The Old Kamigawa | Japanese Traditions and Customs in Magic

Рет қаралды 273,716

Күн бұрын

This video is about building Kamigawa from the artifacts and histories of feudal Japan. It's also about a very old tree.
🎥 Support:
Become a Patron:
/ rhysticstudies
Buy shirts at Coalesce (use code STUDIES for 10% off):
www.coalesceapparel.shop/coll...
Buy cards at Card Kingdom:
www.cardkingdom.com/studies
📎 Connect:
Visit my website:
www.rhysticstudies.com
Twitter:
/ rhysticstudies
Linktree:
linktr.ee/rhysticstudies
🦉 Guest:
Rei Nakazawa - www.typewritten.org/~rnakazawa/
🎵 Music:
Blue Dot Sessions - Arctic Draba
Blue Dot Sessions - An Oddly Formal Dance
Blue Dot Sessions - A Simple Blur
Blue Dot Sessions - Building the Sled
📘 Chapters:
0:00 Card Kingdom & Coalesce
0:27 The Great Cedar of Yakushima Island
2:54 Building Kamigawa
11:07 Writing Flavor Text with Rei Nakazawa
15:52 "Shinto Gone Wrong" and the Culture Gap
19:40 Every Card a Reference
23:42 Kamigawa is Old
26:31 Guest Flavor Text Readings
📓 Sources:
mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Kamigawa - Kamigawa Wiki
magic.wizards.com/en/articles... - Behind the Scenes: Creating Kamigawa (2004)
magic.wizards.com/en/articles... - A Series of Fortunate Events: Kamigawa World Design (2004)
magic.wizards.com/en/articles... - Kamigawa Glossary
magic.wizards.com/en/articles... - Truth in Fantasy WotC (2005)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pom_Poko - Pom Poko Wiki
magic.wizards.com/en/articles... - Creative Side of Kamigawa (2005)
magic.wizards.com/en/articles... - Tales From Beyond the Veil (2005)
• Magic: The Gathering H... - History of Champions of Kamigawa
magic.wizards.com/en/story/pl... - Kamigawa Plane Profile
www.mtgsalvation.com/articles... - The World of Kamigawa
www.coolstuffinc.com/a/jayann... - Preparing for Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (2021)
www.hipstersofthecoast.com/20... - A Planeswalker’s Guide to Earth - Kamigawa Revisited (2015)
articles.starcitygames.com/ar... - On the Fictional Religions of Magic (2014)
blog.killgold.fish/2014/10/kil... - Kill reviews: Kamigawa
web.archive.org/web/2004101201... - Land of Ten-Thousand Legends (2004)
dougbeyermtg.tumblr.com/searc... - Doug Beyer Tumblr
www.hipstersofthecoast.com/20... - A Planeswalker’s Guide to Earth: Revisited (2015)
www.hipstersofthecoast.com/20... - We’re not going back to Kamigawa (2015)
blog.cardkingdom.com/kamigawa... - Neon Dynasty Primer
www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/net... - Netsuke Art
www.bbc.com/travel/article/20... - Yamabushi
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8D... - Jōmon Sugi
web.archive.org/web/200906290... - Protected Trees in Japan
www.rachelsussman.com/portfoli... - Rachel Sussman
www.mimusubi.com/about-mimusubi/ - David Chart’s website
japancheapo.com/entertainment... - Jomon Sugi Hike
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gory%C5%8D - Goryo
www.festivalofjapan.co.uk/inf... - Kanzashi
• Shintoism Explained - What is Shinto?
• Japan: Where Gods Aren... - Shinto in Japan
• Weekly MTG | Kamigawa:... - Neon Dynasty First Look
• Shinto in Everyday Jap... - Shinto in Everyday Life
• Why Japan Isn't Cuttin... - Japan Forest Management
• Rachel Sussman: An ep... - Rachel Sussman Ted Talk
• 木組展おうちでミュージアム／竹中大工道具館「... - The Heritage of Kumiko Crafts
• Meet Japan’s Toughest ... - Yamabushi
• Japanese Conch shell b... - Horagai
#mtg #magicthegathering #kamigawa

Пікірлер: 717

@RhysticStudies 2 жыл бұрын

For the first time ever, I have official merchandise! Pick up a t-shirt or a hoodie here, and use code STUDIES for 10% off at checkout. Thanks so much for all your support. I'm so excited about this! www.coalesceapparel.shop/collections/rhystic-studies

@maiwson 2 жыл бұрын

Nice, will they ship to Europe?

@bringme1kscrubscribers10 2 жыл бұрын

I bet they will go to china

@mrivera6975 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I gotta get some. this video was incredible

@CedricPhillips 2 жыл бұрын

@@maiwson We do ship to Europe

@sams.975 2 жыл бұрын

Digging the new logo!

@searchfire3350 2 жыл бұрын

I love that line so much: "The world is old. It rewards those who take the time to grow." Excellent episode, this one will stick me

@deathpyre42 2 жыл бұрын

like how kamigawa was considered underpowered at first but then ended up fueling all manner of combo madness after?

