Daigo Umehara's Event Schedule 2015

- Canada Cup's Master Series [January 9-11]
- 5th Niconico Shotenkaigi [January 18]
- Yonpahi radio show [January 23]
- 6th Niconico Shotenkaigi [January 25]
- Taipei Game Show [Jan 31]
- Tokaigi 2015 [Feb 1]

Friday, December 28, 2012

Umehara: "Skyfall was fun!"

4Gamer.net published yesterday a huge article which is a collection of short interviews with various people in the game industry. In the 9-page long article, they asked the same 4 questions to game creators, composers, authors, voice actors, singers, as well as Daigo Umehara, Tokido, Mago, Sako, and MadCatz's Markman.

Question 1
What game (that was released) in 2012 that you like the most or has the biggest impact? And why?

Umehara replied "I have nothing special. The reason is I haven't played anything except [SSF4AE2012] and Gunslinger Stratos."

Tokido replied "SSF4AE2012. From participating events around the world this year, I could feel that many countries love this game. It's now 5 years since [the original release] in 2008. It was adjusted gradually and is now extremely balanced. [Capcom] also held SF 25th Anniversary events."

Mago chose Gunslinger Stratos.

Sako chose Dragon Quest X (online game). He and his wife even have 2 separated sets of game/console.

Markman chose SFxTK and Tekken Tag Tournament 2.


Question 2
What is your most impressive entertainment content/product (in any genre) of 2012? And why?

Umehara said that [James Bond Skyfall] was fun and it was interesting throughout the entire film.

Tokido doesn't know much about entertainment so he chose Olympic.

Mago chose Gundam Unicorn and its premiere event. (A friend asked him to go and he was impressed.)

Sako chose Evangelion Q and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. For Evangelion, He just enjoys it without thinking too much about the mysteries. For KPP, he doesn't watch TV much but her name is so hard to pronounce that he memorized it. He said "I don't know about music but the songs (see also this or this or this) are catchy and she looks cute."

Markman chose WiiU.


Question 3
Who was/is the one to watch (have attention) in 2012? And why?

Umehara chose Infiltration because the Korean player has done very well in this year.

Tokido said "I'm looking at Umehara-san who is the leading person of Japan's pro gamers. This year he released the book Willpower to Keep Winning, works as Square Enix's Gunslinger Stratos Official Supporter, etc." Tokido is also looking forward to see more [of Umehara's activities] next year.

Mago chose Infiltration.

Sako chose Daigo Umehara. He said "[Umehara is] the most influential person. He always has my attention. What game will he be playing this time? Is he doing a new thing? Something like that."

Markman chose fans and consumers.


Question 4
What is your aspiration in 2013? And please send some message to the readers.

Umehara will maintain the quality of what he does as pro gamer, and also consider doing more things in 2013. He also thanks everyone for the supports and wants to keep making entertaining matches or activities.

Tokido will put even more efforts in 2013. He wants to have both good results and good games, and asked everyone to support.

Mago tried several new games in 2012 and realized that he didn't get a good result in all of them, so he will try to master one by one in 2013. He wants to improve [by participating in both domestic and foreign tournaments] more and asked for the support.

Sako just wants to have fun with games at his own pace in 2013. He also wants to spend time on non-fighting games. He then asked everyone to support.

Markman, speaking on behalf of MadCatz, wants to spread the world brand confidence. They will continue making cool products while supporting gaming community in 2013. They also let the fans know that they listen to all the requests. He thanked [the users and readers] for the supports and wished them a wonderful new year.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

TOPANGA Z: Tokido vs VX result

Tokido (Magneto, Doom, Phoenix) 10-4 VX (Dante, Doom, Phoenix)
  1. 1-0
  2. 0-1 *Tokido's Dark Phoenix killed
  3. 0-1 *VX's DP kills Tokido's DP
  4. 0-1 *VX's DP kills Tokido's DP
  5. 1-0 *Tokido's DP kills VX's DP
  6. 1-0 *Tokido successfully snaps and kills Phoenix
  7. 1-0 *VX's Phoenix killed before 5 meters
  8. 1-0 *VX changes from Phoenix to Strider
  9. 1-0 *Phoenix takes 1, DP takes 2
  10. 1-0 *VX changes from Strider to Vergil
  11. 0-1 *VX changes from Vergil to Phoenix
  12. 1-0 *Tokido's DP kills VX's DP
  13. 1-0
  14. 1-0 *big mistakes from VX

Tokido will fight the winner between Nemo and Frieda next.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Official Under Night: In-Birth tournament announced for 2013

It is announced today that Under Night: In-Birth Official Tournament will be held on March 23, and the qualifiers (only in Tokyo) will begin in late January. The format is 3 on 3. Hilda and Eltnum* are allowed.

