The BEST episodes directed by Tomomasa Yamazaki
#1 - Beginning of the Storm! National Convention!!
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 1 - Episode 26
Team Q4 arrives at the site of the national tournament grounds and meets Team Caesar, composed of Kenji "Koutei" Matsusada and the siblings Gai and Yuri Usui, who were the last national tournament's finalists and previous winners. Everything seems to be going well, but due to Kai's increasingly arrogant and insulting attitude, Kamui decides he can no longer work with him and abandons the team. Aichi attempts to go after him, but is reminded that if he also leaves, Team Q4 will be unable to participate in the tournament and will therefore be disqualified. With some advice from Kenji, Aichi decides to win the preliminary rounds and earn Q4 a spot in the finals, so Kamui can return.
#2 - Unexpected Visitor
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 1 - Episode 44
After losing to Aichi, Kourin goes to Card Capital, asking for Kai. Since Miwa is the only person who knows where Kai is, he rides with Kourin to the Underground cardfight area. They find Kai, who is beating all the underground fighters to relieve his frustrations. Kourin soon challenges him to a fight, where Miwa and Jun get to sit in the middle of the action. While Kourin uses her Royal Paladin deck, Kai reveals his newly modified Kagero deck, which focuses on Amber Dragons. As each of them are dealing damage to each other, Kourin confronts Kai about how it's his fault that Aichi has fallen into the power of Psy Qualia, saying that Aichi only sought the power because he wanted to become stronger for Kai's approval. Kai agrees, and also claims that he had seen the corrupted effects of Psy Qualia before, not knowing how to prevent it from happening. He then tells Kourin that it may have been one simple thing: to exceed that power. Kourin then asks Kai if he can stop Aichi before he falls completely under the influence of Psy Qualia, to which Kai says that he can. After losing to Kai, Kourin gives him Aichi's Royal Paladin deck, and hopes that he can succeed where she had failed. Meanwhile, Aichi spends the entire night in his room, mentally preparing himself for the National Tournament. When arriving at the tournament, Aichi tells Kamui to relax as he is sure that they will win, revealing his newly acquired Shadow Paladin deck, much to the shock of his teammates.
#3 - Golden Glow
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 1 - Episode 51
Card Capital is holding a casual shop tournament, and Aichi, Kamui, and Morikawa enter in the senior division, while Emi competes in the junior division. Unfortunately, Morikawa has left his super-strong deck at home. Shin lends Morikawa an unmodified trial deck to use, but to his dismay it contains only one Grade 3. Can Golden Rutile go the distance?
#4 - The Truth of Psyqualia
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 1 - Episode 64
Ren taunts Aichi throughout their battle, trying to get him to use his PSY Qualia. Feeling angry, Aichi does and summons Blaster Dark to the surprise of everyone. However, this causes him to change his personality back into what he was before when he first uses PSY Qualia. Meanwhile, a mysterious entity possesses Rekka temporarily, informing Kourin and Suiko of an impending doom about to happen on the planet Cray and a war between the many clans which will be decided based on the outcome of Aichi and Ren's battle. The mysterious being also explains the truth of PSY Qualia. Back to the match, Kai reminds Aichi that this was not his true self which causes Aichi to overcome his dark self. As he is confused over his two selves, Ren declares 'Final Turn' and crossride Phantom Blaster Overlord and utilizing its Persona Blast.
#5 - Appearance! Team Shinobi
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 2 - Episode 6
The Vanguard Fight Circuit begins with Aichi, Kamui, and Misaki playing their matches simultaneously! Their first opponents: the world-traveling ninjas, Team Shinobi!
#6 - Tetsu Appears
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 2 - Episode 13
While Team Q4 trains at Card Shop Handsome to get ready for the next round of the VF Circuit, the group is informed that Tetsu has arrived to Card Capital, assuming that he is causing trouble. However, their assumptions are disproven when they return and see Tetsu helping out Emi and the other kids at the shop. Kamui asks Tetsu what his real intention for coming is, to which Tetsu answers by telling Q4 how weak the team is due to losing at the VF Circuit's Singapore Stage. Enraged, Kamui challenges Tetsu to prove him wrong. Tetsu accepts the challenge, and the two start their cardfight. With support from the latest expansion set, Tetsu uses new Dark Irregulars to soulcharge, and then he utilizes the Limit Break of Dark Lord of Abyss to overwhelm and defeat Kamui once again. Tetsu leaves, warning Q4 of stronger teams awaiting them in the VF Circuit. Although Kamui thinks that Tetsu was being mean, Emi and the others believe that Tetsu was really trying to tell Q4 something underneath his harsh words...