@CanadianBaconPwnage 2 жыл бұрын

Something I love about this era: no Planewalkers, no multi-Planar threat, just pure, striking story-telling about individual worlds and their denizens. Mirrodin, Kamigawa, Ravnica, and Lorwyn are my favorite blocks/eras of MTG for the Vorthos part of my brain. It's nice to return to Kamigawa and its futuristic evolution. :)

@GodwynDi 2 жыл бұрын

Back when the important planeswalkers were the players, and the worlds were crafted for us to play in.

@trexasaurus5322 2 жыл бұрын

@@GodwynDi I wish it was still like that. I don’t think most people like plane walker cards

@hman6159 2 жыл бұрын

@@trexasaurus5322 my uncle used to play from 1993_2004 and he gave me all his kamigawa and Ravnica cards

@cosmiccultist Жыл бұрын

@@trexasaurus5322 Yeah, I honestly hate planeswalker cards, they’re annoying to deal with

@EddDoubleDD 10 ай бұрын

and the entire story was about planewalkers and a multi-planar threat are you happy?

@colinjones5379 2 жыл бұрын

"She will be wrapped in shiminawa rope and stand towering above a metropolis of glowing lights, defiantly resisting the fallacy of progress, and embodying the passage of time. She looks like her relatives, the great cedar trees of Japan who, like its people, endure." Damn dude, that is some beautiful writing. Just incredible stuff. Every time I watch a Rhystic Studies video I come away inspired. What a genuine gift.

@warp9988 2 ай бұрын

Wow indeed.

@PapaMurkblood 2 жыл бұрын

I wanted you to know that your videos manage to transcend the Magic audience. My mother, who was born in Kyoto, absolutely adored this video and praised the accuracy, and attention to detail. She has never once expressed interest in Magic, but she couldn't help but feel enammered with the art and story behind them. Keep up your incredible work, and congratulations on your degree.

@waxknucklebearingjuice5592 11 ай бұрын

I , like many , sold all my cards at the end of highschool and never got back into playing at all... not even sure how i came across this channel.... but it's damn good story telling and I'm always into a good story well told.

@Ryuseigun687 Жыл бұрын

I’m half Japanese, and have been very close to Japan throughout my whole life. Neon Dynasty was the block that started my very recent magic journey, and I’ve been in love with the world of Magic ever since. Trying to make a 5 colour spirit Edh deck has lead me to look through a lot of blocks, but mainly Saviors of Kamigawa. Journeying through and seeing all these cards, Wizards have done such a good job representing and showcasing Japanese culture, and it has made me feel proud, grateful, and more in love with magic. Thanks for making this video man, appreciate it.

@wrathisme4693 Ай бұрын

Have you ever tried an Iname as One deck? It's my current commander obsession and golgari for spirits feels so appropriate. You end up with a deck that's constantly shifting between life and death, into the graveyard into the battlefield back into the graveyard into your hand and on and on, you get aboard and then in one way or another you keep it as it shifts but the flow of spirits never stops, each with their own little effects and synergies. It's really a lot of fun and actually quite good, just make sure you're very familiar with what all the spirits do because you can end up taking truly annoyingly long turns. Check it out on EDH rec under the 'spirits' sub archetype, and make sure you get every card that puts your commander from the zone into your hand

@marnea1 2 жыл бұрын

*"The world is old. It rewards those who take time to grow."* Damn, dude. That actually made me tear up. I'm am amateur artist, but there's a reason I don't paint professionally, why I feel like I'll always be an amateur. I'm slow, painfully slow. To give you an idea, there's a piece I'm working on for a friend that's taken me over two years already. And he hasn't exactly been patient. I know he's just excited, but it's still frustrating and depressing... Part of it is my obsession with details people will never ever notice, like scratches in metal or scuffs in fabric, reflections in tiles. Frankly, it's kind of exhausting which is why I have to take long breaks between sessions. Not helping matters. Despite how many people tell me how amazing they think my work is, it's always been tainted by the knowledge that it probably took way too long to create. Like, a better artist would do it faster. But that line at the end there. It's the first time I've ever considered that my methodical nature could be an asset. I don't know. That choked me up. I'm probably still too slow, lol. But that was a nice thought. I'll remember that whenever I paint now. Thank you.

@muffZor89 2 жыл бұрын

As a guy that enjoy art but no ability to make pieces of my own, my words of encouragement might be lacking but i hope you stick with it my dude. I can`t speak for others in terms of what they like to see in art pieces but for me, i find greatness in detail. Some artists spend many years on their pieces and that`s totally ok. Perfection does not exist in an art piece and is only complete once the artist is content with it IMO. Haste makes waste, and i would rather wait many years for a piece with a great eye to detail, as well as something the artist is content with rather than something rushed and made for the masses. Keep doing you, and there will always be someone to appreciate your efforts. Also, my english is not my first language so have mercy, haha.

@housemana 2 жыл бұрын

"a lot of the music making process happens outside of the studio". be patient with your craft, your passion. most importantly, simply be.

@Sun-ng7gj 9 ай бұрын

It takes as short or as long as it takes! Don't ever stop expressing your heart!

@marnea1 9 ай бұрын

@@Sun-ng7gj thanks! I actually finished it at the start of this year. I've even tackled a handful of art projects and, finished all of them, since. I've been trying to work on being a little quicker and not going quite so insanely over-the-top detailed with my backgrounds, lol.

