Aka Dora (Red Five): The Red 5 Tile That's Always Worth Dora
Sep 23, 2026 · 4 min read
Aka Dora ("red dora") is a special version of the 5 tile printed in red instead of the standard color. This tile ALWAYS counts as an extra dora (+1 han) for whoever holds it, regardless of whatever indicator tile appears that hand.
How Many Aka Dora Per Set
The most common convention (used on platforms like Tenhou and Mahjong Soul) includes 3 aka dora per tile set -- one red 5 in each suit (Characters, Circles, Bamboo).
Aka Dora Is an Optional Rule
Not every group/tournament uses aka dora -- it's purely a house-rule or platform choice, not a mandatory part of Riichi Mahjong. Make sure to check beforehand whether aka dora is in play.
If you happen to win with a red 5 as part of a pair or triplet, it still counts as an extra dora as usual -- there's no positional exception.
Learn about other dora types: kan dora and ura dora.
Read About Dora →