#7 - Handsome Fight! Mitsusada vs. Gouki
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 2 - Episode 21
Q4 returns to Japan with new strategies for winning being devised. Aichi and Kamui test them in the final round of a tournament held at Card Shop Handsome. Unbeknownst to them, Kenji Mitsusada arrives, looking for Aichi. Gouki tells him that Aichi is currently in a cardfight with Kamui. Feeling anxious and being short on time, Kenji decides to leave until Gouki challenges him. It's the first-ever match between the two. Although Gouki gets a bad starting hand with no grade 2 or 3 units, he manages to smoothly superior ride with cards he sent to the drop zone, including his new ace card, Ice Prison Necromancer, Cocytus. Kenji is impressed by Gouki's determination to overcome the odds stacked against him, to which Gouki expresses his disappointment in Kenji the "Emperor" for saying such a thing to begin with. Remembering the feeling of never giving up, Kenji continues to play at his best, crossriding Ultimate Dimensional Robo, Great Daiyusha and winning the match. After the battle, Kenji reveals his reason for coming: to tell Aichi that he is leaving to attend the SIT university and won't have the chance to participate in tournaments again until he graduates. Kenji was at first wavering on whether he could survive on his own and wanted Aichi to give him words of encouragement. But he regained his confidence after fighting Gouki, who gives Kenji his bandana as a farewell gift. Then, all of his friends go with Kenji, wearing Gouki's bandana, to the airport and wish him well in his upcoming journeys.
#8 - Gathering of Winners
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 2 - Episode 29
The Japan Stage of the VF Circuit is drawing near, and many teams, including the victors of the previous stages, will appear there. As Team Dreadnought's plane lands in Japan, it is directed to and locked in a hangar with a jungle environment inside. It is really a trap set by Kyou Yahagi and his Team Avengers (all dressed as bugs), who plan to take Dreadnought's spot in the VF Circuit. Although Jillian and Sharlene handily take care of Kyou's teammates, he nonetheless challenges Leon to a cardfight. Now using a Megacolony deck after witnessing the strength of insects from his experience in the jungle, Kyou prevents some of Leon's units from standing and retires others. Thus, he seals the Aqua Force strategy of launching multiple attacks and Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom's Limit Break. In spite of Kyou's own Limit Break from his new ace card, Martial Arts Mutant, Master Beetle, Leon overcomes the obstacles against him when he calls more units to replace his rested ones and utilizes the max potential of his Aqua Force clan. Kyou's overconfidence gets the better of him when he leaves himself with little cards to guard against all of Leon's attacks, ultimately leading to his downfall and Leon's victory. After Kyou vows to get revenge on Leon, he and the rest of Team Avengers escape. The scene ends with Kyou and his team aiming to get stronger in outer space (in reality, they are in a public planetarium).
#9 - Judgment of the Wind
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 2 - Episode 37
Kai and Leon continue their cardfight with each side using their respective vanguards' Limit Break abilities. After he insults Leon by calling him a pawn to Void, Kai crossrides his new trump card: Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion "THE BLOOD". He activates its Ultimate Break to give it extra critical value and power, forcing Leon to use his few remaining cards to defend. Kai manages to deal 2 more points of damage, presumably ensuring his victory, but Leon gets a heal trigger to stay in the game. On the following turn, Leon also crossrides his new ace card: Blue Storm Supreme Dragon, Glory Maelstrom. Its Ultimate Break also makes Kai use the last of his cards to hopefully block its attack. However, Leon drive checks a critical trigger, thus plowing through Kai's guardians and winning the match. After Glory Maelstrom's attack, the dust settles and reveals Leon standing over the fallen Kai. Just arriving to the scene, Aichi runs towards Kai and picks him up. Weakened, Kai apologizes to Aichi for not being there with him throughout the entire journey and then tells him to continue down his path for both of their sakes. Team New AL4 is transported back to Earth due to Kai's loss, so now it's up to Aichi to defeat Leon.
#10 - Reunion with the Wind
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 3 - Episode 12
The Cardfight Club receives an invitation to and then registers for the upcoming Vanguard Fight High School Championship, a tournament that will feature high school Vanguard teams from all over Japan. Naoki suggests to check out some of the competition, which leads to the club visiting Fukuhara High, an elite private high school that is associated with Team Asteroid. The club is greeted by Tetsu Shinjou, who leads everyone into the school where they watch a cardfight between Asaka Narumi and Leon Soryu, much to Aichi's surprise. Asaka tries to end the game by using Starlight Melody Tamer, Farah's Personablast and the Pale Moon strategy of superior calling units from the soul during the battle phase for additional attacks. Despite the multi-pronged assault, Leon defends himself and then rides Last Card, Revonn on top of Blue Flight Dragon, Trans-core Dragon. This activates the latter's Break Ride effect, forcing Asaka to discard a card from her hand. He then utilizes the Limit Break of Revonn to gain more power and critical value. Also getting a heal trigger, Leon plows through Asaka's defenses for a comeback victory. Afterwards, Leon gets reacquainted with Aichi, telling him that he and Team Dreadnought are now enrolled in a high school at Hong Kong; they have also been invited to participate in Japan's VF High School Championship. Then, Tetsu offers someone from the Miyaji Cardfight Club for a match. Ever eager to play, Naoki accepts, and Tetsu arranges for his opponent to be Ultra Rare's Suiko Tatsunagi, who is revealed to be a student of Fukuhara High. But when Naoki comments that Suiko's sailor uniform does not suit her, she gets peeved as the two begin their battle.