@Sun-ng7gj 9 ай бұрын

@@marnea1 congratulations on a finished piece! Sounds like you are being less critical of yourself and trusting the process more which always is a good thing. May you continue to get more comfortable with your style and produce stellar works of art! I don't know you but I hope you know you are wonderful and loved.

@CHEFPKR 2 жыл бұрын

Kamigawa was what really pulled me into Magic. I grew up on DBZ (my first TCG), Anime and all the Japanese culture I could. I'm sad it didn't get the love I thought it deserved at the time, but Neon seems like it will make up for it.

@madscientist2621 2 жыл бұрын

I'm guessing you and I are around the same age since I too played the DBZ TCG. I remember in high school that me and my friends were very excited to get a Japanese themed set.

@furiouschicken1 2 жыл бұрын

CHEF! I saw you at the live stream. I also see you here. 2 for 2 lol

@channeling764 2 жыл бұрын

Kamigawa’s art style was what got me into magic in December 2004. It’s my favorite set flavor wise. So regal, exotic and well crafted.

@mattd3978 2 жыл бұрын

I came into MTG just before Mirrodin so when they announced Kamigawa as a lover of DBZ and many other anime i was stoked. And my playgroup at the time had no hate for it. It wasn't til i can't back to the game in 2018 and then not till even a couple years after that that i started getting that people didn't like it. Still love it

@TraRobins234 2 жыл бұрын

I think now that they understand how to base a world on real life cultures better, as well as Japanese culture being more well known nowadays, it will work out

@ARat-ec4sc 2 жыл бұрын

I love Kamigawa. It was the set my dad had the most of when I was a kid and the art was what brought me in. It's so gorgeous

@soarel325 2 жыл бұрын

Art like that is sadly long gone, replaced by the "play now my lord" shovelware aesthetic

@MatthewCJoy 2 жыл бұрын

I'm sorry for what they did to your beloved plane

@Igor369 2 жыл бұрын

B-but... Now we have cuteness overload puppies kittens and other little creatures! And hatsune miku on mtg catd! ......

@soarel325 2 жыл бұрын

@@Igor369 Lmao yep...lowest common denominator marketing

@Igor369 2 жыл бұрын

@@soarel325 Yeah they will get more money from releasing two sets that each partially cater to two target audiences at once than making one set specifically targetted to one group and one to the other. The more money a corpo has the more they want of it.

@thesuntitan 2 жыл бұрын

Such powerful design and presentation for a simple 1/1 creature with no effect. Back then I was only a child, but I still wondered why there was so much care put into such a weak card. Years later, I watched Mushishi and I finally understood

@orzhov12 2 жыл бұрын

When I first read the flavor text on Guardian of Solitude way back, it really put things in perspective. I was going through a difficult time in my life and reading that flavor text was theraputic in a sense. It has stayed with me to this day and reminds me that things could always be worse despite how hopeless it all seems now. Beautiful video.

@demongustavditters7150 2 жыл бұрын

Glad I saw this. I am going through some dark times my self and this flavor text is beautifully written. Hope things are going well with you!

@monty125874693 2 жыл бұрын

Oh, the same thing happened to me! I still comming back to that flavour text

@wononcyka666 2 жыл бұрын

Hope you are doing better brother, I kinda hot a rock bottom and am slowly coming back from it myself. Good luck to you.

@codyjarvis4557 2 жыл бұрын

Weird how words can effect us similarly. I had a seizure and was dead for 7 minutes years ago. Horrifying experience. Not recommend. Was pretty depressed just sifting through cards to take my mind of shit and I re-read this card. Still helps me to this day. That and Akroma. No rest. No mercy. No matter what.

@reyavispa1472 2 жыл бұрын

the flavor text in question: "It seemed an easy thing, to step into the nothingness, to fall, to die. But then, for an instant, I saw it, eyes filled with endless sorrow, and I turned back to face my pain." -Snow-Fur, kitsune poet

@politikz8128 2 жыл бұрын

Mirrodin, Lorwyn, Shadowmoor, and Kamigawa have this awesome art style. It’s a good mixture of practical and digital art between the old style of the Dominaria and the new styles of Zendikar/Innistrad.

@TreyVaswal Жыл бұрын

Those sets are visually amazing. Even the most mundane cards in them make me stop for moment and take it in when I come across one.

@martinschlemmer9707 2 жыл бұрын

the flavour text of The Wandering Ones is my personal favourite in all of magic

@Svenburchard 2 жыл бұрын

I agree, that was something else

@Bluecho4 2 жыл бұрын

It's an emotional gutpunch.

@jaxwarp8373 2 жыл бұрын

It legit has me tearing up at 2am

@gretchling5012 2 жыл бұрын

i'm glad that you were able to offer criticisms of the plane while also celebrating it. that's no easy feat. thanks for the video, sam

@shushir2672 2 жыл бұрын

I started playing "Legend-Lander" (it would be years before commander would be codified and become part of the Magic community's general consiousness) during the Kamigawa block's tenure in standard. During a game of Extended, I made an opponent's Sword of Light and Shadow fall off of their creature with Eight-and-aHalf-Tails' ability turning the Sword white, then blocked and killed the attacker. I quickly came to love the card, and my friends and I each decided to build a mono-color Highlander deck around a different Legend from the block. While it's gone through steady changes over the last decade and a half, I've never once taken the deck apart. The deck also survived intact when the rest of my collection was destroyed a few years after I created it. If not for it, my relationship with Magic would be very different, if it would even exist at all. So for that, thank you Eight-O, and thank you, Kamigawa for the memories.

