Title TBD: The Mahjong Project book talk

This event is free and open to the public.

The Center for Asia Pacific Studies is excited to welcome Nicole Wong, a writer and producer from Oakland, California, for a special talk exploring the cultural history and contemporary revival of mahjong.

Why is a game that’s over a century old finding new life in bars, restaurants, and social gatherings around the world? Mahjong - a Chinese tile-based game - is experiencing a remarkable resurgence among younger players, retirees, and everyone in between. For many third-culture kids in the Asian diaspora, the sight and sound of clacking mahjong tiles evokes deep-seated memories, even for those who’ve never played. 

In this talk, Nicole Wong - author of Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora and founder of The Mahjong Project - will delve into the game’s fascinating history and evolution, and what’s driving its renewed popularity today. She will discuss the various styles of play and how these uniquely factor into the need for their preservation and documentation. Beyond the tiles, she will present how mahjong offers a powerful lens into community and cultural identity - and how its enduring resonance speaks to broader challenges of our time, from living in a tech-saturated world to navigating political and cultural divides, emotional wellbeing, and more.

After the talk, stick around for an opportunity to play mahjong, hosted by USF’s Center for Asia Pacific Studies. Copies of Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora will be available for purchase and signing by Nicole.

Speaker Bio: 
Nicole Wong is a writer and producer based in Oakland, California. She is the creator and founder of The Mahjong Project, an effort to preserve and celebrate the cultural history of mahjong across the Asian diaspora, and bring more people into the joy of playing the game. The Mahjong Project hosts pop-up mahjong nights across the Bay Area and beyond, often partnering with community organizations and local foodmakers. Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora is her first book. Nicole’s work has been featured in Vogue, The Washington Post, CNN, KQED, and more.

This event was made possible by the following programs and offices: 
Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Center, Asian Pacific American Studies, Asian Studies, Center for Research, Artistic, and Scholarly Excellence, Critical Diversity Studies, Media Studies, Department of Rhetoric and Language, English Department, MA in Migration Studies, MA of Fine Arts in Writing, McCarthy Center, Office of Alumni Engagement, Office of Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Tracy Seeley Center for Teaching Excellence