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Clan Umezawa
Tetsuo, Imperial Champion
History
Founded on Kamigawa and Dominaria
Active From before the Kami War, still active
Status Active on both planes
Membership
Notable members Chanto Umezawa, Haki Umezawa, Satoru Umezawa, Tetsuko Umezawa, Tetsuo Umezawa, Toshiro Umezawa
Races Humans
Associated Colors
{U}{B}

The Clan Umezawa (oo-meh-ZAH-wah)[1] is a family from the Empire of Madara on Dominaria. Their origin lay on another plane: Kamigawa. The symbol of the clan is the Phoenix crest.

History[ | ]

Before Toshiro[ | ]

The Umezawa family once had good standing on their home plane of Kamigawa. Toshiro's grandfather was a respected bushi, one of 891 samurai dishonorably killed at Shizo, disgracing the family name.[2] His bones still lay forgotten in the cursed swamp.

Toshiro[ | ]

The first known named member of the Clan was Toshiro Umezawa, Toshi for short. Toshi became an accomplished rogue, but after disobeying a direct order of the Myojin of Night’s Reach, he was blinded and exiled to Dominaria as punishment.[3] But Toshi was a crafty man, and apparently thrived in his new environment despite his handicap. He founded the Clan’s ancestral home, Umezawa Manor.

There is little known about the family for the following 300 years, but they must have lost their fortune, because the next Umezawa to appear in the stories was a lowly peasant farmer.

Chanto[ | ]

Chanto Umezawa had to bid his farm farewell when he was drafted into the Kentsu. Coming back from the war, he became a successful sword maker. Presumably he bought Umezawa Manor back after he gained his fortune. He was the first of three generations of Umezawas to be trained in the Tsunami-nito school.

Haki[ | ]

We know next to nothing about his son, Haki Umezawa, only that he lost an eye in a formal duel.

Tetsuo[ | ]

Haki’s son would play a role of vital importance in the history of Madara, however. Tetsuo Umezawa became the imperial champion so he could defend the people of Madara from outside forces like the vicious god-emperor Nicol Bolas. But when Bolas began a brutal invasion of the Edemi Islands by the Kentsu and made Tetsuo’s nemesis, the vile Ramses Overdark, the imperial regent, Tetsuo renounced his claim on the title of imperial champion. He swore vengeance and destroyed both Overdark and Bolas. After that, he set out to restore peace to the empire which had plunged into chaos in the last few months. Tetsuo might even have become the new emperor. The family may have ended, due to the vengeance of a revived Nicol Bolas.

Tetsuko[ | ]

A modern day descendant is Tetsuko Umezawa. She practices a form of magic that connects her to a series of magical doorways. She can step freely from any of these doorways to another, evading Bolas's notice while she plots against him.[4]

Satoru[ | ]

The current leader of the Hyozan Reckoners on Kamigawa. Satoru claims to be a direct descendant of Toshiro Umezawa.[5][6]

In-game references[ | ]

Represented in:
Associated cards:
Quoted or referred to:

References[ | ]

  1. Magic Arcana (January 24, 2005). "A Kamigawa Glossary, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. (2005). Betrayers of Kamigawa Player's Guide. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Daniel Holt (January 11, 2022). "Life of Toshiro Umezawa". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. Wizards of the Coast (April 22, 2018). "Tricksters, rogues, and forbidden magic!". The Official Magic: The Gathering Tumblr. Tumblr.
  5. Akemi Dawn Bowman (December 16, 2021). "Kaito Origin Stories: A test of Loyalty & The Path Forward". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Ari Zirulnik, Grace Fong, Emily Teng, and Gerritt Turner (February 11, 2022). "The Legends of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

External links[ | ]

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