@ErrantScholar 2 жыл бұрын

"The world is old. It rewards those who take the time to grow." Is this from something? Or do I need to site Rhystic Studies when I say this for the rest of my life? Like that is one of those things that just instantly resonated.

@brandonbrooks779 2 жыл бұрын

All of the quotes featured were flavor text from actual cards.

@RhysticStudies 2 жыл бұрын

thank you. I wrote that one.

@standinginaweofamonument 2 жыл бұрын

@@brandonbrooks779 ...except for this one

@breeze7464 2 жыл бұрын

@@brandonbrooks779 oof

@KRIMZONMEKANISM 2 жыл бұрын

I'll be honest. It is incredibly hard to do what Kamigawa's artistic and writing direction team did. I see it as a respectable attempt to incorporate real culture into a game, and I see no problems with it. It was not made with disdain or ill-intent, nor was it made to simply sell cards. They portrayed a world, a conflict, different ideologies and characters, and it shows. And even if they failed in representing it truthfully, even if they fail to convey the intricacies of its real life inspiration... they tried to. And in these cases the "intent" is the most important aspect. I can imagine that a lot of kids probably searched or looked-up a lot of these creatures'/objects' inspirations and probably learned something new. At the end of the day, I'll ask this question: "If it had not been made, would we have lost something of good value? Or would we instead recognize that this worthy of making, despite its flaws and misconceptions?" Most of the time the answer is yes. We would have lost something. Because even if we are given a partial or wrong answer about a given topic, if it motivates us to learn more and find out more for ourselves, then it means it sparked something inside of us.

@RhysticStudies 2 жыл бұрын

I appreciate this comment and I agree with you entirely. I hope that came through in my video.

@KRIMZONMEKANISM 2 жыл бұрын

@@RhysticStudies I just thought it worth saying. :) One thing that I feel your video could've benefitted in its "argument" is ending on a slightly more emphatic final note of what I wrote above. Because I truly believe that there is nothing better than imitation with good intentions. Also the Japanese themselves have never shied away from representing other cultures, no matter how incorrect their depiction was. Hell, American and European culture was one of the great fascinations that Japan obsessed, and still obsesses to this day. And they emulated lots of it in media and every day life. Fun fact for you (in case you don't know) Christmas is celebrated in Japan. How do they celebrate Christmas Eve? It's basically a sort of Valentine's day equivalent so they offer presents to their loved one. And their tradition is to also eat KFC. No joke. :P

@sirandrew82 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, I'm not sure I've ever been this early before. Then again the little bell rang and said there's a new Rhystic Studies video and I sure wasn't going to miss it.

@bringme1kscrubscribers10 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah this is the earliest I've been

@skyguytomas9615 2 жыл бұрын

I grew up in a small town far away from big box stores and game shops. My introduction to Magic was building, battling, and breaking down decks from a few boxes of bulk commons my brother brought home from a trip to Alaska. I remember buying my first pre-constructed deck from a shop in Berkeley about a year after I started playing, it was the Ninjas deck from Betrayers. Through the films of Miyazaki I was primed to be enchanted by the lore in the Kamigawa block. One such film was Princess Mononoke, which also featured vengeful spirits with heavy inspiration from Shinto tradition. That film holds a special place for me to this day, as does Kamigawa. Both of these pieces of art take liberties with cultural tradition to tell a story, while maintaining enough integrity to immerse us in their mythos. If artists were never to take liberties with cultural tradition I don't think we would have much diversity of tradition, which live primarily through rich storytelling histories. I never felt like Kamigawa made the promise that it was a strict representation of Shinto, and don't think that the use of Kami as a metaphor for nature striking back at the hubris of humans is an artistic mistake unless the story is interpreted literally. We should indeed be cautious on misrepresenting religious traditions, but shouldn't we also be protective of the artistic liberties that birthed those traditions as well?

@TreyVaswal Жыл бұрын

Of all Magic sets, the Kamigawa block are the most obvious labor of love. The care, detail and respect the set takes just radiates off the table.

@impermanence4300 2 жыл бұрын

"The world is old, it rewards those who take time to grow" is a truly touching and beautiful line. How you can end a video about card game design with such a powerful line is an incredible testament to your skill as a writer.

@Lornext 2 жыл бұрын

If this block had been powerful, everyone would praise how good the themes and the designs were.

@Big_Dai 2 жыл бұрын

It's sad how playability triumphs flavor and lore.

@danacoleman4007 2 жыл бұрын

@@Big_Dai well, it is a game after all.

@iBloodxHunter Жыл бұрын

@@danacoleman4007Yeah but there's a certain point. Like, if the spirits had Persist instead if Soul Shift and if the Arcane splicing or whatever had actually efficiently costed cards it would manage to be mechanically and flavor sufficient.

