u/tom_map

I’ve been experimenting with using numbered poker chips as point markers in riichi mahjong instead of the traditional tenbou.

In the setup shown here, I’m using poker chips with the values reduced by one zero simply because I couldn’t find a reasonably priced set with denominations high enough to match standard tenbou values.

Personally, I actually find poker chips pretty appealing for mahjong. They’re easy to stack, easy to count, and you can immediately see how many points each player has. They also feel a little more substantial than tenbou.

But I’m curious what people who regularly play riichi think. Would using poker chips like this feel wrong or distracting compared with traditional tenbou? Or do you think it’s a perfectly reasonable alternative once you get used to the different denominations? And for those who have tried both: which do you personally prefer, and why?

I recently bought an old Japanese mahjong set second-hand, and inside the case I found this scoring reference sheet.
From what I can tell:
The left table seems to be a quick scoring chart (maybe using the old “rounding up” system?).
The right table mentions 一家包 (Sekinin Barai / responsibility payment?), but I’m not sure how to read it either.
I’ve been playing Riichi Mahjong for a while, but I’ve always used score calculators or apps, so I’ve never learned how these traditional paper charts work.
Could someone explain:
How do I read the left scoring table?
What do the rows and columns represent?
What is the purpose of the right table?
Is this chart still usable under modern Riichi rules, or is it based on older Japanese scoring rules?
I’d really appreciate a step-by-step explanation. I’m interested in learning how people calculated scores before smartphones and automatic tables.
Thanks!
If anyone recognizes approximately when this chart was printed, I’d also love to know the age of this mahjong set.

Ranked purely by personality and behavior based on the first three episodes. I know some characters will probably shift as the story progresses, but this is my current impression.
Which placements would you change? And who would you put in the two empty spots?