport to the children who will lead our future.' Unlike general Mahjong parlors, we have carefully worked with relevant authorities to establish ourselves as a 'pure educational facility' not subject to the Entertainment Business Act, because we wanted to create a clean environment where children can learn with peace of mind.

Approximately one month after opening, students ranging from their 20s to seniors have been eagerly learning basic rules, profound analytical thinking, game strategy, and forward-looking skills according to their levels. Having welcomed many ambitious students who enjoy Mahjong not just as a game but as a mind sport for self-reflection, we are now ready to expand to our original goal: 'popularizing it among the children's generation.'

This 'Father's Day Limited Free Parent-Child Mahjong Trial' is our first step to gently convey the high-quality thinking training and the fun of face-to-face interaction that fascinates adults to children. We encourage parents to participate with their children to experience it as a common hobby at home or a new means of conversation to connect parents and children.

■ A Word from Representative Akiko Shiki

I am convinced that Mahjong is a wonderful mind sport that can draw out various latent potentials in both children and adults. That is why I have negotiated repeatedly with relevant parties to establish this school, with the goal of creating a place where everyone can enjoy it as a clean, safe, and secure sport, renewing its old image.

In today's world, I feel that both adults and children are spending more time facing screens, and face-to-face connections are becoming weaker. That is why we want Mahjong to help children build warm interpersonal relationships and create a 'safe third place' rooted in the community where adults can notice those small changes and support each other.

On Father's Day, June 21, please come and experience this intellectual pleasure as a new means of communication connecting parents and children. We will provide easy-to-understand and careful lectures even for children who do not know Mahjong at all, and we will deliver an event where everyone who participates leaves with a smile, saying 'That was fun!'

■ Event Overview: Father's Day Limited Junior Mahjong Free Trial

Date and Time: Sunday, June 21, 2026, 10:00–12:00
Location: MAZEL Mahjong School (401 Suzuki Building, 1-8-14 Nishiki-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo)
Target: Elementary, middle, and high school students (Note: Participation is strictly for parents/families; children are not permitted to attend alone.)
Participation Requirements: Accompaniment by an adult is mandatory.