Mahjong Kojinkyouju (Private Teacher) (Japan)

Mahjong Kojinkyouju, released in Japan in 1989 by Home Data, offers a unique take on the classic tabletop game. Two players compete against each other using a specialized mahjong keyboard to arrange tiles and form legal sets. Adding an unusual element to the gameplay is the presence of a digitized Japanese woman featured within the game – her role extends beyond simply being present, hinting at a potential teaching function as suggested by the title's translation, “Private Teacher Mahjong.” The game utilizes a combination of processors for its visual and audio output. Players will need familiarity with mahjong rules to succeed in this competitive experience; strategic tile placement is key to victory. While gameplay focuses on the traditional mechanics of mahjong, the inclusion of the digitized character provides a distinctive characteristic within the arcade landscape of the late 1980s.