@jacopoarmini7889 2 жыл бұрын

I believe that the kami turning against humans makes sense, the humans did betray them in a profound and terrible way, so its only natural that they'd try to take back what was stolen from them. Also, as far as I know kami do become vengeful if they are disrespected and mistreated, and sometimes evil spirits become kami themselves after being divinized and purified through worship.

@Big_Dai 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, it's not like Yokai don't exist in Japanese lore..

@rdrouynriv Жыл бұрын

Even the peaceful Kami sometimes play tricks on humans and screw with them for the hell of it.

@NecromancyForKids 2 жыл бұрын

It seems weird to me that people keep implying or outright saying that Kamigawa failed because of the flavor, when it seems a lot more likely based on player testimony that it failed because the mechanics were poorly designed and extremely weak.

@hudson684 2 жыл бұрын

Man the opening of this video was like a mix of nostalgia and mystery, fantastic!

@Nazgul100 2 жыл бұрын

I always loved the feeling kamigawa gave of myself. But I never really knew quite what it was that endeared this set to me in ways none other since could. But now I realise, it is indeed the feeling of a real and ancient world, it does not feel like this world was created for a card game out of nothing, only to last for a year and then move on to the next story. It feels OLD, like it has always been there for ages, like it has been lived in and shapen by people. Like a world you can actually step into unlike most others of the fantastical mtg worlds, it feels like a world you can live a life in, rather than one you visit for a few moments before returning to reality. Thank you for this video.

@IdiotNESS 2 жыл бұрын

It was Rei's short story about Eight and a Half Tails that turned me into a vorthos way back in the late 2000s. It's so beautiful - both heavy with import and captivating in style. I'm sad to see their partnership has ended, but kudos for what he's done and will do with Pokémon!

@S_Tinguely 2 жыл бұрын

"The world is old. It rewards those who take time to grow." I needed to hear that today ; thanks.

@itsdylac 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. I have to disagree about them overstepping. There is a lack of well-defined depictions of what kami look like, and the drawings that exist tend to vary greatly. This lends itself very well to artists' freedom of interpretation. I personally think they did an excellent job overall, having been given a very difficult task. I think the art in this set is some of the most unique in MTG to this day. This is the set that really got me into the game. Kamigawa was the first time I ever bought a booster box. Now I'm much older and don't even play, but I can't wait to naively open my NEO box and enjoy whatever they've created.

@deifiedtitan 2 жыл бұрын

Great vid. I disagree re: unnecessary oversteps with regard to having a different take on Shinto, kami, etc. I think that's what prevents it from simply being use of the existing world and culture and more into development of the fantastical, much the same way that Japanese creatives have developed their own narratives and concepts from European folklore and Abrahamic religions. I would be hard pressed to say something like Evangelion even remotely resembles Judeo-Christian practice, but in using it as a baseline it creates its own thing entirely. I think it's a good thing, overall.

@ArceusShaymin 2 жыл бұрын

I think my disagreement comes from it being regarded as a **worldbuilding** oversight, though I see it as a personal disagreement than an objective one. If the idea of the set, in a vacuum, was "Shinto gone wrong", is it not then sensible for the Kami of this world to act and look different of those in Kamgawa? Sure, on Earth, in our Shinto, the kami are not vengeful - they are those who we should work with to preserve the land itself. But on Kamigawa, they take a much more active role in the preservation of the forces there - so it would make sense that these normally-benevolent and mischievous creatures would become upset when a human (whom they toil to keep the land lush and alive for amongst the other living) would so egregiously betray them. They would take on forms that humanoids would find unconscionable and terrifying, because they were betrayed and now have become enemies. It could almost be seen as an analogue to polluting the land and causing climate change in our current Earth, if one were to stretch. However, I will agree that the rub comes into play when we stop looking at the set in the vacuum and see it in the context that surrounded it; specifically, that the set was out to represent Japanese culture closely and with careful respect *at the same time* that it was attempting to put a spin on it. Evangelion, to take your example, never really sought to *represent* Judeo-Christian religion moreso than harken to it as a baseline. Kamigawa, however, very clearly was also attempting to inure their audience into experiencing an analogue of Japanese culture, which is something that Western peoples had little insight on besides pop culture exports. That subtle difference, I believe, is where the line becomes fuzzy, and it could be considered an overstep by some.

@Big_Dai 2 жыл бұрын

His statement also seems to come out of a place of certain "ignorance".. since That Which was Taken was a part of the veil-Kami, resulting in the Kami that guarded the barrier between both worlds to actively seek it back in order to restore balance. That which we consider "vengeful" might have been simply a more instinctive reaction.

@deathpyre42 2 жыл бұрын

@@Big_Dai Exactly, a bear biting your face off for stealing her cub isn't the bear being vengeful, it's just a natural reaction to your very stupid choice.

@iBloodxHunter Жыл бұрын

@@ArceusShayminThat "some" would be a sad bunch of losers and weebs. The set was popular in Japan and that's all you need to know.

