But most people who've emailed me regarding this issue recommend you just buy the large numbers set available from WhereTheWindsBlow.com - so, you can skip all the stuff I so carefully wrote years back, scroll down to the bottom, and read some emails from readers extolling the virtues of that set. This is not me endorsing a former sponsor - I wouldn't feel comfortable with that - it's readers endorsing a product, which, as far as I know, was available from one vendor as of 2015-16, when I wrote this paragraph.
Disclaimer out of the way, here's the FAQ I wrote, before people started emailing me about the large numbers set from WhereTheWindsBlow:
1. Some vendors carries large-size sets suitable for the visually impaired (like the "Easy Reader" set, for instance). See vendors list in FAQ 4a (click the FAQ 4a link in the nav frame at left). Look on the KMA site, the Yellow Mountain Imports site, Where The Winds Blow, the AMJA site, and check out the other vendors too. If you don't see what you want on their sites, call them. Phone them up, tell'em what you're looking for, see what they may have. But before you call, know whether you need a 152-tile American set with racks, or a 144-tile Asian-style set, or what (ask your sight-impaired person if she plays with the National Mah Jongg League card or not -- see
FAQ 7a).
2. Sets with fairly large indices manufactured by "KFC" are available through the Mah Jongg Maven, and probably other vendors as well (see FAQ 4a).
3. You can probably make suitable tiles yourself! A variety of letter/number stickers are available at office supply stores and hardware stores. Or read FAQ 7t and learn how to make your own custom stickers.
You only need the larger Western characters on the craks and winds, assuming your sight-impaired player can see the dots and bams OK (she shouldn't try to read the little Western characters, just look at the dots and sticks on the tiles - and she might be able to tell the dragons apart OK too).
I have seen Braille tiles at the mah-jongg museum in Japan. I believe that the way these tiles were made was by the use of clear stick-on Braille characters (the original engraved characters are still visible through the stick-ons). There is no company manufacturing Braille mah-jongg tiles that I know of, and I don't know where to buy them. I think stickers (labels) are the way to go. I don't know where you can obtain Braille labels offhand, but I'm sure you can find them by asking around at your local Association for the Blind - or on the internet by using Google.
COLOR-BLINDNESS
>From: Lynne R
>Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 4:21 AM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>My husband is color blind (red/green). Do you have any suggestions to make playing this game any easier? Any manufacturer that identifies the tiles somehow?
>Thanks!
Hi Lynne, you wrote:
Do you have any suggestions to make playing this game any easier [for people who are color-blind]?
Yes. You didn't say which kind of mah-jongg you and your husband play. (Your having a Jewish last name doesn't necessarily mean that you play American mah-jongg.) And you didn't mention whether your mah-jongg set (assuming you have one) has Chinese character dragon tiles or pictorial "dragon" dragon tiles. It matters, because the color-blindness problem is easier to solve for American mah-jongg than for certain Asian variants (including British mah-jongg and Wright-Patterson). I'm just going to discuss here some suggestions assuming you play American mah-jongg. Obviously, the tips I give you also assume you're going to make modifications to your own set, and that you'll always play with your own set.
Discerning Red Dragon from Green Dragon
Your set might have (A) Chinese character dragon tiles, or it might have (B) tiles depicting dragon images.
A. Chinese Character Dragon Tiles
The most common characters are "fa" (green / Fortune) and "chung" (red / Center).
Sometimes they are marked F and C respectively, and sometimes they are not.
The characters that were used in some antique sets are "feng" (green / phoenix) and "leung" (red / dragon).
B. Pictorial Dragon Tiles
Some manufacturers used to make different-looking dragons (the green dragon looked distinct from the red).
But all too often, manufacturers use the same image for both colors - as in these two examples.
So your husband might be able to simply memorize which one is red, and which one is green, in all the cases above except the same-looking dragons. But if he prefers, he could:
1. Get letter stickers (from office supply or arts/crafts shops) and mark them "R" and "G" or...
2. Using a 1/16" drill bit, make a 1/32" deep hole in the upper right corner of the red dragons, and fill with red nail polish or paint. If he's a craftsman with a garage workshop, he can set up a rig on his drill press to make sure that the little hole is identically placed on each of the red dragons.
Discerning the red suit (Craks) from the green suit (Bams)
Your husband needs to just remember that the green dragons go with the Bams, and the red dragons go with Craks. If he prefers, he could drill a shallow hole in the upper right corner of the Craks, and fill with red nail polish or paint, to match the red dragon treatment as in suggestion 2 above.