*Eltnum was selectable via secret input in November but was fully released just last week.

Note that there was an UNI tournament (2 on 2) as a part of Barracuda tournament on November 17. (Apparently it counts as unofficial national tournament.) The winner was Kubo's team. (Kubo shifted his interest from UMvC3 to UNI and now plays as blue Seto (aka. Vergil). You can check his vortex below.)


(Skip to 00:41:00 for the final)

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Umehara's Willpower to Keep Winning is one of the bestselling pocket books on Amazon Japan in 2012

Amazon Japan has revealed a big list of bestselling books of 2012 (between December 1, 2011, to November 30, 2012)  in various categories, and Daigo Umehara's book Willpower to Keep Winning is placed at 7th in shinsho* category.

*Shinsho (新書) is for non-fiction pocket books. They are 2 cm. longer than A6 paper.



The world's most famous Street Fighter player's semi-autobiography was released on April 2 this year. Due to its popularity, there was a shortage after release, and it was able to reach 3rd place on Amazon Japan's bestselling chart in overall Book category. The book has sold 32,000 copies as of October 22. The Kindle version was released on October 26.

Umehara's new book Umehara Column: Ken no Maki will be released next year in January.


Monday, December 17, 2012

Under Night In-Birth OST coming on December 19

We know that a lot of people are interested in the soundtracks of this game, so this post is for you.

Under Night: In-Birth Original Soundtrack Side-Abyss will be released on December 19 (Wednesday). It has 28 tracks total, including the full version of opening theme and ending themes.

Track 8: Purity & Strictly (Orie's theme)


Track 13: Aruku Sugata wa Yuri no Hana (Yuzuriha's theme)


Saturday, December 15, 2012

Umehara Column in Arcadia gets compilation

As the fans already know, Daigo Umehara began his own column "Umehara Column" in monthly arcade gaming magazine Arcadia since 2009. Now it is revealed that the column is getting its own compilation.

The book called "Umehara Column Ken no Maki -Toushin ga Kimi ni Sazukeru Taisen Kakutou Game Jutsu-" (Umehara Column: The Scroll of Fist -God of Fighting teaches you the art of figting game-) that will be released on January 31, 2013, will have the contents from the past 2+ years plus some new contents supervised by Umehara himself.

The 112-page book will be sold for 998 yen. As usual, you can buy this book from Amazon Japan here.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Umehara x Kana Ueda on Famitsu magazine

Famitsu's Otodoke Twitter account revealed that this week's Famitsu will feature a discussion about game center lifestyle between Daigo Umehara and Kana Ueda.



This week's Famitsu magazine (cover: Shin Hokuto Musou) is released today in Japan.



Umehara and Ueda appeared together several times promoting Gunslinger Stratos since January. Ueda voiced Shizune character in the game. They are often seen playing the game together in the game centers.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

TOPANGA Z: OGTY vs Tokido result

OGTY (Nova, Doom, Super-Skrull) 4-10 Tokido (Magneto, Doom, Phoenix)
  1. 0-1
  2. 1-0
  3. 0-1 *Dark Phoenix closed it
  4. 1-0 *Perfect with 86 seconds left
  5. 0-1
  6. 0-1 *Normal Phoenix closed it
  7. 0-1
  8. 1-0 *Dark Phoenix got caught
  9. 0-1
  10. 0-1
  11. 1-0 *Skrull killed both Dark Phoenix and Doom
  12. 0-1
  13. 0-1 *Dark Phoenix closed it
  14. 0-1

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Umehara on Club Nintendo Mexico

It is revealed on the official Twitter that Daigo Umehara is featured in Mexico's Club Nintendo magazine.


Monday, December 10, 2012

Capcom's Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Grand Finals summary

These scores were recorded in realtime so we don't have the detailed scores for SFxTK because we fell asleep twice!

