Today we’d like to introduce you to Noreen Kane.
Hi Noreen , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In November 2022, a friend’s mom and several of her friends—all seniors—patiently taught me and a group of girlfriends how to play Mahjong. At first, staring at the tiles and trying to remember dozens of rules felt completely overwhelming. But the first time I called “Mahjong!” I was thrilled—and instantly hooked.
A few weeks later, a friend and I decided to host a Mahjong party in early 2023. We challenged our friends: if they learned to play over holiday break, they’d earn an invitation to the party. In January 2023, more than 60 women joined us for our very first Mahjong event.
The event was such a success that everyone wanted to know what was next, and even more people wanted to learn. I recruited my friend Lauren Nelson, who had been working alongside me on our school PTO, and our friend Thu Keojampa, who has been playing Mahjong for more than 20 years, to help teach.
Since then, we’ve introduced hundreds of people across the DFW area to the game of American Mahjong. We’ve hosted dozens of social gatherings and fundraising events, built an incredible community around the game, and even created our own Mahjong travel tile set, which we now sell nationwide.
What started as a few friends learning a new game has grown into something much bigger—a community built around friendship, fun, and the joy of saying, “Mahjong!”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The popularity of Mahjong grew like wildfire after we launched Green Mahjong Dragons in January 2023. We all live in Southlake, Texas, where our town mascot is the Dragon. Since one of the tiles in an American Mahjong set is the Green Dragon, it felt like the perfect name for our company.
As the game’s popularity exploded, it was only natural that other Mahjong businesses began popping up and competition followed. But from the very beginning, we built Green Mahjong Dragons with one simple mindset: this is supposed to be fun. We never felt pressure to grow quickly or become the biggest company. Instead, our focus has always been on creating a great experience.
Our goal is simple: every person who hires us to teach a lesson or host an event should leave having had a wonderful time, feeling confident in their understanding of the game, and believing their time was well spent.
Overall, the journey has been remarkably smooth. Because we were at the forefront of the Mahjong craze in our area, we were able to establish credibility and name recognition early on. More importantly, we’ve built a reputation for making Mahjong approachable, social, and genuinely fun—a reputation that continues to grow through word of mouth and the incredible community we’ve created.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our backgrounds are incredibly diverse, which is part of what makes our teaching style unique. I spent four years as a television news reporter before transitioning into corporate sales. Lauren brings expertise in social media and technology, while Thu is our resident “Tiger Mom” who insists on excellence and teaches not only the game itself, but also the rich history and traditions behind mahjong.
One thing we all agree on is that it’s important to teach the game the right way. We don’t teach with blanks, and we don’t rely on shortcuts. We believe that if you learn mahjong properly from the beginning, you’ll have the confidence and knowledge to sit down and play with anyone, regardless of their individual house rules.
What’s next?
We really don’t know what the future holds, but as long as people want to learn Mahjong, we’ll continue sharing the game we love. One of our favorite things is hosting large events, like our annual Scout Guide Merry Mahjong event in December, and seeing so many of our students become friends and continue playing together long after their first lesson.
Mahjong is unique because it truly brings people together. You can sit at a table with a teenager, a young professional, and a senior citizen, and everyone feels comfortable, engaged, and connected. It’s a game that challenges your mind, sparks conversation, and creates community. We don’t play for money—we play because it’s fun, strategic, and endlessly rewarding.
As we look ahead, one area we’re especially excited about is expanding our corporate events. We’ve hosted networking events for local companies and discovered that Mahjong is the perfect activity for bringing people together. The game naturally encourages conversation, collaboration, and one-on-one interaction. There’s something special about sitting around a table, sharing appetizers and a glass of wine, and connecting with potential clients, colleagues, and new friends while learning or playing this incredible game.
Pricing:
- $75 Beginner Lesson
- $50 Guided Play
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.greenmahjongdragons.com
- Instagram: @Greenmahjongdragons
- Facebook: Green Mahjong Dragons