@elogee_yt 2 жыл бұрын

Kamigawa was my first introduction to the game. The artwork on those Forest cards always resonated with me, and to this day I always make sure to include those Forests in my green decks. Most of my appreciation for Old Kamigawa can be attributed to art/flavor/nostalgia. I was hoping I'd feel that way again with the release of the upcoming return to Kamigawa, but unfortunately that isn't the case :[ But thanks for showcasing the spirit of Old Kamigawa the way I remember it :]

@Big_Dai 2 жыл бұрын

You are not alone. The lack of named characters, people forgetting the prevalence of Kami Magic (Arcane), Aspects of Life and Death.. and a lot of design space dedicated to pieces that could be placed in any other Plane.

@MasterofMistakes 2 жыл бұрын

Kamigawa always felt ancient, I loved that feeling and having just gotten into MTG at the tail-end of mirrodin(the first set visit) who's setting felt like Magic Scifi, the calm wise measured steps of the land of spirits felt really grounding to me.

@Kostly 2 жыл бұрын

This set has aged incredibly well. The three blocks of Mirrodin, Kamigawa and Ravnica are arguably the best blocks in Magic history.

@satmat2561 2 жыл бұрын

I don't know how you make these videos so hypnotic but they bring a calm I often struggle to find in my chaotic life.

@calebcrain5086 2 жыл бұрын

"The world is old, and rewards those that take the time to grow."

@gpeixe 2 жыл бұрын

man, that one hit hard

@GoodMorningMagic 2 жыл бұрын

Sam's superpower is getting me to click on a half hour video, having me think "I'll watch just a few minutes then finish it later," then finishing the whole thing in one sitting. Incredible work!

@RhysticStudies 2 жыл бұрын

i appreciate you man. thank you.

@VultureXV 6 ай бұрын

Three things I truly love but we'll never see done properly again. 1) Gory Phyrexian art 2) Oldschool Kamigawa 4) Lorwyn/Shadowmoor

@Teifling 2 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad we finally have a return to one of my favorite planes. Kamigawa's rich and beautiful setting had me hooked and pushed me to learn more about Japanese history, mythology, and practices. I totally get the dissonance of have the Kami attacking mortal reality, but I always chocked it up to Konda's actions. Daimyo Konda stole O-Kagachi's immortality for himself. O-Kagachi, being the spirit of all things is tied to all other Kami, and the world itself in every way. If a being so powerful was wounded and enraged, with ever other spiritual being like cell in a body. It wouldn't matter how benign, peacful, or inactive each other Kami was; if O-Kagachi willed it, they would become violent. That's just the take I understood way back when I first read those detailed Planar Pages for Champions of Kamigawa.

@Big_Dai 2 жыл бұрын

O-Kagachi's immortality? That might be wrong..

@kylegonewild 2 жыл бұрын

That ancient feeling the block managed to capture was what originally enraptured me. To walk among an old growth is a treasure, a portal through time and space that connects us to millennia past. Some of my favorite cards ever printed were in this block. I'll always remember playing Godo, Marrow-Gnawer, Boseiju, Shirei, and many others. Very entertaining video.

@icemancad 2 жыл бұрын

This set is absolutely one of my favorites, and that's in no small part due to the art and the flavortext. This set FELT wartorn and weary, that desperation was intense, more so I feel then any other set before or since

@SimonDouville1 2 жыл бұрын

the Flavor text on Kamigawa was masterful, poignant and beautiful.

@cliffordcalhoun2364 2 жыл бұрын

Never forget the only reason kamigawa was a commercial flop is because it proceeded mirrodon's great exodus from the game. Same is true for mercadian masques and ixalan. WotC will never own up to their own mistakes when it comes to their undertested overpowered sets and will always blame external factors like claiming magic fans are too dumb to understand Japanese culture

@poofypeanut0221 2 жыл бұрын

The justice that was never done for Kamigawa is now shined upon. Thank you 🙏 I’m sure there was much more you couldn’t fit into the video, but I like this dive into these with you narrating. I’m not kidding it feels like everything has slowed down around me, like you explained in the forest, when watching your videos. Being able to slow down and enjoy every detail we overlook on a day to day basis is perfection. Thank you!

@Willow1662 2 жыл бұрын

Fuck man your videos are so beautiful. The calm timbre of your voice over soft subtle music always create this fireside vibe. And the ending of this one gave me chills. “The world is old, it rewards those who take time grow”

@TheKnaeckebrot 2 жыл бұрын

Kamigawa was my first contact with magic, and growing up with many many Manga & Animes, it really laid the foundation for my love & interest in japan & its folklore :) Only later as a more advanced player i'd discovered that - mechanically- kamigawa wasnt well taken ... but that only increased my love for this set!

@ShadamAran 2 жыл бұрын

Honestly the allure of Kamigawa set appealed to me YEARS before I ever started playing myself, for reference my first set was og innistrad. My friends always played and the kamigawa artwork/theme really spoke to me. to this day some of my all time favorite cards were from that set.

@necpmf 2 жыл бұрын

I like the guest flavor text readings. Kibler is so dramatic, lol. Great video. I enjoy these History-Magic crossovers a lot.

@AmewTheFox 2 жыл бұрын

absolutely appreciate people talking about Eight-and-a-Half Tails, my favorite character in Magic.

@trunkulent 2 жыл бұрын

I miss the old Kamigawa, Straight from the soul Kamigawa

@chastermief839 2 жыл бұрын

i'm trying my kamigawa best, but i just can't seem to get kamigawa fresh :(

@Tim1dslayer 2 жыл бұрын

I have a 60 card deck of old Kamigawa cards and my appreciation for them all increased so much after watching this video. Thank you for making this!