Information
- Japan's Street Fighter 25th Anniversary National Tournament announced
- PPV stream prices of Japan's SF 25th Anniversary tournaments
- Japan's SF 25th Anniversary tournaments finals to be held in Nicofarre 
- Umehara confirmed for Japan's SF 25th Anniversary tournament
- Umehara reaches Japan's SF 25th Anniversary tournament
- Japan's Street Fighter 25th Anniversary tournament finals summary
- Niconico to provide Japanese commentary for Grand Finals
- Official website of Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Tournaments
- Official webpage for the Grand Finals including brackets and results

Announcements
- Fan-made Megaman X Street Fighter PC game free for download.
- Capcom to hold SF 26th Anniversary event next year.

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
Tokido (Claw) 0-2 ShotosAllDay (Ken)
0-2
1-2
John Choi (Sagat) 2-1 Laugh (Sagat)
2-1
1-2 *Laugh made a comeback in last round
2-0
Fuzzy (Ryu, Cammy) 0-2 Damdai (Hawk)
0-2
1-2
Afro Legends (DJ) 2-0 Kenpachi (Sagat)
2-0 *big comeback in last round
2-0
John Choi (Sagat, Ryu) 2-1 ShotosAllDay (Sagat, Ryu)
2-1
0-2
2-1
Afro Legends (DJ) 0-2 Damdai (Ryu)
0-2
1-2 *perfect in 1st round by AL
[Losers] Tokido (Claw) 2-0 Laugh (Ken)
2-0 *won with pixels of life in both round
2-0
[Losers] Fuzzy (Ryu) 2-0 Kenpachi (Sagat)
2-1
2-0 *perfect in last round
[Losers] Tokido (Claw) 0-2 Afro Legends (Boxer)
0-2
1-2
[Losers] ShotosAllDay (DJ, Sagat) 2-1 Fuzzy (Ryu)
2-0
0-2 *perfect in last round
2-0
[Losers] ShotosAllDay (Ken) 0-2 Afro Legends (Boxer)
0-2 *very close 1st round
1-2
[Winners Final] John Choi (Sagat, Ryu) 0-3 Damdai (Hawk)
1-2
1-2
1-2 *Ryu
[Losers Final] John Choi (Guile) 1-3 Afro Legends (Boxer)
1-2
2-0
1-2
1-2
[Grand Final] Damdai (Ryu) 3-1 Afro Legends (DJ, Boxer)
0-2
2-0
2-1
2-1 *Boxer

Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition
MOV (Chun) 2-0 Nica KO (Yang)
- MOV brought some oxygen with him!
2-0 *nice setup at the end of last round by MOV
2-0
Tokido (Chun) 2-1 Gunfight (Dud)
2-0
1-2
2-1 *a big comeback in last round
BOC (Urien) 0-2 Momochi (Yun)
0-2
0-2
Justin Wong (Chun) 0-2 Mester (Yun)
0-2
0-2
Momochi (Yun) 2-1 Mester (Yun)
2-0
1-2 *perfect in last round
2-0
MOV (Chun) 2-0 Tokido (Chun)
2-0
2-0
[Losers] Gunfight (Dud) 0-2 Nica KO (Yang)
2-1
0-2 *perfect in 1st round
1-2
[Losers] BOC (Urien) 0-2 Justin Wong (Chun)
1-2
0-2
[Losers] Mester (Yun) 2-1 Nica KO (Yang)
2-0
1-2
2-0
[Losers] Tokido (Chun) 2-0 Justin Wong (Chun)
2-0
2-0
[Losers] Tokido (Chun) 2-0 Mester (Yun)
2-1
2-1 *Tokido got a big combo at the end of last round
[Winners Final] MOV (Chun) 3-2 Momochi (Yun)
1-2
2-0
1-2 *perfect in last round
2-0
2-0
[Losers Final] Tokido (Chun) 3-1 Momochi (Yun)
2-1 *perfect in 1st round by Momochi
2-0
0-2
2-0
[Grand Final] Tokido (Chun) 0-3 MOV (Ken)
0-2
0-2
1-2

Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition Ver.2012
Floe (Guy) 0-2 Umehara (Ryu)
0-2 *Floe dropped a hitconfirm Ultra and lost last round
1-2 *Super>raw Metsu finish in 2nd round
Dieminion (Guile) 2-1 GamerBee (Adon)
0-2
2-1
2-0 *Dieminion outplayed
Problem X (Seth) 0-2 Momochi (Akuma)
0-2
1-2 *nice read in last round by Momochi (Ultra caught backdash)
Justin Wong (Rufus) 1-2 Tokido (Akuma)
2-1
0-2 *nice teleport U2 in last round
0-2
Snake Eyez (Zan) 0-2 Fuudo (Fei)
1-2
1-2
Alioune (Cammy) 2-1 Ricky Ortiz (Rufus)
1-2 *perfect in 1st round by Alioune
2-0 *perfect in last round by Alioune
2-1
Mago (Fei) 2-0 Wolfkrone (Viper)
2-0
2-1
Infiltration (Akuma) 2-0 Vangief (Zan)
2-1 *big comeback in 1st round from Vangief
2-1
Dieminion (Guile) 0-2 Umehara (Ryu)
0-2 *Metsu finish in 1st round
0-2
Tokido (Akuma) 2-1 Momochi (Cody)
0-2 *Tokido tried to timeout but failed in last round
2-1
2-1 *perfect in 1st round by Tokido
Alioune (Cammy) 0-2 Fuudo (Fei)
0-2 *nice FADC Ultra in last round
0-2
Infiltration (Akuma) 2-0 Mago (Fei)
2-0
2-0
Tokido (Akuma) 0-2 Umehara (Ryu)
1-2 *nice teleport reading in last round from Umehara
1-2
Infiltration (Akuma) 2-0 Fuudo (Fei)
2-1
2-0
[Losers] Justin Wong (Rufus) 0-2 Problem X (Seth)
1-2
0-2 *perfect in 1st round by Problem X
[Losers] Momochi (Akuma, Cody) 2-1 Wolfkrone (Viper)
0-2
2-0
2-0
[Losers] Dieminion (Guile) 0-2 Snake Eyez (Zan)
1-2
1-2
[Losers] Snake Eyez (Zan) 2-0 Momochi (Cody, Akuma)
2-1 *perfect in last round by Snake Eyez
2-0 *Momochi had a big lead in 1st round

[Losers] Floe eliminated by GamerBee *offstream
[Losers] Ricky Ortiz eliminated by Snake Eyes *offstream
[Losers] Vangief eliminated by Wolfkrone *offstream
[Losers] Alioune eliminated by GamerBee *offstream
[Losers] Problem X eliminated by Mago *offstream
[Losers] Snake Eyez eliminated by Fuudo *offstream

[Losers] Mago (Fei) 1-2 GamerBee (Adon)
2-1 *GamerBee had a big lead in 1st round
0-2
0-2 *close last round but Mago did badly
[Losers] Tokido (Akuma) 2-0 GamerBee (Yun)
2-1
2-0
[Losers] Tokido (Akuma) 0-2 Fuudo (Fei)
0-2 *Tokido tried to FADC Ultra but Fuudo Ultra his Ultra on reaction in 1st round
1-2 *Fuudo punished teleport by Ultra in last round
[Winners Final] Infiltration (Akuma) 0-3 Umehara (Ryu)
1-2 *Arigataya finish in 1st round
1-2 *close last round
1-2 *Umehara made a big comeback in last round (bravely walked while having pixels of life)
[Losers Final] Infiltration (Akuma) 3-2 Fuudo (Fei)
2-0
1-2 *perfect in 2nd round by Fuudo
2-1
0-2 *nice hitconfirm super in close last round by Fuudo
2-1
[Grand Final] Infiltration (Akuma) 3-0 Umehara (Ryu)
2-0 *Umehara read teleport but wrong way in 1st round
2-1
2-0
[Grand Final] Infiltration (Akuma) 3-0 Umehara (Ryu)
2-1 *Infil tried to go for timeout but Umehara walked in and threw in 1st round
2-0
2-0

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Nico to provide Japanese commentary for Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Tournaments Finals

Niconico revealed that it will provide Japanese language commentary for Capcom's Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Tournaments Grand Finals via stream on this Saturday night in Japan.

It is still unclear whether it will restream or just show only commentators. More information will be added if the stream page is updated.

Update: It is a restreaming. Apparently Niconico got permission from Capcom. The commentators are R (Guy player), KSK, Frieda, GODSGARDEN's Kami-chan.

