Click HERE for the original article on Fukuchi Makoto's A Former Tenhou Meijini Blog.

*Translation of the original article start below*

Generally, it is said that the biggest issue when it comes to Mahjong rules in regards to a beginners’ hurdle is the point calculation.

That is definately true, but in my mind, there is another reason.

And that is the lack of terminology, or the vulgar terminology used.

“Ari-Ari”, “Uma”, “Oka” and many slangs like ths come from a gambling oriented background.

If a game that is originated in a foregin country is played, like Poker for example, terminology like “Call” are used in the same way and spelled out in Katakana.

Although Mahjong is orinated from China, the systems like “Ari-Ari”, “Uma”and “Oka” started from Japan.
These terms were used for gambling in general, so that image is still hidden within the terminologies.

When I first went to play in a set/fixed invironment, I asked what the rules were, and was told “Well, anything goes here”.
This is not an answer at all (￣w￣)プッ

It would be easier if they told me that the rate is Pin and One/Two, Ten-Pai Ren-Chan is allowed, any To-Chuu-Ryu-Kyo-Ku is allowed, and Double Ron is allowed, and Red 5s are included, and Shu-Gi is paid even when calling tiles, how much the Shu-Gi is per tile…etc, but it’s not unified that these rules should be explained prior to a start of a game.
The rate and Shu-Gi are gambling elements, but everything else is about the game itself.

If “Uma” and “Oka” would be called something like “Li-Sling” or “Sou-Vinion” for example, would make the terminology more official and if that can be acknowledged by everyone, that itself will help make Mahjong into a more intellectual game.

But for now, we shoould definitely change terminologies like “Ari-Ari”, “Uma” and “Oka” into something better.
If we continue using them, there will not be enough class.

The Biggest Flaw in the Rule