@PresentingHilarious 2 жыл бұрын

Rob Scallon / Rhystic Studies is a crossover I never thought I’d see. Literally two of my favorite channels, but never in a million years would I have guessed I’d see Rob’s stuff in one of your videos 😂

@fangedcow12345 2 жыл бұрын

Kamigawa was the first block I really got interested in Magic. It was truly Magical in a sense - different from reality, yet similar enough that it was approachable. Mirridon was cool but it was completely futuristic with few heros and relatable characters. Then in Kamigawa you had people like Takano, Azuela, etc. and it was awesome.

@arenkai 2 жыл бұрын

Even before I got into anime and japanese culture, Kamigawa's art captivated me as a kid. That spirit dog thing made of candles always stuck with me for some reason.

@fieryalbino 2 жыл бұрын

Rei Nakazawa always gives interesting commentary. I'd love to hear him talk more about the original Ravnica block.

@16CharlyV 2 жыл бұрын

I don't have time to watch the whole video right now. I just enter, give it a like, and I'll watch it later. I know this is quality content and deserves it before even seeing it.

@Undrafted_Jkyle Жыл бұрын

Kamigawa is when I started playing competative Magic I think creatively Kamigawa is one of the best sets ever.

@Neicker 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! One thing usually overlooked when people talk about why this set was perceived as a failure; it's the competition when it was released. At that time, one of the other big CCG was Legend of the five rings (L5R), a Feudal Japanese inspired card game. So many people felt it was a New coke move; try to chase the competition when you're number one. I was working at a game store at that time a some people asked what was the diferencie between Kamigawa and L5R. Some of the old L5R sets still in display where published by WotC, and this added a lot of confusion.

@JimFaindel 2 жыл бұрын

Can't wait for the day, many, many years from now, that you upload a video named "The Old New Kamigawa".

@andrewtaylor3167 2 жыл бұрын

It feels weird hearing that criticism that Kamigawa's essentially Japan and thus the warlike take on Shintoism is going too far. Maybe it was growing up reading the picture books my mom had as a child, but the kami being so different from what I grew up with actually helped sell to me that this was a Japanese based world that took its inspiration seriously, but it's not just Japan in Magicland. Saying that it shouldn't have done that actually makes the world feel weaker, since it reads like you'd want it to just be a copy and paste job, albeit a better researched one than normal (especially since I have family members that share given names with some of the cards). What I liked about Kamigawa was that it made a twist that wouldn't make sense in the real world, and it followed through with how the consequences of that twist would drastically change how old familiar things like kodama or baku would completely manifest almost unrecognizably as a consequence of that twist (and the people of Kamigawa also feel it's fundamentally wrong.). As long as a detail can somewhat follow as a consequence of that twist, Kamigawa is better off not being Japan in that case. It's like imagining the US in the 1800's if the Mississippi River didn't exist. It's complete nonsense, but it's more interesting to think about than just what we already know happens because you'd try to figure out what's different and what remains the same.

@WesHartgrove 2 жыл бұрын

Honestly gobsmacked that I could be so emotionally moved by a video about MtG cards. I'm so glad I discovered your channel. This video is a master work

@harmlessoffer 2 жыл бұрын

Your visual storytelling is unmatched in the magic community. Thank you for tirelessly sharing your passion

@olipod5470 Ай бұрын

Kamigawa is my favourite plane, old and new. So in love with the Japanese culture, iconography, the flavor text of the old cards… but also the cyberpunk aspect of the Neon Dynasty.

@Timby_ 2 жыл бұрын

No one does an intro like Rhystic Studies ❤️❤️

@trstmeimadctr 2 жыл бұрын

I have seen a LOT of fantasy worlds using the trappings of traditional Japan- ones created both by the Japanese and by foreigners, and Kamigawa feels the most like someone spent a day with some library books, wrote down some cool-sounding words and what they mean and then used them to paint-by-numbers in a fairly bog-standard fantasy world. I think they did more work than that, but that is still what it feels like. I also find it so strange that they went with these other-worldly and frightening creatures, calling them kami, when, if that is the aesthetic they were going to go with, then Japanese and Shinto myths have the equally, if not more frightening yokai, who already have intense appearances and lore to draw upon.

@lukusridley 2 ай бұрын

The most surprising thing to me in this video - having last played magic around the end of kamigawa block, original - is that it was regarded as a failure. My friends and I *loved* kamigawa; we would just make random decks from huge piles of mirrodin and kamigawa cards and it was huge fun. The arcane synergies and weird creatures were very jolly. Sometimes not being exposed to the outside world is a blessing, I suppose

@coooolibri 2 жыл бұрын

i dont play mtg arena anymore for like 1,5 years now. but my friend, who i played magic with in end of 90s, early 200s, sent me all his magic cards. so i was in love with old land arts for the last few days. this new dynasty set coming out. i mean, i have very similar opinions to many new entries of old franchises. they took the new wave theme, that like everybody uses these days for their youtube intros, release videos, and put it into magic :D this is a behaviour of reoccuring "classic" you can notice in the whole gaming industry as well.

