Mahjong by the Moat

Four men in their work attire. Some in fluorescent jackets. Others in suit jackets. All gathered around a table, in a tucked away corner at the north of Ōsaka Castle park. Right the foot of the imperial behemoth, directly overlooking the moat. Four bikes are scattered on the ground beside them. I run past. Neatly stacked tiles encircle the table. A game I know, if only just a little bit. Mahjong. I smile. That’s all this post is. I just thought it was an awesome sight. It was a game that my roommates and I had played a few times back home, but we’d never fully understood the nuance behind it, nor the random side-betting. For these men though, you got the sense this was a way of life. An outlet beyond work. A game. But more than that, an opportunity to laugh and share in the company of one another with one of the most beautiful backdrops in the world. These are the glimpses into everyday life that I’ve really cherished from my time in Japan. May they continue playing for a long, long time.