I shall explain clearer in depth how the our cloured tenbo functions.
When I was in Japan, I went to give their Mahjong Parlors a try. They have black 10k sticks that are used when your score has dropped below 0. Upon using this 10,000 stick, the machine will continue to deduct your score to a negative value accordingly. Our blue stick works exactly like this, an act as a 10,000 point stick.
Does this mean we start at 45,000?
Without buttobi, we actually do not have a limit in the amount of scores we have. Just take it as we still start as 25,000 and record as usual.
How do I record when the score reaches below 0?
Before implementation of coloured sticks, we add 20,000 sticks to the player and note it under remark. The total score of each row now adds up to 120,000. Scrap this practice. When one reaches 0, use the blue stick (worth 10,000) as payment. Record it his score as below 0 accordingly.
What happens when a player returns from negative value?
Exchange 10,000 worth of non-coloured stick back for his blue stick. Record as usual, back to positive value.
There’s little point in having coloured sticks isn’t it?
It is just to to remove the hassle of having top-up sticks and makes score recording more organised. Actually in the first place, there is no need for sticks when we are recording score but the idea of removal of sticks is no popular. Most players find it weird not to have sticks.
Riichi Mahjong in Singapore 