Asahi Shimbun Morning Edition, October 16, 1999
A young man, having achieved his goal of gaining admission to a highly competitive medical school, found himself completely unmotivated. What captured his heart was mahjong. It sparked his fighting spirit and involved intellectual strategy. Constantly stimulating the brain, yet never fully satisfying it, mahjong possessed both an irresistible charm and a dangerous allure.
Inspired by Tetsuya Asada’s Mahjong Wanderer, he indulged in solo mahjong games in Shinjuku, only to find himself on the brink of expulsion from medical school. He took pride in buying a car with his winnings, but he couldn’t help but envy his former classmates who had already graduated. He tried to maintain his self-esteem by telling himself, "I may be a second-rate doctor, but I’m a first-rate mahjong player." However, he couldn’t shake the deep frustration of failing to find fulfillment in his true profession. Psychiatrist Yoshihiro Kasahara coined this condition as Apathy Syndrome—a phenomenon where individuals, neglecting their studies or work, become obsessively immersed in something else.
Gambling addiction has been discussed before, but the Australian film Oscar and Lucinda (1997) portrays a similar theme. Set in mid-19th century Britain and Australia, it tells the story of a man and woman who, consumed by their shared passion for gambling, ultimately fail to affirm their love.
Oscar, a missionary played by Ralph Fiennes, falls into horse racing and all kinds of betting from his seminary days, justifying his actions by claiming he donates his winnings to God—though he is clearly desperate. Lucinda, played by Cate Blanchett (also known for her role in Elizabeth), realizes her dream of owning a glass factory but becomes unable to quit gambling with cards and dice. Their fateful meeting leads to a final bet: they wager their entire fortunes on whether they can construct a “glass church.” The film’s depiction of their descent into compulsive gambling is lighthearted and stylish.
The young man on the verge of expulsion managed to pull himself back just in time and began attending medical school practicals again. Balancing activities that stimulate the brain’s pleasure center—whether gambling, alcohol, or sex—is never easy.
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