And that's the extent of it. Someone who's color-blind and plays American mah-jongg only needs to be able to discern the red dragons from the green dragons, and to associate those dragons with the appropriate suits. I can't help him with marking the card - he'll have to come up with his own system (maybe an underline under all green symbols, and an overline over all red symbols). If you and your husband play an Asian variant that uses the hand "All Green," I think he can figure out a solution based on what I've set forth above, to mark the "green-only" bams (2, 3, 4, 6, 8).
Any manufacturer that identifies the tiles somehow?
Not for American mah-jongg. Take a look at FAQ 7e above left - sets exist with the words "red" and "green" on those dragons, but I can't tell you exactly where to go and buy one. And before you ask me how to convert an Asian set for the American game, my recommendation is that you buy two sets (if you can find a vendor that sells sets so marked), and sticker the jokers. FAQs 7q & 7r highlight the problem. The "where to buy mah-jongg sets" FAQ is FAQ 7k.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
March 10, 2008
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West. Available at bookstores, BN.com, and Amazon.com.
Color-blindness
>From: Jody and Ray B
>Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2014 7:39 AM
>Subject: American Mah Jongg Sets for Color Blind Players
>Hi Tom:
>I am a new teacher for American Mah Jongg in the city of St. Louis Park, MN. I recently found your website and was looking at your entries for sight impaired players. Where the Winds Blow recently developed a set with large numbers and letters as well as the words to identify each of the dragons. I noted you mentioned that company, so thought you might want to update your site with their information for color blind players. The dragons are an ancient Chinese style dragon but the name of the color is printed on the tile. http://wherethewindsblow.com
>I am looking for instructional information on how to teach the NMJL card, so will be further searching your site. Thanks for a comprehensive resource!
>Jody B
Okay, thanks for the update, Jody. I'll append your email to FAQ 7-S.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of
the weekly Mah-Jongg column and
the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations appreciated.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 23, 2014
Tiles for vision-impaired players
[This email has been edited for brevity]
>From: Gail A
>Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2015 2:06 PM
>Subject: Sight for Sore Mah Eyes
>HI Tom,
>I was just introduced to your website by a mah jong Club Mate and I couldn't wait to email you. I think your website is beyond wonderful and much needed.
>I happen to be vision impaired, so I flew to your subject about tiles and sets for those with vision problems. And, that's why I'm writing you.
>Over the years, as my eyesight has diminished, I have struggled with seeing and buying tiles that I can easily see. One of the hardest things for me was to note the exposed tiles on the racks of other players. I was always asking: "What is that exposure?" Are those 7's? 8's? Is there a joker there?" Well, my Club was always extraordinarily kind and patient, but it does get old, even to me, after the 1st or 400th time.
>Over the years, I have worked with Faye Scher, former owner of "Where the Winds Blow." No other company, including Yellow Imports, Mah Jong Maven, etc. was responsive to anything other than: "Sorry;" if I even got that much from them. However, Faye shared my frustration and interest about obtaining large numeral sets for vision impaired players. But, as Faye explained, even with all of her importing and buying power, most companies mistakenly fail to believe there is a market for such sets. However, since the vast majority of players are older, (and aging as we speak) there is a critical need for such tiles/sets for those afflicted with a variety of vision problems; cataracts being the least of them.
>I am chagrined and angry that the National League has turned a blind eye, pun/insult intended, to this problem. If they supported this need, world wide suppliers would heed. But, National could care less. I have contacted them and got a curt referral to the sets they sell. Such sets are worthless to the vast majority of players who are vision impaired due to a variety of eye disease.
>So, over the years, Faye and I developed an on-going relationship where she specifically asked me what would help; what I needed. She was the only vendor to do that. She would then work with me to obtain sets that would allow me, and countless others, to continue to play mah jong to our hearts, and wallet's, content.
>Just before Faye sold "Where the Winds Blow," she alerted me to what turned out to be my mah jong salvation. I do not know the manufacturer but it is so wonderful that I bought two sets of tiles; one to have and one to spare.
>When I emailed Faye with my gratitude, she replied:
>"Glad you like the new large #'s.
>Everyone has had RAVES about them!
>Regards,
>Faye"
>So, I am hardly the only one to love these tiles. And, I modestly like to feel that I am resonsible for Faye searching for such tiles. She had enormous empathy and it certainly paid off.
>The result? I now have years added to my mah jong playing future. My Mah Club has been extraordinarily patient and accommodating with all my sets and needs. ... In fact, now, when one of them subs with a "normal" set, they find those hard to see. At one of my two Clubs, I have had numerous players stop by and ask where they can get a set and I always tell them. But, I am cautious to warn then to avoid just any set that is marked, "easy reader, extra large" because I have a trunk full of those sets. They are not easy to read. And, it is not the size of the tile that matters. If you have vision problems you need a visual solution. And,this is it.
