The theme of this puzzle is pretty niche (but is still solvable as a themeless). The theme pays tribute to my grandma's favorite game, which she makes me and my brothers and cousins play with her for hours on end. Happy 86th birthday paw paw!!
Happy birthday to your Paw-Paw! I suggest you set up a recorder to run as you enjoy playing mahjong together. Likely you'll quickly forget about the recording and will act naturally. It was fun to think of and honor your Paw-Paw as I played your puzzle. It made it special.
Great puzzle! The only version of MAHJONG I've played is the iPhone App version, and I did not know that's what the melds were called! Very cool! (Not to be a nitpicker looking for a FLAW, but you do have "on" in both the clue and answer for SPOTON...)
Although I've only played riichi mahjong, as soon as the theme clues started coming together I got it. What a lovely set of clues. And a belated happy birthday to your paw paw!
thanks! riichi mahjong looks really interesting - i learned about it from an anime, and i was wondering why are they flipping a face up tile on the wall? what the heck is a dora? why are they throwing a stick in the middle - but i eventually picked up what was going on :P