Flow (流れ, nagare) is said to be “the term used in professional riichi mahjong to quantify the metaphysical ability of spiritually attuned players to pull in good tiles”. Believers think that calling kan is the only sure way to gain flow. Non-believers say that it’s just an occult belief. Today, we will be looking at the evidence of flow in M-League and how the top players gain it and use it to their advantage.
Flowing Hair
Hair would probably be the last thing anyone would think of when talking about mahjong and flow. However, proper hair allows you to keep your composure and can prevent the flow from escaping.
Matsugase Takaya of the EX Furinkazan uses this well. Stylishly sporting a new hairstyle every time he comes on, he uses the power of flowing hair to channel his inner anime character and beat everyone at the table.
Matsugase was able to become an M-Leaguer by winning a suuankou in the EX Furinkazan Member Audition finals and eventually winning the whole thing.
At the time of writing, Matsugase is 3rd in the individual standings with a score of +188.5 and a record of 4/1/2/1.
The Transfer of Flow
As the law of conservation of energy states, “Energy can neither be created nor destroyed”. One of the ways to take advantage of this flow is to transfer the flow from a player who isn’t playing to one who is.
Katsumata Kenji of the EX Furinkazan is a master of the art. Before every game, he gets slapped in the back. By getting slapped, the energy from a resting player gets added onto his own power to give him good results.
At the time of writing, Katsumata Kenji is in 2nd place in the individual standings with a score of +224.7. He also had a 4-game winning streak earlier this season.
Note that there must be a physical transfer of power. When Murakami tried to harness power from Maruyama, who had just gotten a 1st place, by praying, he instead was greeted with his 4th loss in a row.
The Flow of Water
The strength of water can be seen all around us. From heavy floods to the formation of the Grand Canyon, some will say that water is one of the strongest things of nature. Logically, we look to water for flow.
Konami Mahjong Fight Club’s Date Arisa has this down to a science. At the end of each game, she takes a drink, making it clear that hydration is very important to her winning ways. Even non-mahjong scientists agree that being well-hydrated improves sleep quality, cognition and mood.
At the time of writing, Date is 1st place with the highest total score (+277.5), highest hanchan score (105,500, which is also the highest hanchan score of all time) and a 100% last place avoidance rate.
Conclusion
Flow is real. FLOW is the First Law Of Winning. Without flow, we have no chance of winning. By following the lead of these successful M-Leaguers, you can be sure to get good results in all your future games!
M-League Watch 