Sarashi (Exposed Melds) - Called Tiles on Display

What is Sarashi?

Sarashi (exposed melds) refers to tiles revealed through pon, chi, or kan calls. Also called “fuuro,” these tiles are placed face-up and visible to all players.

Since everyone can see sarashi, it provides crucial clues about opponents’ hands. Conversely, your own sarashi gives information away.

Types of Sarashi

Type	Content	Tiles	Menzen
Pon	Same 3 tiles	3	Broken
Chi	Sequential 3	3	Broken
Daiminkan	Called kan	4	Broken
Kakan	Added kan	4	Broken
Ankan	Concealed kan	4	Maintained

Display Convention

Pon (from left): [5m][5m][5m sideways]
Chi (from left): [3p][4p][5p sideways]
Daiminkan (across): [7s][7s][7s sideways][7s]

Sideways tile shows who discarded

Information from Sarashi

Basic Information

Info	Content	Example
Used tiles	Those tiles are taken	5m pon → no 5m left
Direction	What they’re collecting	Man chi → flush?
Menzen status	Can riichi?	Sarashi = no riichi
Yaku guess	Target yaku	Honor pon → yakuhai

Advanced Reading

Remaining count
- 3 tiles used in meld
- Where’s the 4th?
Wait deduction
- Meld combinations
- Narrowing possibilities
Hand reading
- What they’ll discard
- Which tiles are safe

Sarashi Strategy

Information Exposure

Many melds
  ↓
Hand is visible
  ↓
Waits become obvious
  ↓
Easier to defend

Menzen Comparison

Aspect	With Sarashi	Menzen
Speed	Fast	Slow
Value	Lower	Higher
Info	Visible	Hidden
Riichi	No	Yes
Defense	Hard	Easier

Reading Opponent Sarashi

Checkpoints

What color?
- Flush possibility
- Toitoi vs sequences
Honor melds
- Yakuhai target
- Big hands warning
Meld count
- 3+ → Toitoi?
- Just 1 → Kuitan?

Kuisagari (Value Reduction)

Yaku	Menzen	Called	Diff
Tanyao	1 han	1 han	None
Ittsu	2 han	1 han	-1
Sanshoku	2 han	1 han	-1
Honitsu	3 han	2 han	-1
Chinitsu	6 han	5 han	-1

Menzen-Only Yaku

Riichi
Pinfu
Iipeikou
Ryanpeikou
Menzen Tsumo

Common Mistakes

Ankan handling
- Ankan is sarashi but keeps menzen
- Special treatment
Meld direction
- Sideways shows source
- Position matters
Information value
- Sarashi = hand exposed
- You give info away
Menzen yaku loss
- Sarashi blocks menzen yaku
- No riichi, pinfu, etc.

Fuuro: Making calls
Pon: Triplet call
Chi: Sequence call
Minkan: Open kan
Menzen: No sarashi state

Summary

Sarashi refers to tiles exposed through pon, chi, or kan, visible to all players. It provides important information about hands - both reading opponents and revealing your own. Beginners should learn “sarashi = called tiles on display” and practice reading used tiles and hand direction. Understanding sarashi improves both offense and defense significantly.