This week, Judges, we travel across the Pacific to interview a judge from Japan!  Here she is Level 2, Asuka Nagashima!

Level: 2. Aspiring to be L3.
Location: Sapporo, Japan
Judge start date: was certified L1 in March 2010, L2 in June 2012.
Favourite card: Ornithopter (Antiquities) and Paraselene.
The oldest Ornithopter is the first card I came to love. This is a card of memories, and is my avatar.
Paraselene, I really love the illustration of this card. I have a big print of it autographed hanging on the wall in
my room. Foil Paraselene is the most beautiful Magic card to me.
Least favourite card: Brain Maggot. The illustration is … (´・ω・`)
Favourite format: As a player, I like limited. Sealed is better than
draft for me. As a judge, I love all formats (*^-^)b
Commander General: Uril, the Miststalker. It’s very casual deck with
many enchantments and Argothian Enchantress-style effects.
Favourite non-Magic Game: Pool (Billiards). Though I’m not so good at it.
Best tournament result: Top 8 of PTQ with about 35 players.
Random fact about yourself: I really like cats. My friends often says
that I love cats so much that I resemble one! (=⌒‿‿⌒=)

Why did you become a judge?
It is because I want players to enjoy fun-filled Magic. The rules of the game are the game itself. I think it is better to follow rules to appreciate good fun of games.

How did you get involved in magic in the first place?
In 2008, I saw my seniors at my college playing Magic. I found their cards very beautiful. Plus, I have been interested in tabletop games. I asked them to introduce me to Magic on the scene. They taught me how to play and gave me some common cards. A year later, they took
me to M10 prerelease tournament. Now, I am really obliged to the seniors for telling me about Magic.

What is one tip you have for other judges?
If you find the language barrier when working with judges overseas difficult, I recommend you to keep your hopes up and continue to show a positive attitude to communicate.
When you feel the barrier, you and your collator similarly want to communicate with the partner.  So, if you don’t give up, you always have a chance to convey your thoughts. This is the first key. The second key is your attitude. If you do nothing in front of your
partner, he would find it difficult to talk to you. On the other hand, if you try to say some easy words or make some gestures, they feel more comfortable trying to communicate with you. Even if it’s is awkward, these keys help you bond with your colleague. This advice had effect in GP Nagoya 2014. On Saturday evening, a judge from another country, who likes Japan and studies Japanese, told me that he felt the language barrier with new Japanese L1s in our team. I debriefed with the L1s, and figured out that they also felt the barrier. I advised them as I wrote here. On Sunday evening, the overseas judge told me that he could communicate with the L1s using easy English and Japanese. He looked delighted.

What is your favourite non-judging moment that happened with other
judges?
When I communicate with them personally on the Internet. It
could be the time that we’re planning to go sightseeing after GPs,
teaching and learning Japanese or just chatting. I like the moment
when I realize that they are not only my work fellows but also my
chummy friends.

What’s the biggest rule-breaking play you’ve ever made as a
player?
Er, putting Karakas into my Commander deck. It was a kitchen-table game, and my opponents got a good laugh. Finally, we simply treated this Karakas as a Plains. Thank you my friends not to get angry (^-^;)

If you could chat with one person, real or fictional, dead or
alive, who would it be and why?
I can’t name a certain person, but I’d like to talk with those who create the rules of Magic. Id like to know the reason why the rules exist the way they are and the process of
the creation and change.

How do you have fun during events?
I enjoy talking with other judges. During events, I often ask associates “Did anything
interesting happen?”. I like to talk with them about not only our rulings in the event but also rules being interested in recently, experiences of our past events and the rest.

If you were a creature what would be your creature type?
Cat.

Meow! In more factual manner, I’d say I’m Human Coward.

A human coward! That’s an interesting response! Can you elaborate
on it? Why do you feel like a human coward?
I think I actually am a chicken-hearted one. I often feel a bit uneasy about going by myself.
I owe my activity as a judge being very good to my mentors, fellow judges and friends.

What hobbies do you have outside of Magic?
Billiard. I’m not very good at it, but I like to play with my friends. I also like table
games. I play Mahjong, “Dominion“, “Die Siedler von Catan” (etc.) [Settlers of Catan]  Ah yes, including “Magic: the Gathering“. I am interested in knowing new games too. If you like billiards or table games, feel free to play together! ﾟ+.ヽ(≧▽≦)ﾉ.+ﾟ

It sounds like you’ve taken advantage of the Judge Program’s
ability to let you meet judges all across the world. If your judging
could take you anywhere in the world, where would you want it to take
you?
If I could go to any city, I would want to go London, the city I had hankered for in my childhood. But in my heart of hearts, all events in the world are really attractive for me to take part in as a judge. It’s my earnest desire to see various wonders in the world I still don’t know. As a part of this wish, I will start traveling to overseas events. Now I know very little of the world, so I want to go as many places as I can.

Two Truths and a Lie
Two of the following statements are true and one is false. Figure out which!

1. I like the stars. I delight in looking up at the starry sky.
2. I like jazz. I delight in having some time off with the air of jazz.
3. I like coffee. I delight in getting a cup of coffee every morning.

Thank you Asuka, for sharing some of your experiences with the judge program with us!  See you all next week, Judges! If there is a judge who is also doing something exemplary, please nominate a judge TODAY!