What We Got: Junk Mat
My favorite product on MahjongMart has to be the Junk Mat. In fact, it was one of the first products we stocked. I first purchased my own Junk Mat in Japan online the year that I graduated from university (we’ll leave that year out of this article) and I loved it from the instant I opened it.
Not everyone has the luxury or space to buy their own mahjong table and store it. Most of us end up making do with the kitchen table. There are many types of mats you can use to protect your mahjong tiles (and your dining table) from scuffs and chipping, but most are heavy and bulky. The Junk Mat is made out of neoprene (think: wetsuits), making it light so you don’t have to lug it around. And it rolls up nicely you can sling over your shoulder.
During play the Junk Mat proves its worth in spades (or is it dots?). The raised edges keep your tiles on the table and are perfect to use for building the wall and straightening your hand. It’s almost as good as using a table made specifically for mahjong but the Junk Mat takes up hardly any room when you come to storing it.
Another benefit of the Junk Mat is the stick slots. Most mahjong home games call for each player’s point sticks to stay tucked away in the tile trays, making it hard to keep track of your opponents progress (or lack there of). The Junk Mat puts those points on the table and even speeds up the payment process after scoring.
For those of you that read my book, you’ll notice that I modeled the mat in the book after this Junk Mat and that is how much I love the thing. I recommend it for anyone who cares about their mahjong set.
If you’re interested in getting your own Junk Mat, you can order one on MahjongMart.com for $44.99 plus shipping.
