Top 8 Players

Shōta Takao

Age: 24

Residence:
Tōkyō

Occupation:
company employee
Notable Magic Achievements: Japan Nationals Top 8, 10th place at Grand Prix Nagoya

Where do you normally play Magic?
Hareru-ya

What deck did you play this weekend?
Esper Mid-range

Why did you choose this deck?
It can just win.
Swiss Record- Byes: 0, Day 1: 9-0, Day 2: 5-1

This year is the 20th anniversary of Magic. Of those, what year stands out most in your memory?
2009—it was a year I did best in tournaments.

What is your favorite card in Standard?
Obzedat, Ghost Council

 

Hajime Nakashima

Age: 24

Residence:
Tōkyō

Occupation:
student
Notable Magic Achievements: Top 16, Grand Prix Nagoya 2012; Top 64, Grand Prix Yokohama 2013

Where do you normally play Magic?
Kateru-ya, Hareru-ya, PWC

What deck did you play this weekend?
Mono-blue

Why did you choose this deck?
Because it's easy to play.
Swiss Record- Byes: 2, Day 1: 8-1, Day 2: 5-0-1

This year is the 20th anniversary of Magic. Of those, what year stands out most in your memory?
Around the time of Masques and Invasion—that was my first Standard environment.

What is your favorite card in Standard?
Thassa!

 

Ryō Nakada

Age: 23

Residence:
Kanagawa- ken

Occupation:
student
Notable Magic Achievements: Going 3-0 at FNM

Where do you normally play Magic?
Tim Hakuraku-ten, PWC, QBK, Nagasaki-in

What deck did you play this weekend?
Wb Humans

Why did you choose this deck?
It's a good metagame choice against blue decks.
Swiss Record- Byes: 1, Day 1: 9-0, Day 2: 4-1-1

This year is the 20th anniversary of Magic. Of those, what year stands out most in your memory?
Lorwyn. That was the first time I went 3-0 in FNM.

What is your favorite card in Standard?
Boros Elite.

 

Kazuaki Fujimura

Age: 23

Residence:
Ōsaka

Occupation:
freelancer
Notable Magic Achievements: NEXT Protour Champion

Where do you normally play Magic?
Home

What deck did you play this weekend?
Mono-blue

Why did you choose this deck?
It the best deck in the format after UW.
Swiss Record- Byes: 3, Day 1: 8-1, Day 2: 5-1

This year is the 20th anniversary of Magic. Of those, what year stands out most in your memory?
Next year, when I win the Pro Tour.

What is your favorite card in Standard?
My favorite card of all time is Jace, the Mind Sculptor.

 

Shōta Yasooka

Age: 29

Residence:
Tōkyō

Occupation:
Pro Magic player
Notable Magic Achievements: Top 4, Grand Prix Kyōto 2013

Where do you normally play Magic?
Nowhere

What deck did you play this weekend?
Mono-blue

Why did you choose this deck?
I don't need a reason.
Swiss Record- Byes: 3, Day 1: 5-1, Day 2: 5-1

This year is the 20th anniversary of Magic. Of those, what year stands out most in your memory?
2006, the year I was Pro Player of the Year, and the one I traveled around the world.

What is your favorite card in Standard?
Mutavault

 

Keisuke Satō

Age: 24

Residence:
Niigata-ken

Occupation:
student
Notable Magic Achievements: None

Where do you normally play Magic?
Cards of Paradise in Niigata, Game-an Beat, Top Boy, Duel Gard

What deck did you play this weekend?
Gruul Mid-range

Why did you choose this deck?
I've been using it since it was first playable in the environment, and I like RG.
Swiss Record- Byes: 2, Day 1: 6-1, Day 2: 5-1

This year is the 20th anniversary of Magic. Of those, what year stands out most in your memory?
Around Masques/Invasion. That was a fun environment. I loved playing with Fires of Yavimaya.

What is your favorite card in Standard?
Either Stormbreath Dragon or Ghor-Clan Rampager.

 

Tadaki Tsukagoshi

Age: 28

Residence:
Shiga-ken

Occupation:
company employee
Notable Magic Achievements: Top 64, Grand Prix Kōbe 2009

Where do you normally play Magic?
Game Plaza Genki

What deck did you play this weekend?
UWr control

Why did you choose this deck?
I like playing those colors, and I know how to use the deck.
Swiss Record- Byes: 2, Day 1: 7-2, Day 2: 6-0

This year is the 20th anniversary of Magic. Of those, what year stands out most in your memory?
2009, the year I first became a pro player.

What is your favorite card in Standard?
Sphinx's Revelation—if you can get it off, it always gives you something you can use.

 

Jun'ya Iyanaga

Age: 26

Residence:
Tōkyō

Occupation:
Notable Magic Achievements: World Champion 2011

Where do you normally play Magic?
Nowhere

What deck did you play this weekend?
Esper

Why did you choose this deck?
I was planning on use the Kateru-ya mono-black deck, but I wasn't able to find enough Mutavaults to put it together.
Swiss Record- Byes: 1, Day 1: 6-2, Day 2: 6-0

This year is the 20th anniversary of Magic. Of those, what year stands out most in your memory?
2005. That was the year when there were lots of tournaments and tournament players in Japan, and the year I played the most.

What is your favorite card in Standard?
Notion Thief