@AlexanderForsman 2 жыл бұрын

One of may all time favorite blocks.

@keylometers6342 2 жыл бұрын

This is the earliest I've ever been to a video. This was fantastic!

@dody0416 2 жыл бұрын

As someone who speaks Japanese fluently, thank you for pronouncing Kamigawa (and the other Japanese/Japanese-inspired words) the way you did. It's not perfect, but the way most people pronounce them is like nails on a chalk board to me. (for anyone curious, in Japanese, a letter is either a vowel sound or a consonant sound followed by a vowel sound. So in "Kamigawa" Ka, mi, ga, and wa are each separate letters (when writing in hiragana, let's ignore kanji because kanji doesn't matter too much when pronouncing words). In Japanese, with one exception, all letters are pronounced the same all the time. In the case of Kamigawa, Ka is like "kah", mi is like "me", ga is like "gah" and wa is like "wah". Mainly what bothers me about how most people who pronounce Kamigawa is how, for some reason, Ka is pronounced like "Kya". Just... no.)

@RhysticStudies 2 жыл бұрын

I know I missed on some of the pronunciations here (Eiganjo, for example, even though I knew better), but I did my best without having studied Japanese.

@dody0416 2 жыл бұрын

@@RhysticStudies I understand it's counterintuitive in a lot of ways, and I don't expect perfection. I learned Japanese the "easy way" but I've tried learning other languages as an adult, and it is not easy. Even though the way most people pronounce Kamigawa does bother me, I don't mean to hate on anyone. I just appreciate the effort!

@GoingMerry 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Sam, as always. I look forward to digging into this video! Your hard work is recognized.

@Coypop 2 жыл бұрын

I don't play anymore, but still have the Kamigawa & Mirrodin block books in a bookshelf back in my hometown. I loved the story of Toshiro, Machiko, the Kami, the Oni, the Kitsune, and Hidetsugu so much that I named my hand-reared bird Toshi, after the black mana hero.

@kristoforuswenas4559 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this. You made my week already!

@iracreasman1442 2 жыл бұрын

Beautifully done. Thank you.

@slime243 2 жыл бұрын

I just realize that graham from friday nights said from innistrad to kamigawa and now were going to innistraad to kamigawa

@suyari3079 2 жыл бұрын

It brings me great joy to see a long Rhystic Studies video on my feed.

@Malicebane 2 жыл бұрын

Kamigawa has always been my favorite plane from a design standpoint. There was always something about the world that stuck with me, and I was always sad that it flopped as hard as it did. This is an excellent video that helps reinforce my appreciation.

@Big_Dai 2 жыл бұрын

What about Neon Dynasty?

@Malicebane 2 жыл бұрын

@@Big_Dai I think it's rad as hell. My favorite plane, with my favorite arc villains, as a cyberpunk land? I'm sad we're only getting one set!

@IzzysIssues 2 жыл бұрын

Perfect timing! Something to listen to while I finish unpacking in my new dorm

@channeling764 2 жыл бұрын

I hope there will be a time travel storyline to get back to this plane’s era. I miss this aesthetic. It’s truly gorgeous.

@channeling764 2 жыл бұрын

Also I wish you had explained the Kirin. Those have one of the most majestic arts ever done on a creature cycle.

@TreeCutterDoug 2 жыл бұрын

I love the unique perspective and windows you open into the game we love so much. Thanks to you, and all that helped with this episode.

@TheyCallHimPogo 2 жыл бұрын

The amount of thought and effort put into your videos is amazing.

@mpetry8470 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful episode!!!!

@Kokolo-ze2cp 6 ай бұрын

An absolute MTG newbie here, I wish I can get my hands on all the old Kamigawa cards, I'm obsessed with the art.

@rashidadams8327 Жыл бұрын

This is beautiful! Thank you!

@Dehalove 2 жыл бұрын

Your videos are so mindful and serene that they always feel like a personalized gift. Thank you

@darth_prentiss 2 жыл бұрын

Magnificent work, as always. Thanks for what you do, Sam.

@StackedEDH 2 жыл бұрын

Lovely, rich, melodious, precise. Great work as always.

@Busker_3000 2 жыл бұрын

Man your videos are just beautiful. I needed that.

@guerrillagorilla6537 2 жыл бұрын

Masterful work, once again, Sam. Thanks for this.

@ashecrimson2812 2 жыл бұрын

This was a great video, my favorite thing is hearing so many familiar voices reading all that flavor text, very nice touch. Hope it becomes a frequent feature of these videos in the future

@briancavanaugh1596 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for another amazing video

@sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149 2 жыл бұрын

Man, I love your videos. They're always inspiring, and also more or less _taught me_ how to analyse art. Or at least got me into the right mindset of learning how to do so. Thank you for that, and thank you for your continued output of top tier content. I'm very grateful for it.

@DanielRiveroPadilla 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing work as usual. I fell in love with Kamigawa thanks to the illustrations, the way the Kami were pictured was how I would imagine monsters and spirits as a kid and it really connected with me.

@TOBIA_ilustra 2 жыл бұрын

Every one of your videos inspires so much in me. The reflections and the images that you show and maybe the way you do it is like a journie to find the emotional truth of every one of the subjects you talk about. I love them. Please, never stop.