>The trouble being, they are hard to come by so I encourage your followers to stock up.
>Actually, the other reason I went into so much detail is that I wanted to alert you that your website suggests tiles that are almost "mah candy solutions". Looking to buy an "easy reader" set is a waste of money and someone's hope since the numbers are not proportionally large, or larger enough, to be helpful.
>At the end, please scroll down to see a pasted image of the tiles, if it survives cyberspace. The key is to examine the tile face. It is a very white surface, of some sort of plastic. You will see that the wind or number easily covers half the tile. A red 7, is a crac. The dragons have the word of their color printed out on them.
>Thank you for the great job you do. And, I know that putting the word out on these tiles will be added help for vision impaired players everywhere.By the way, I make nothing from WTWB. I just want to spread the good word.
>Regards,
>Gail A
>Los Angeles, CA 90035
>http://wherethewindsblow.com/images/games/
>mah_jongg_where_the_winds_blow_tile_largnumbers.png
Hi, Gail.
I gather that you're saying I should rewrite FAQ 7S and just tell everybody to get the large numbers set from WhereTheWindsBlow. Somebody else (Jody B) also emailed me about that set, just last October 23. In fact, if you scroll down, you might be able to see that email - if you get to the bottom of the board before you get back as far as October, just click the link to go farther back in time. I appended that October email to the bottom of FAQ 7S, and I'm appending yours there too. And based on what you wrote, I've written a new intro to FAQ 7S. One problem for me is that if I endorse WTWB, who is a sponsor of my site, that it could raise issues of trust with my readers, and might run afoul of FTC rules, and could offput other potential sponsors. I might be worrying too much, but better safe than sorry. By the way, I had to edit your email for brevity. Thanks for seconding Jody's recommendation.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
トム·スローパー
湯姆 斯洛珀
Creator of
the weekly Mah-Jongg column and
the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations appreciated.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
1/11/2015
Tiles for vision-impaired, part 2 (unedited)
>From: Gail A
>Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2015 8:51 PM
>Subject: Re: Sight for Sore Mah Eyes
>HI Tom,
>Thank you for your care and attention to my impromptu "dissertation." You handled it perfectly.
>RE: You raised a good point about not inadvertently promoting WTWB, especially since they are a sponsor. Of course, I didn't know they were a sponsor. Do you know Faye Scher? I think she now does a lot of Mah jong cruises. Since WTWB was the only website that had these tiles, or even cared, I didn't include a simple disclaimer to check other venues. Of course, I should have done so.
>But, perhaps you could put in a disclaimer that perhaps other venues now carry these tiles, or others like them. And, all mah jong websites should be checked for stock and price. Players can use this WTWB set as a graphic guide as to what to look for and to not settle for vision-compromised tiles. If the numeral does not cover 1/2 the tile face, it might well not be the tile for you.
>Perhaps, if enough of your readers ask other sites about this set, other venues will wake up that they can, and should, cater to vision impaired players. Right now, they plead ignorance that there is no need or no available tiles.
>Per your question about revising your information about vision impaired tiles; yes, I absolutely think you should. Frankly, when I read your website today, and saw your information, it looked too general, too old and too basic, to let stand. It prompted me to write you to bring you up to date.
>What made me most angry was your well-intentioned, but uninformed referral, to the "easy reader set". That's when I started to peck at my keyboard.
>Long as I'm giving my opinion and as long as you brought it up, yes, I'd like to see that re-written so that novices in buying sets for problem vision look for the right features. Like I said, as my sight deteriorated, my numeral needs got larger. I ignorantly bought sets that, in person, were visually outdated, before they arrived.
>Perhaps you might want to adopt and adapt a general guide-line like the following.
>1. Ignore labels of sets like: "Easy Reader, Large Tiles, For Hard to See" players. (They can mean anything and nothing.)
>2. Dwell on the tile face. Pick a very white tile with a clear imprint for greatest contrast.
>3. Concentrate on the face of the tile. Is the numeral of the tile LARGE enough so you can easily see it? Does the numeral cover 1/2 the tile face? Are the dragons labeled for color also?
>4. Can you easily tell what tiles are exposed on the rack of an opposing player? If you have trouble making out the tiles, that set is not for you.
>5. Examine the tile's back/flip side. If all you see is a table of glitter, glare, confusing patterns, it will impair your playing and enjoyment.
>6. Notice the thickness and size of the tile. Extra large tiles are not needed and not easily handled by arthritic hands. The only thing that matters is the size and clarity of the imprint on the face of the tile.
>7. Price compare tiles/sets between vendors. Ask about discontinued cases, combo racks and buying only the tiles.
