Happy Birthday Umehara!

The world's most famous Street Fighter player.

The only player who reached top 8 Street Fighter IV at Evolution FOUR consecutive years.

The player who keeps on playing and winning the most competitive fighting games at the highest level since 1997.

The player who shows the world that winning is not just the only way to gain fans and respect, it's also how you play and behave.


Happy Birthday to Daigo Umehara who turn 32 today!

[Video] Umehara @Mad Catz booth in Chokaigi 2

"TOPANGA TV in Niconico Chokaigi 2 @Mad Catz booth" were showed on TOPANGA TV on May 8 and 15.

Notes
- It was actually to promote Mad Catz so they mainly talked about products.
- The Mad Catz guy wanted everyone to yell "TEAM MAD CATZ" but it's too embarrassing for Umehara to do it.
- When he started SF4 on console and wanted a stick, Mago bought Tournament Edition stick after reading about Mad Catz from Wiki.
- They talked about the importance of hearing the sounds of opponent's stick to promote MCZ silent stick. Mago said PR_Rog was surprised by the stick and had to asked MarkMan for one after the match.
- Umehara prefers the form of the new Arcade Fightstick Pro because there's a place to rest his hands at the edge.
- Mago said Umehara doesn't use PC but Umehara said he used it a bit to watch some soothing music on YouTube. But when asked about Niconico, Umehara said it's too complicated for him.
- Umehara said the Mad Catz headphones help him in FADCing because it gives a sound not found in others.
- They gave away a very limited Evo stick to the audience by playing RPS. The winner was R (TOPANGA commentator and Guy player). R later gave it to one of the audience in the last day of TOPANGA Asia League because he felt that he didn't deserve it.


May 8 (skip to 13:40)



May 15 (skip to 08:10)

[TOPANGA Asia League] Infiltration turn down invitation

There're many speculations when the players were announced for TOPANGA Asia League and there's no Infiltration. A lot of people said the man didn't get invited. Some said Poongko took the South Korea quota because he has a good relationship with the Japanese as he came to Japan for a tournament several times (GODSGARDEN 4, TOPANGA Concept Match, , Official AE2012 Nationals, etc). But the latest tweet from Xian revealed that TOPANGA actually invited Infiltration but the Akuma player declined.

TOPANGA Asia League Day 4 summary

Info
- TOPANGA Asia League announced (rules, prizes, stream links, ticket links)
- Bon-chan qualifies for TOPANGA Asia League
- Player characters revealed
- Ringside seats offered
- Niconico Pro Tip: Time Shift

Previous posts
- TOPANGA Asia League Day 1 summary
- TOPANGA Asia League Day 2 summary 
- TOPANGA Asia League Day 3 summary 

 Commentators
- R
- Mago

Notes
- The studio is full (audience).
-  In the studio: Kazunoko, Tokido, Itabashi Zangief, Karipaku, Acqua, Mad Catz Guy, The Hori Guy
- Some people in the audience missed the last train because the length of the show.

Day 4 / May 6 / Monday

1. Bon-chan vs. GamerBee
2. Umehara vs. Xian
3. Fuudo vs. Xiao Hai
4. Bon-chan vs. Poongko
5. Umehara vs. Sako *
6. Xiao Hai vs. Xian
7. Sako vs. Fuudo *

Results are below (spoilers)

Umehara vs. Sako statistics

GODSGARDEN Online 2 qualifier (online)
Umehara (Ryu) 3-0 Sako (Cam)

GODSGARDEN Online 2 (online)
Umehara (Ryu) 8-10 Sako (Cam)

TOPANGA League 1: Day 6 (online)
Umehara (Ryu) 0-3 Sako (Ibu)

TOPANGA League 2: Day 6 (online)
Umehara (Ryu) 3-2 Sako (Ibu)

TOPANGA League 2: Day 12 (offline)
Umehara (Ryu) 9-11 Sako (Ibu)


Fun Facts
- They rarely met in an offline tournament.
- In a tournament, Umehara had never played Sako Yang, and Sako had never played Umehara Yun.
- Last year in April, Umehara went to Osaka (where Sako lives) to participate Gunslinger Stratos event and since he had too much free time he called Sako out for some casual matches at a game center. (They're friends and they have each other's number) It's reported that they played total 77 games. They quitted when Umehara reached 50th win. (A player's arcade record can be checked via cellphone.)

TOPANGA Asia League Day 3 summary

Info
- TOPANGA Asia League announced (rules, prizes, stream links, ticket links)
- Bon-chan qualifies for TOPANGA Asia League
- Player characters revealed
- Ringside seats offered
- Niconico Pro Tip: Time Shift

Previous posts
- TOPANGA Asia League Day 1 summary
- TOPANGA Asia League Day 2 summary

 Commentators
- R
- Shiro

Opening skit
-R screamed TOPANGA League to his cellphone.

Notes
-

Day 3 / May 5 / Sunday

1. Fuudo vs. GamerBee
2. Poongko vs. Xian
3. Umehara vs. Xiao Hai
4. Bon-chan vs. Sako
5. Poongko vs. GamerBee
6. Umehara vs. Fuudo 
7. Sako vs. Xiao Hai

Results are below (spoilers)

Umehara vs. Fuudo statistics

World Game Cup 2010 (offline)
[Grand Final 1] Umehara (Ryu) 3-0 Fuudo (Ryu)
[Grand Final 2] Umehara (Ryu) 2-3 Fuudo (Ryu)
 
TOPANGA League 1: Day 1 (online)
Umehara (Ryu) 0-3 Fuudo (Fei)

TOPANGA League 2: Day 4 (online)
Umehara (Ryu) 3-1 Fuudo (Fei)

TOPANGA League 2: Day 12 (offline)
Umehara (Ryu) 5-10 Fuudo (Fei)

Japan's SF 25th Anniversary tournament (offline)
[Winners Final] Umehara (Ryu) 2-0 Fuudo (Fei)
[Grand Final] Umehara (Ryu) 3-0 Fuudo (Fei)

Niconico Chokaigi 2 exhibition (offline)
Umehara (Ryu) 1-0 Fuudo (Fei)

Fun Facts:
- Fuudo admitted that he won World Game Cup 2010 over Umehara because he was in Winners bracket while Umehara was already in Losers bracket.
- Fuudo has never played Umehara Yun in a tournament.
- They almost played each other in GODSGARDEN 4. (GG4 used special rules. You can challenge and accept/refuse opponent once. Umehara (Yun) challenged Fuudo (Fei) but Fuudo refused.)