Riichi Mahjong in Singapore

Hello everybody!

Sorry to have kept everyone waiting for so long. I have been too busy. It took me quite long before locating the mahjong set we had been using.

The manufacturer I will be buying from is – http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/e-mahjong/cbe3bffdc72.html

NOTE: Payment of currency rate will be as of 100 yen = SGD 1.35 (this is to cover some of my expenses, time, insurance cost, packaging cost, Fx fluctuation etc) Price stated below are converted as per the rate above and do not include shipping cost. Price is non-negotiable.

You can request to order anything from the website. Below were pictures taken by me.

Name: Naniwa

Cost: 4,800 yen (SGD 64.80)

Description: This is Heng’s set (Table 2 mahjong set) which I personally think is most value for money. This is decent enough to make a satisfactory purchase.

Specification: 22.5mm x 18.5mm, 2.2kg, yellow only.

Name: Rouzu

Cost: 6,800 yen (SGD 91.80)

Description: This looks exactly like my set (Table 1) in terms of casing and packaging only. However, oddly, when I see the actual product, the tiles are the same size and has the same weight as Naniwa (Heng’s set, Table 2) Unless you want a nicer casing and a East-South mark, I would think Naniwa will be a better choice.

Specifications: 22.5mm x 18.5mm, 3.1kg, yellow only.

P.S Sorry for blurry photo

Name: B-AS

Cost: 8,800 yen (SGD 118.80)

Description: These are most likely the same tiles as mine (Table 1’s set), which are heavier and bigger than Heng’s set (Table 2) . I couldn’t weigh a single tile but feeling a whole chunk in comparison with Naniwa is definitely heavier and bigger. I highly recommend this as much as Naniwa if you prefer heavier and bigger tiles. Of course, this comes with a steep price. A big plus is that, the casing is a lot better than mine. Check out below.

Specification: 26mm x 19mm, 3.6kg, yellow only

B-AS’s cool casing!

Name: New Amos

Cost: 12,000 yen (SGD 162.00)

Description: This is for automatic table however this is slightly lighter than Naniwa. Although B-AS and Naniwa are said to have magnetic material inside and hence, heavier, they cannot be used for automatic table. Don’t ask me why. However, the casing is as shown ahove. There isn’t a proper casing. The website shows the specification to be 28mm x 16mm but do not keep your hope high as it doesn’t seem that large to me.. Still, I didn’t directly compare them to B-AS to see which is better. It looked like Naniwa’s size to me hence please do not have too high expectation that it might be bigger than B-AS.

Specification: 28mm x 21mm x 16mm, Weight Unknown (personal estimation at 2.3~2.5kg). Blue and Yellow available.

P.S: If you would like a non-automatic table, blue colored mahjong tiles, I can get it at 8,400 yen. Lets call this set, Blue Sky. However, the weight is lighter than Naniwa and the wordings are a little bigger than usual. I will have to make special trip to the shop again to purchase it so I might charge a little bit more for it. I don’t recommend this set given the price however if you die die love blue, then this is a cheaper alternative than New Amos. Link for this – http://www.mahjong.co.jp/product_detail.php?item_id=25 order deadline for blue sky is 14 May

Name: R-Pet (Baihu)

Cost: 3,800 yen (SGD 51.30)

Description: This set has black colour only as shown in picture. It is a cheaper alternative and naturally, comes with some downside of this product. This is printed and made in China and hence cheaper. The tiles are also 1mm thinner each. Weight wise is pretty much similar to Kok Pow’s set (Table 3) which is lighter than Naniwa. The casing is the same as Naniwa in terms of quality just that it has the design as shown above.

Specifications: 26mm x 19mm x 15mm, 2.2kg, black only.

You can also check out other misc mahjong items like coloured tenbos, better looking East-South mark here – http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/e-mahjong/beaecaaaa4.html

 

Shipping cost

Shipping will be by SAL (economic airmail), 2nd cheapest method which takes 2-3 weeks to reach. Surface mail is the cheapest but takes 2-3 months. I cannot choose this because if I would like to make any insurance claim I have to be in Japan. In 2-3 months I will be in Singapore for a long time already!

Each parcel I will be shipping will not exceed SGD 400. This is to avoid GST. Hence, most likely each parcel will contain 3 sets. This amount to 8-10kg which is priced at 6,800 ~ 8,000 yen. This cost is of course shared amongst 3 people (assuming 1 person purchase 1 set) The shipping cost will finalised only after I have finished up pairing your orders with others’ orders. Hence, it is advisable to place your order as soon as possible. If your order happen to be the odd one out, it will be more expensive for you (3,600 ~ 4,300 yen) for 2.5-4kg.

You can check the details of weight pricing here – http://www.post.japanpost.jp/cgi-charge/index.php?lang=_en Prefecture is Osaka.

You can request for EMS (traceable, take 2-3days to reach) but of course, it is more expensive. Let me know if you really want EMS.

Placing your order timeline

1. Place your order through comment. State the name and cost of the item you are purchasing.

2. Once pairing of orders are done (typically the first 3 sets), you will be notified of total amount to be paid.

3. Remit the amount to my bank (bank details will be provided to you).

4. Your order will be placed.

5. A confirmation e-mail with information of your paired up orders will be sent to you.

6. A second e-mail notifying you that your order has safely reached Singapore will be sent.

7. Your item will be available for collection AFTER 21 June 2014. (The date I return)

ORDER DEADLINE: 15 MAY 2014

Order mahjong sets from other website

The above mahjong sets are of what I have recommended  If you have your own preference, you can order it yourself and have it deliver to my dorm. Contact me for this and I will provide you my address. Shipping cost as applied. Do note that when you order yourself, there is around 840 yen domestic delivery charge and possibly other administration fee so please be careful.

Ordering non-mahjong items related

You can do so. Just settle the bill on your own and deliver it to my dorm. I will weigh how heavy it is and charge the shipping accordingly. This is mainly for people who wish to purchase stuff from Japan that are not shipped overseas. Please tell me in advance what you will be ordering as I will be check whether they are approriate

Some factors you might be considering

Buying 1 yourself when you go Japan- If you don’t know Japanese language, you will probably get 1 either through online yourself having it to deliver to hotel, which is risky if you keep switching hotel or buying from department store. Very few department has them. I got my set from a department set for 10k yen a year ago. The more common department store don’t have tiles of this weight so it is really hard to locate these tiles.

If shipping fails how?- Insurance will compensate. I will be doing all the shitty job here in Japan. But honestly, the chance is extremely slim.

Note:Orders placed from non-SMCRM members for mahjong-related items are subjected to a rate of 100 yen = SGD 1.45

If you have any questions, please post them in comment section so that I don’t get asked the same question so frequently. Thank you!