Players

Profile: Shigekazu Moriyama

Born in 1951, Onoda, Yamaguchi, Shigekazu Moriyama is the president of Japan Professional Mahjong League.

David

Sep 10, 2017 — 2 min read

Organization: Japan Professional Mahjong League
Birthplace: Yamaguchi
Age: 65
Rank: 9 dan / President
Years Pro: 35
Nickname(s): Teyaku Artist, Fierce Leader
Favourite yaku: Honitsu, Sanshoku
Titles:

Ouisen (1981)
Saikyousen (2002)

International Tournament Results:

1st European Riichi Championship 2008 (23/80)
4th European Riichi Championship 2016 (39/128)
1st World Riichi Championship 2014 (50/120)
2nd World Riichi Championship 2017 (5/224)
1st NYC International Open 2015 (3/40)

Bibliography:

麻雀超脳力―勝ち組になるために (2002)
山茂和の麻雀キミも勝ち組になれる (2003)
麻雀プロはこう読む (2013)

Other:

Person in charge of JPML's Ron2 client
Became president of JPML in 2013
Held a study session in Paris, 2015

Born in 1951, Onoda, Yamaguchi. Like most Japanese, Moriyama began playing in University after his friends invited him. After graduation, he studied in America for half a year. While in San Francisco, he played mahjong with other Japanese expats.

At 24, he returned home and helped at his parents' toy shop. While reading Kindai Mahjong, he felt the level of the articles, and the authors, was low. A year later, in February, he decided to move to Tokyo to become a professional and teach them a lesson

image source: http://archive.ma-jan.or.jp/interview/022.php

In 1981, the 29 year old Moriyama won his first title, the 9th Oui. During this year, he worked with Takeo Kojima, Nada Asataro and Mashiyoshi Ara to create the JPML. He became president of JPML in 2013 after Asataro Nada, who had been president for 30 years, stepped down. He has stopped playing in JPML's Houousen league but still participates in tournaments and TV leagues.

His tenacity and style that stresses the importance of hand yaku have caused the media to call him "Fierce Leader" (闘将) and "teyaku artist".

Moriyama was one of the instigators for the first World Riichi championshp. He has participated in tournaments in America and Europe and even held a study session in Paris. At the 4th European Riichi Championship he joked that since he has attended the 1st and 4th ERC, the next one he'll attend will be the 7th. The joke was not translated, causing Moriyama to believe Europeans did not understand suji.