>8. Ask for a sample tile to be sent to you to inspect and then return, with deposit. A good venue will send a sample tile for you to hold, examine and try out in different settings.
>9. Ask if the new tiles can be used with the case, racks and pushers you have. Or, ask for a combo price.
>10. Lastly, does that venue accept returns of purchased sets/tiles? Postage can be costly but you are looking for long-term playing and enjoyment.
>11. Do not let anyone tell you that you will have to sacrifice or stop playing. Tiles are out there for you. Determine your needs and don't settle for less.
>12. Enjoy years of playing, and winning, with tiles you can easily see. All your player friends will love the set you chose. What is good for you is good for them. All you then need...is luck.
>Then, I would suggest you either do not list any specific type sets, or list all of them, including mine. But, do so with the caveat that stock and needs, change all the time. Determine your needs, don't get caught up in the label of the set. Keep searching for the set that will work best for you, aside from how it is marketed. And enjoy.
>Hope this helps because I got wise the hard way. I wish I didn't have vision problems but it could be worse. Now, if only I could win more often...
>Since you are in the LA area, do you teach, lead tournaments, cruises in mah jong? Hope to one day meet you.
>Regards,
>Gail
Where can I buy BIG American tiles?
Mah-Jongg Q+A
On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, 06:25:59 PM EDT, Harry wrote:
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
Where’s other sites/options for buying American Mahjong tiles/sets that are larger than the typical new set dimensions: 1 3/16” x 7/8” x 1/2” (30mm x 23mm x 13mm).
[i.e., height x width x thickness).
Mah Jong Maven (Canada) has “Extra Large” tiles 1 3/8” x 15/16” x 1/2” (35mm x 24mm x 13mm)
Where The Wind Blows (TX) has “Jumbo Tiles” 1 3/8” x 1” x 3/4” (35mm x 25mm x 19mm)
And, Amazon & E-bay searches don’t reveal any choices for Larger Tile or, easy read sets for American Mah-Jonah play. There are no complete sets I.e., larger tiles with longer racks & associated trays to go into bigger cases or larger bags. Seems that to be able to play more easily requires building one’s own set from numerous suppliers.
It’s been 2 days of searches, phone calls of out of stock options and discouragement that only well-sighted individuals can play Mah-Jonah!
You’re a great resource with fantastic info on game sets and clarifying play. Thank you.
Here’s a void in the marketplace. Please help.
Harry R
Sent from my iPad
Reference: MJ@Sloperama Sloperama Mah-Jongg Answers - Donation from Harry R
On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, 06:29:58 PM EDT, service@paypal wrote:
Hello Thomas Sloper,
Donation Received
This email confirms that you have received a donation of $10.00 USD from Harry R
You can view the transaction details online.
Donation Details
Total amount: $10.00 USD
Currency: U.S. Dollars
Purpose: Sloperama Mah-Jongg Answers
Contributor: Harry R
Message: Thank you for a GREAT Bulletin Board. As a beginner plater your info has been a blessing.
Hi, Harry!
Thank you for the donation. All I know about your question I've put in FAQ 7-S, which is a few years old now.
Those Mah Jongg Maven and Where The Wind Blows sets are not quite as big as Hong Kong tiles or Vietnamese tiles.
| Type or source |
Height (mm) |
Width (mm) |
Depth (mm) |
| Typical American tiles |
30 |
21 |
13 |
| Mah Jongg Maven |
35 |
24 |
13 |
| Where The Winds Blow |
35 |
25 |
19 |
| Hong Kong tiles |
37 |
28 |
22 |
| Vietnam tiles |
36 |
27 |
23 |
By the way, Mah Jongg Maven is in Georgia, not Canada. And Hong Kong tiles are very heavy, and don't come with racks, and don't come with jokers. They often do not have corner indices. Vietnamese tiles are even heavier, don't come with racks, and don't have corner indices; their jokers are marked with Chinese characters shown in FAQ 7-EJ.
It's unclear from your email, but I gather that the MJM and WTWB tiles are not big enough for your needs? If you buy Hong Kong tiles, get two sets and steal some tiles from one to sticker as jokers. Hong Kong players just stand the tiles on end and don't use racks. I don't know if there is anywhere you can get big racks (I would just stand the tiles on end, and place exposures face-up between my standing tiles and the wall).
See if FAQ 7-S is of any use to you; it discusses ways to sticker tiles to make them easier to read. Good luck with your quest!
Play safely and stay healthy. And
may the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Author of the
Sloper On Mah-Jongg column and
the Mah-Jongg FAQs
Donations appreciated
6/22/22
Rochester, New York, USA
