U-jin: Janjuu Gakuen

About

U-jin: Janjuu Gakuen is a Super Famicom Mahjong title from Varie that swaps traditional tiles for anime-styled visuals. Players take control of one of three schoolgirls or a custom character competing in a series of matches set in a fictional veterinary academy. The gameplay follows standard Mahjong rules but adds a narrative-driven structure with escalating schoolyard challenges. Character interactions and match outcomes influence progression through the academy's social hierarchy. The game stands out for its collaboration with manga artist Ube Yamaguchi, whose designs inject a distinctively vibrant anime flair into every character and setting. While Mahjong remains the core mechanic, the visual style and school-based progression system offer a niche twist on the genre. Never officially released outside Japan and followed by a sequel, it remains a cult curiosity for collectors and fans of 90s anime aesthetics. The title’s limited availability has kept it obscure, but its art direction and structured challenge system earned praise in Japanese gaming retrospectives.