[photo credit: Pasadena Public Library]
The American Mah Jongg Club meets Monday, Oct. 27, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., welcoming players of all levels. Participants may bring their own Mah Jongg set and yearly game card or use equipment provided by the library.
The free program, designed for ages 18 and older and sponsored by The Friends of the Pasadena Public Library, comes as mahjong surges nationwide. Eventbrite reported a 179 percent increase in U.S. mahjong events on its platform from 2023 to 2024.
But the game offers more than entertainment. A 12-week study demonstrated that playing mahjong improved executive function in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment, with researchers finding it effective in improving attention, logical thinking and episodic memory. The most pronounced benefits are observed with regular play of two to four times per week.
“It was very hard to pick up on. It’s not the way I think,” said Brennan, an engineer and mahjong player. “And it’s kind of like baseball — you’re not going to win every game. You’re going to lose a lot of games, so don’t get frustrated with that.”
American mahjong, which differs from its Chinese predecessor, is played with four players using 152-156 tiles. The National Mah Jongg League was founded in 1937 and published “Official American Rules,” establishing the distinct American style.
The Lamanda Park Branch Library opened at its current location in 1967 and is recognized as a historic property by the Los Angeles Conservancy. For accessibility requests, the library recommends providing at least 72 hours advance notice.
American Mah Jongg Club will run on Monday, Oct. 27, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Lamanda Park Branch Library, 140 S. Altadena Drive, Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 744-7266 or visit https://www.cityofpasadena.net/library/branches/lamanda-park-branch/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D187840090. Admission: Free.
