Savannah Guthrie Shares Her Love For Mahjong With Green Tile Social Club

instagram.com/savannahguthrie

Savannah Guthrie has become obsessed with mahjong. The TODAY show co-host went onto Instagram to express her newfound respect for the ancient tile games, posting a snippet featuring co-host Jenna Bush Hager learning the basics from Green Tile Social Club and The Mahjong Line. The clip perfectly captures the infectious energy and joy of the mahjong lesson, with laughter and friendly competition ringing out and the gorgeous sound of tiles clicking away.

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Guthrie herself captions: “We are mad for mahj!” Then the feed exploded with comments from mahjong fanatics expressing their excitement for The Mahjong Line and praising both Guthrie and Hager for how fast they caught onto the game. “You have some serious brain power between you two,” the brand applauded Green Tile Social Club for equipping the tradition with new life.

Mahjong’s rebirth must not be ignored. The like of a strange amusement is now a full-blown cultural bridge connecting generations and creating communities. Her own mother, a somewhat recent convert herself, is teaching younger students, which says that mahjong is much more than just a game: mahjong is bonding.

The comments poured from the whole mahjong spectrum. “So much fun! 35 years of playing”; others, “best hobby, social activity, generation bridge, and community connector.” Monica Lewinsky added, “LOVE LOVE LOVE… and can’t wait to play together!”

Still, the charm works across the globe. Players gather every week with friends and call it therapy; others run their own neighborhood mahjong clubs, while still others go on-line to play mahjong from airport lounges. The Mahjong Line jokingly said they’d produce travel tiles for anyone stranded.

And all that is good for their own sake, of course. Love and culture means a lot to Asian Americans, as is almost taking them down the path of cultural rediscovery. Another feels, “Feeling connection is so important. I love how playing mahjong fosters that.”

So this is more than a celebrity endorsement; this is a snapshot of a movement. Be it by-the-book or American-style—with jokers and the dreadful rule card—mahjong has its moment in the spotlight and by all accounts, this is one spotlight Savannah Guthrie wants to stay in for good.

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Now, anyone else up for a round? Just don’t say “dead” if someone messes up-unless you’ve got the eyes of death from a seasoned player ready for you.