Tenhou

Overview

Tenhou (天鳳) is the oldest and most respected online riichi mahjong platform, established in 2006. It’s where serious players go to test their skills, where Japanese professionals play during downtime, and where the fastest, most competitive games happen 24/7.

If Mahjong Soul is the welcoming tutorial, Tenhou is the deep end of the pool.

Why Choose Tenhou?

For Competitive Players

Tenhou is the platform for serious riichi mahjong:

• Skill-based matchmaking: R (rating) system pairs you with similarly skilled opponents
• Prestigious ranks: Reaching 7-dan or higher is a genuine accomplishment
• Professional players: You might play against actual Japanese pros
• No frills: Pure mahjong, no cosmetics or distractions
• Fast-paced: Average game takes 10-12 minutes (vs 15-20 on other platforms)

Proven Track Record

• 18+ years of continuous operation (since 2006)
• 1,000,000+ registered users (mostly Japanese)
• 10,000-20,000 concurrent players at peak hours
• Reference standard: Tournament software and pro leagues use Tenhou rules

Efficient Design

Tenhou’s minimalist interface is a feature, not a bug:

• Instant load times (no assets to download)
• Keyboard shortcuts for everything
• Clear tile display with no visual clutter
• Detailed stats after every game
• Lightweight - runs on any device

Who Tenhou Is For

✅ Good fit if you:

• Completed 50+ games on Mahjong Soul or Riichi City
• Want to face stronger opponents and improve rapidly
• Prefer fast, efficient gameplay over aesthetics
• Can tolerate minimal English support
• Enjoy competitive ranking systems
• Don’t mind learning by trial and error

❌ Not ideal if you:

• Are brand new to riichi mahjong (start with Mahjong Soul)
• Need tutorials and hand-holding
• Prefer modern, polished UIs
• Want an English-speaking community
• Need mobile-optimized touch controls

Getting Started

1. Access Tenhou

Web version (requires Flash):

• Visit tenhou.net
• Flash required - Enable Flash in your browser or use a Flash-compatible browser
• Many users report compatibility issues with modern browsers

Native apps (recommended):

• iOS: Download “Tenhou” from the App Store (Japan region only - use VPN or Japanese account)
• Android: Download APK from tenhou.net/0/
• Windows: Download Windows client from tenhou.net

Tip: The mobile apps are the easiest way to play Tenhou without Flash headaches.

2. Create an Account (Optional)

You can play as a guest (no account needed), but creating an account:

• Tracks your rating (R) and rank progression
• Saves your statistics and replays
• Allows you to join lobbies and tournaments

Account types:

• Free account: Full access, ad-supported
• Premium account (~$5/month): No ads, priority matchmaking, extra features

3. Understand the Lobby System

Tenhou’s lobby is organized by dan rank and game type:

Lobby tiers:

• Ippan (一般): 0-dan to 3-dan (beginners/intermediates)
• Joukyuu (上級): 4-dan to 7-dan (advanced players)
• Tokujou (特上): 7-dan to 10-dan (experts/professionals)
• Houou (鳳凰): 10-dan (elite room, requires paid account)

Game types:

• Tonpuu (東風): East Round only (~10 minutes)
• Hanchan (半荘): East + South Rounds (~20 minutes)

Recommendation: Start in Ippan Tonpuu to get a feel for the speed and difficulty.

4. Interface Quick Guide

Tenhou’s interface is sparse but functional:

Lobby screen:

• Click East (東) for Tonpuu or Half (半) for Hanchan
• Click Ippan to queue for beginner lobby
• Wait for matchmaking (usually under 30 seconds)

In-game:

• Your tiles: Bottom row, click to discard
• Discards: Six tiles per row in the center
• Call buttons: Red buttons on the right (チ = chi, ポ = pon, リ = riichi, ロ = ron, ツ = tsumo)
• Timer: Top right (5 seconds per turn)

Keyboard shortcuts (essential for speed):

• D, F, G, H, J, K: Discard the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th tile
• Z: Riichi
• A: Ron
• S: Tsumo
• X: Pass (skip call)

5. Your First Game

What to expect:

• Games are fast - 5-second turn timer is strict
• Opponents are skilled - even in Ippan, players know fundamentals
• The UI is minimal - no flashy animations or helpful hints
• You will lose at first - that’s normal

Beginner tips:

• Use keyboard shortcuts to speed up (D, F, G for common discards)
• Enable auto-discard in settings if the timer feels too fast
• Don’t be discouraged by losses - Tenhou’s average player is stronger than Mahjong Soul’s
• Review replays to understand your mistakes

Ranking System

Tenhou’s rank progression is much harder than other platforms:

Rank	Japanese	Typical R Rating	Difficulty
0-dan	初心	1200-1400	New players
1-dan	1級	1400-1500	Basic competency
2-dan	2級	1500-1600	Intermediate
3-dan	3級	1600-1700	Upper intermediate
4-dan	4級	1700-1800	Advanced (enters Joukyuu lobby)
5-dan	5級	1800-1900	Very strong
6-dan	6級	1900-2000	Expert
7-dan	7級	2000-2100	Top ~5% (enters Tokujou lobby)
8-dan	8級	2100-2200	Top ~2%
9-dan	9級	2200-2300	Top ~1%
10-dan	10級	2300+	Elite (0.1%, includes pros)

R (rating) points:

• Win 1st place: +30 to +50 R
• 2nd place: +10 to +20 R
• 3rd place: -10 to -20 R
• 4th place: -30 to -50 R

Reaching 5-dan on Tenhou is roughly equivalent to Platinum rank on Mahjong Soul—a significant achievement.

