打麻将，是中国的伟大发明，和中国人的时代与时俱进，现如今，在大陆（尤其是重庆）已变成了最最流行的百姓休闲节目。对于西方人来说，麻将是一种绝对东方的游戏。他们对它不了解、又充满了好奇。麻将是一种绝对东方的游戏。

　　Anyone living in Tokyo has passed dozens of “janso” -- Japanese Mahjong parlors. Few, however, dare to actually go inside, perhaps anticipating a dark, smoky den that will erupt in a slow-motion gangster assassination at any moment。

　　生活在东京的人都会经过许多称之为“janso”的日本麻将营业室。然而却很少有人敢真正进去，也许是因为印象中这类店会是一个黑暗而烟雾弥漫的场所，随时会被歹徒刺杀。

　　But those that think that have probably been watching too many Wong Kar-Wai movies, as this image could not be farther from the truth. Mahjong parlors are welcoming places and a great space for social activity. The only thing is, if you want to join the janso club, you'll have to learn how to play mahjong。

　　但是会这么想的人很可能是看了太多的王家卫电影，因为那些镜头贴近现实生活。其实麻将室是一个很受欢迎的场所，是社交活动的好去处。如果你想加入麻将会所，你唯一要做的就是学会搓麻将。

　　Here are nine good reasons to take the plunge into miles and miles of tiles。

　　以下是9条让你进入麻将世界并沉迷于此的好理由。

　　It's popular　麻将很流行

　　With over 8 million players playing in over 10,000 parlors across the country (and countless playing at home)， mahjong is the most popular table game in Japan. "Mahjong is a great game and Japanese people love it," says Takunori Kajimoto, noted mahjong author and manager of the Mahjong Museum in Chiba。

　　麻将在日本是最火的桌面游戏，在全国1万多个麻将室有超过800万个玩家(还有无数的人在家玩)。著名麻将创作者，千叶麻将博物馆经理梶本匠规说：“麻将是一个优秀的游戏，日本人民很爱玩。”

　　It's easy to learn 麻将容易上手

　　Mahjong looks complicated at first, but if it was really that hard, millions of people wouldn't be playing it. Learning the basics takes a bit of time, but there are plenty of internet resources to help you out。

　　麻将乍一看很复杂，但是如果它真的那么难的话就不会吸引数百万人玩了。虽然学习基本要素是需要花点时间，但是有大量的网络资源能帮助你学习。

　　Networking　建立人际关系网

　　“Ningen kankei,” interpersonal relations, is a crucially important part of Japanese society. Since nearly all senior male company workers in Japan have played mahjong at one point in their life, learning the game can be your key to getting some face time with the big shots in the top ranks。

　　“人間関係(日文)”，既人际关系，是日本社会中一个至关重要的组成部分。在日本，几乎所有的资深男性员工都在他们的生活中玩过麻将，因此学会搓麻将会是你与顶级大亨面对面对交流机会的关键。

　　It's safe　麻将很安全

　　Gambling in Japan has long been associated with organized crime, but gangs pulled out of the mahjong world years ago. Most big parlors nowadays know that keeping customers loyal means keeping them safe, so expect well-lit interiors and staff watching out for any funny business。

　　在日本，赌博长期以来都与有组织犯罪相联系，但是帮派活动数年前就退出了麻将领域。现在大部分较大的麻将营业室都知道维持客户忠诚度意味着保护他们的安全，所以营业室内灯光明亮，员工也密切关注着任何可以行为。

　　More and more parlors are also offering student and sub-student level rates, so if you're nervous about your game you won't be losing more than ¥1,500 an hour. There are even parlors that cater to beginners.

　　越来越多的麻将室还提供等级度给学生和附属学生，所以你大可不必紧张，因为你每小时最多只会输1500日元。甚至会有照顾初学者的麻将室。

　　Competition　竞争性

　　Whoever says that Japanese people are “not competitive” has never played mahjong. Try sitting down at a table with three of them who are trying to take your money。

　　人们说，那些没有竞争意识的日本人是从来不打麻将的。所以，尝试着与另外三个想拿走你的钱的具有竞争性的人一同坐下来，围成一桌。

　　Mahjong keeps you healthy　麻将能保持你的健康

　　Recently, people in the mahjong world have been promoting “healthy mahjong,” a special way of playing aimed at keeping the minds of the elderly ticking. You may have your doubts, but momentum has snowballed, and the movement has gathered government funding for its national tournaments. Now during retirement you can claim that your addiction to the game is a neurological treatment。

　　最近，在麻将世界中人们正在推广一种“健康麻将”的玩法，旨在保持老年人脑子转动。你也许心存疑虑，但是这已是大势所趋，而且这次活动已经为它的全国锦标赛获得了政府基金。现在你可以在退休后声称你对麻将的沉迷是一次神经治疗。

　　Wacky manga　搞怪的漫画

　　Want to see Hitler and the Pope duke it out at the mahjong table? Only mahjong aficionados are able to understand the bi-weekly manga serial "Kindai-Mahjong," which has some of the most entertaining -- and ridiculous -- comics in the world. Pick one up at your local convenience store。

　　想在麻将桌之外看希特勒和教皇公爵吗？只有麻将的狂热爱好者能理解两周一出的漫画系列“近代麻将”，它包含了世界上一些最具娱乐性的和最荒谬的连环漫画。在你当地的便利店就能看到。

　　Mahjong Museum　麻将博物馆

　　Yes, a mahjong museum exists in Japan, and it's the only mahjong museum in the world. The museum is located an easy day-trip from Tokyo near Kazusa-ichinomiya on the Sotobo line. They even have a picture of the emperor playing mahjong。

　　是的，日本有麻将博物馆，而且是世界上唯一一个麻将博物馆。博物馆坐落在当日往返很方便的东京，靠近外房线的Kazusa- ichinomiya车站(上総一ノ宮駅)。他们甚至拥有皇帝打麻将的一张照片。

　　It's fun!　麻将很有趣！

　　The main reason mahjong is so popular is because it's a great game. Japanese Mahjong games only end because someone has to catch the train or meet his girlfriend. No one ever leaves because they're sick of playing。

　　麻将如此流行主要是因为它是个很让人热衷的游戏。日本人只有在赶火车或是去见女友的时候才停止打麻将。所有人都沉迷于此而不愿离开。