Update 2: This's not a complete restreaming. It also has access to camera in the venue (not seen in the actual stream).

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

TOPANGA Z: Frieda vs Jeo result




Frieda (Zero, Dante, Magneto) 10-6 Jeo (Morrigan, Wesker, Strider)
  1. 1-0
  2. 1-0
  3. 0-1
  4. 0-1
  5. 1-0
  6. 1-0
  7. 1-0
  8. 1-0
  9. 0-1
  10. 0-1
  11. 1-0
  12. 0-1
  13. 1-0
  14. 1-0
  15. 0-1
  16. 1-0 *Perfect

Mago turn into girl in adult manga

Do you remember that adult manga that has Daigo Umehara turn into a girl? The manga artist did the same thing with Mago in her new work.

This news is actually five month old and we thought that you probably don't want to see it (or do you?), but to celebrate his victory at England qualifying tournaments of Capcom's Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Tournaments Grand Finals, we think it's the right timing!


"Hiyoranaide! Mako-chan" (Do something! Mako-chan) in the August issue of adult manga magazine Potpourri Club tells the story about a female fighting gamer "Mako Hayashi" who struggles to win a tournament and later has to resort to some "special training" with her friend.

The story clearly makes fun of how Mago has less achievements than fellow top players.

Brief summary of the story
- Mako-chan is a tsundere.
- Mako-chan's surname Hayashi is actually Mago's real surname.
- Mako-chan is irritated by Ume Hara's success. *The protagonist in the first work.
- Ume Hara is 2-time "GAMEVO" world champion.
- Mago's famous line "I'm going to teach you the reality!" is in there. (It was said to Fuudo before the TOPANGA Concept Match.)
- Her (male) game partner since the olden days "Ichirou" looks like Tokido. The two share the same first letter in real name.
- In one scene, Ichirou wears a T-shirt that resembles Tokido'd blue Mad Catz T-shirt. The number "13" on the shirt could refer to Tokido's signature finishing move in UMvC3 called "Dark 13."
- In one scene, Ichirou wears a T-shirt with number "10" in the back. Ten in Japanese language can mean heaven. It refers to the sign in Akuma's back.
- She looks strong and confident, but she doesn't do well in tournaments. Ichirou then offers Mako-chan a special training.
- Ichirou tells Mako-chan that he likes her since the olden days.
- After that, Mako-chan finally wins at GAMEVO, although Ichirou steals the attention by winning all other games.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Ryan Hart suspended for rage tweet

International pro gaming organization Western Wolves announced that they have decided to suspend Ryan Hart indefinitely due to inappropriate comments on his Twitter.

The announcement came quickly after Hart expressed his anger over how his fellow Team Mad Catz player Mago "took the quota" of England qualifying tournaments of Capcom's Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Tournaments Grand Finals. It was after he lost to Mago, who later went on from Losers bracket to win the tournament over Momochi.

Both Mago and Momochi, as 1st and 2nd place finishers, are now qualified for the Grand Finals in San Francisco on December 8. The trip will be paid for as a prize.

Hart felt that Mad Catz should not send Mago there because they both have the same sponsor, and that Mago had his chance at the Japan qualifying tournaments. F-word was used twice in the tweet which was later deleted.

Mad Catz is one of Western Wolves' sponsors.

Evo 2013 dated, venue announced

It is revealed just minutes ago that Evolution 2013 will take place on July 12-14, 2013, at Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.

In 2011, the venue was changed from Caesar's Palace to Rio, then it was changed back in 2012. But the organizer will use a new venue next year.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Kana Ueda wears MadCatz T-shirt at Famitsu event

Kana Ueda revealed that today she went to Famitsu's game event wearing pink Mad Catz T-shirt. This's also her first time using the shirt. (We used to report that she received the shirts from a fan in August.)



The event is called "Famitsu Characters DX." In short, they have well-known voice actors/actresses compete in a set of games. It's half talk show, half game show. And they sell tickets. This's the sixth time and it's "gamer girls special." Five voice actresses participated: Kana Ueda, Maaya Uchida, Emiri Katou, Ami Koshimizu, Saki Fujita. The event is hosted by voice actor Kenichi Suzumura and voice actress Asami Shimoda.


P.S. MadCatz should send her the MCZ jacket, cap, or iPhone 5 case! Free PR!