Strategy for Tenhou

Speed Adaptation

Tenhou’s 5-second timer demands fast decision-making:

1. Pre-think during opponent turns: Decide your discard before your turn
2. Use keyboard shortcuts: D, F, G for quick discards
3. Simplify your hand: Don’t chase complex yaku that require lots of thinking
4. Pattern recognition: Experienced players see tenpai instantly, not by counting

Higher-Level Play

Tenhou opponents punish mistakes:

• Tile efficiency matters: Suboptimal discards cost you games
• Defensive play is critical: Dealing into a riichi hand is very expensive
• Reading discards: Pay close attention to what opponents discard (and when)
• Know when to fold: Sometimes 4th place is better than dealing into a mangan

Common Beginner Mistakes on Tenhou

1. Chasing high-value hands: Go for consistent 2-3 han wins, not rare yakuman
2. Ignoring defense: If two opponents declared riichi, fold immediately
3. Slow play: Taking 4-5 seconds every turn means you’ll time out often
4. Not using keyboard shortcuts: Clicking is too slow for competitive play

Tenhou vs Other Platforms

Feature	Tenhou	Mahjong Soul	Riichi City
Beginner-friendly	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Moderate
Skill ceiling	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highest	⭐⭐⭐⭐ High	⭐⭐⭐⭐ High
Player base	1M+ (JP-heavy)	100K+ (global)	50K+ (global)
Game speed	Very fast (10 min)	Moderate (15 min)	Moderate (12 min)
UI/UX	Minimal	Polished	Modern
English support	❌ Minimal	✅ Full	✅ Full
Mobile	App only	✅ Excellent	✅ Good
Cost	Free (or $5/mo)	Free	Free

When to use Tenhou:

• You’ve plateaued on other platforms and want stronger opponents
• You value speed and efficiency over aesthetics
• You want to see how you rank against Japanese players
• You’re preparing for competitive tournaments

Premium Account (Optional)

Tenhou offers a premium subscription (~500 yen/month, ~$5 USD):

Premium benefits:

• No ads in the lobby
• Priority matchmaking (faster queues)
• Houou room access (10-dan lobby)
• Extended replays (unlimited storage)
• Custom avatars (minimal customization)

Is it worth it?

• For serious players: Yes, if you play 10+ hours/week
• For casual players: No, free account is fine

Mobile App

The Tenhou mobile app (iOS/Android) is the best way to play:

Pros:

• No Flash required
• Touch-optimized controls
• Lightweight and fast
• All features of web version

Cons:

• iOS version requires Japanese App Store account
• Smaller tiles (harder to see on small phones)
• Still minimal English support

Download:

• Android: tenhou.net/0/
• iOS: Japan App Store (create Japanese Apple ID)

Community and Resources

Tenhou’s community is mostly Japanese, but English resources exist:

• Osamuko Blog: English-language Tenhou strategy blog
• r/Mahjong subreddit: Some Tenhou players and discussion
• Arc’s Mahjong guide: Covers Tenhou-specific strategies
• Tenhou.net replays: Study high-level replays from 9-dan and 10-dan players

Note: Don’t expect in-game chat or social features. Tenhou is all business.

Common Issues

”Flash isn’t working in my browser”

Solution: Use the mobile app or Windows client instead. Modern browsers have deprecated Flash, making the web version increasingly unreliable.

”Everyone is so much better than me”

Solution: That’s normal. Tenhou’s average player has 100+ games under their belt. Play 20-30 games to calibrate your R rating, then matchmaking will improve.

”The timer is way too fast”

Solution:

• Enable “auto-discard” mode in settings (discards automatically after 3 seconds of no input)
• Practice on slower platforms first (Mahjong Soul, Riichi City)
• Accept that Tenhou rewards quick decision-making

”I can’t read anything (Japanese UI)”

Solution:

• Learn key Japanese characters: 東 (East), 南 (South), リ (riichi), ロ (ron), ツ (tsumo)
• Use translation apps to screenshot and translate lobby options
• Or switch to Riichi City for full English support

Should You Play Tenhou?

Play Tenhou if:

• You’re comfortable with riichi mahjong fundamentals
• You want to rapidly improve by facing strong opponents
• You value competitive integrity and skill-based matchmaking
• You can handle a steep learning curve

Skip Tenhou if:

• You’re a complete beginner (start with Mahjong Soul)
• You need English UI and community support
• You prefer a relaxed, casual experience
• You want cosmetics, events, and social features

Final Verdict

Pros:

• Highest skill ceiling and most competitive play
• Largest player base overall
• Fastest, most efficient gameplay
• Prestige of reaching high dan ranks
• 100% free (premium optional)
• Established standard for tournaments

Cons:

• Not beginner-friendly (steep learning curve)
• Minimal English support
• Flash-based web version (compatibility issues)
• Sparse UI may feel outdated
• Can be intimidating for new players

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Bottom line: Tenhou is the gold standard for competitive riichi mahjong, but it’s not for everyone. If you’re serious about improving and don’t mind a Spartan interface, Tenhou will push you to become a better player faster than any other platform. But if you’re new, start elsewhere and come back when you’re ready for the challenge.

Ready for the challenge? Visit tenhou.net or download the mobile app to begin.