Hometown: Aomori, Japan

Riichi inspiration: I got into riichi mahjong after reading mahjong manga.

Mahjong career: 25 years playing mahjong.

Titles: 20th and 30th Mahjong Masters (Japan), 20th BIG1 Cup (Japan).

Comments on winning WRC: I feel equal parts disbelief and equal parts accomplishment. I will now be able to spend the next three years happy before the Tokyo WRC.

Hometown: Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan

Riichi inspiration: I learned mahjong from a high-school friend.

Mahjong career: 48 years

Titles: Houu-i

Comments on winning WRC: The response from people who did not know mahjong well when they learned that I had won the world championship really impressed upon me what a great thing I had done and how I had managed to seize my good fortune.

Hometown: Toyama, Japan

Riichi inspiration: I was inspired by reading a manga about Kojima-sensei.

Titles: 20th Champions League, 15th Mondo Cup, 5th Internet Mahjong Japanese Champion

Comments on winning WRC: I travelled to France with people I would normally consider rivals and that journey created a sense of unity. I was really lucky to win the championship. More than anything, I was inspired by the happiness of the Japanese players who came to play in the event.