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The Journal

Notes on hosting beautifully, the pleasure of good objects, and the quiet magic of gathering people around a table.

A spread of American mahjong tiles on a home table, with joker, wind, dot, bamboo and flower tiles lined along the racks
August 30, 2026 Courtney Colclough

American Mahjong Tiles Explained: Suits, Jokers & More

A clear, friendly guide to every American mahjong tile: the three suits, the winds and dragons, flowers and the all-important jokers, and how each one is used.

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A vibrant pink Mahjong Standard mat with racked colorful tiles and two red National Mah Jongg League card booklets resting on a floral tablecloth, ready to play
August 29, 2026 Courtney Colclough

How to Read the American Mahjong (NMJL) Card

A plain-English, no-intimidation guide to reading the American Mahjong (NMJL) card: what it is, how a line works, why it changes each year, and how fast it clicks.

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A woman at a warm candlelit table, glass in hand
May 12, 2026 Courtney Colclough

We Teach the Room Before the Rules

Every new player arrives with the same quiet worry: that this will be a lot of memorising. It never is. Here's the philosophy that shapes every table we host.

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A table set with celadon bowls and bamboo placemats in warm light
March 4, 2026 Courtney Colclough

What Actually Happens at Your First Table

A walk through a first session, not the rules but the evening. What to expect from the moment you arrive to the moment you're already planning the next one.

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An inviting outdoor evening gathering, tables set among florals
November 18, 2025 Courtney Colclough

How to Host a Mahjong Night

The game matters. The evening matters more. A guide to hosting a table that feels like an occasion, even for first-timers.

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Mahjong tiles standing in a row, one face turned to the light
June 30, 2025 Courtney Colclough

In Praise of a Beautiful Tile

On the objects themselves: weight, grain, the particular satisfaction of drawing a tile you didn't expect and finding it's exactly right.

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Two women relaxing together with a glass of wine at home
August 21, 2024 Courtney Colclough

Finding Your People at the Mahjong Table

I came to my first session alone and slightly nervous. Eight months later, I have a standing Thursday and people I didn't expect to find.

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