Tamura Koushou Mahjong Seminar (Japan)

Tamura Koushou Mahjong Seminar is a Mahjong game for the NES, specifically designed to teach and allow players to practice Japanese-style Mahjong, also known as Riichi Mahjong. Players are guided through the fundamental rules, various hand formations, scoring methods, and advanced strategic concepts.

The core gameplay revolves around choosing which tiles to discard from your hand, making open calls (Pon, Chi, Kan) to complete sets of tiles, and ultimately aiming to "go out" (win the hand) either by drawing the winning tile yourself (Tsumo) or by claiming an opponent's discard (Ron). The game features a dedicated "Seminar" mode, which provides comprehensive lessons covering different yaku (scoring patterns), furo (open melds), and important rules like furiten (forbidden discards).

Once the theoretical knowledge is absorbed, players can engage in practical matches against computer-controlled opponents to sharpen their skills. The primary objective is to assemble a valid hand, typically consisting of four melds (sets of three or four tiles) and one pair, then declare "Riichi" and await the winning tile. The game's interface is straightforward and intuitive, making it accessible for absolute beginners while also serving as an excellent tool for experienced players to solidify their understanding of Japanese Mahjong's intricate rules and nuances.