#11 - Hidden Messages
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 1 - Episode 20
In spite of Nagisa winning and her getting to marry Kamui as a result, Kamui weasels out by saying that Team Q4 as a whole hasn't lost yet, so their agreement is still pending. With one loss in their record, Team Q4 has to win both the next matches in order to advance through the regional tournament. Though everyone is certain that Kai will win, Aichi becomes increasingly desperate, as his match will be the one to decide the fate of the team, going as far as to thinking of running away to have Misaki participate instead. As Kai walks up to play, he indirectly tells Aichi that people who run away are not worthy of fighting him. His opponent, Kaoru "Ka-boom!" Komatsubara, seems to be a formidable opponent who gloats how he's a national-tournament-level player, but Kai gains an early lead, pushing his enemy into a bad situation. Throughout the battle, Kai chooses to not defend against all except one of Kaoru's attacks, puzzling everyone about his decisions. Aichi believes that Kai is trying to tell him something through these actions; he deduces that Kai knows that he does not need to defend and will still be able to win. When both players are at five damage, Kaoru confidently declares that he will survive and claim victory, but Kai refutes that claim, loudly announcing Final Turn! He rides a new card, Blazing Flare Dragon, and uses a card skill to retire one opposing unit and increase its attack power. Kai relentlessly adds to the power by drawing two Critical Triggers in a row, thoroughly annihilating Kaoru. Seeing Kai's power, and remembering his own aspirations to reach his level, Aichi becomes motivated to win his fight!
#12 - The King of Knights Enters the Fray!
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 1 - Episode 8
The Card Capital Shop Tournament begins soon, but Aichi is hesitant to play in it, even after making a new deck. However, when he learns that Kai will be in the tournament, Aichi decides to enter as well. But when he submits his entry application form, another Vanguard player, Osamu Kishida, places his application at nearly the same time as Aichi. Both of them want to enter, but there is only one open spot left in the tournament. To resolve this issue, Shin recommends to have Aichi and Osamu play against each other to see who gets the last entry spot. Using his Megacolony units' effects, Osamu restricts Aichi's units from standing while scoffing at him for calling so many weak units. However, Aichi uses his new card The King of Knights, Alfred, whose power is increased by the number of other Royal Paladins in play. With Alfred, Aichi defeats Osamu and is therefore officially in the tournament.
#13 - Fear of Immortality! Grand Blue Deck
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 1 - Episode 14
Kamui takes Aichi to Card Shop Handsome, a pirate-themed store that Kamui used to visit. They meet the national-tournament-level and previous regional champions Team Handsome, which is led by Gouki Daimonji. Soon after, they also meet Gouki's little sister Nagisa. She has a huge crush on Kamui to the point that she wants to marry him despite their young age, but he does not feel the same way about her. When Kamui tries to explain that he's in love with Aichi's sister Emi, the situation is misinterpreted as Aichi trying to take away Kamui and hurting Nagisa's feelings. Wanting to make her little sister happy, Gouki challenges Aichi to a Cardfight with the winner getting Kamui. As the fight goes on, Aichi learns the horror of Gouki's Granblue deck as he constantly resurrects his undead pirates from the Drop Zone. The level of a Cardfighter who has played in a national tournament proves to be too much for Aichi; Gouki beats Aichi, learning the level of competition that he will face in the future. After the game, the misunderstanding is cleared, and Nagisa goes back to chasing after Kamui, much to his dismay.
#14 - Clash! Overlord
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 1 - Episode 58
Determined to turn Ren back to his former self, Kai crossrides Dragonic Overlord The End and performed Persona Blast to get Ren out of his PSY Qualia self. It didn't get Ren out of the box but got him to also crossride his own trump card (which is given by Suiko)Phantom Blaster Overlord. The period was to prepare for the worse as Phantom Blaster Overlord had the same ability as The End and could also do Persona Blast which destroyed The End. Because of this failed battle, it left Kai devastated with no hope.
#15 - First Match! Miyaji Academy vs. Hitsue High School
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 3 - Episode 6
Miyaji Academy's unofficial Cardfight Club is set up to have an intramural match against Hitsue High School's Vanguard Club, in which Kai, Miwa, Morikawa, and Izaki are members. The two teams play in a best-of-5 match, and opponents are randomly selected. Under the conditions that the Miyaji Academy student council president created, if the Cardfight Club loses this match, then it will be dissolved. In the first game, Naoki fights Kai, with both using Eradicator-themed Narukami decks. Naoki combines both the Break Ride of Eradicator, Vowing Sword Dragon and the Limit Break of Eradicator, Gauntlet Buster Dragon to retire Kai's units and gain more critical value and power, but Kai manages to survive the assault. Then, Kai uses a similar devastating combo with Vowing Sword and Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant. Although Naoki blocks his first attempt, Kai activates Descendant's Limit Break to have it stand up, gain another critical, and attack again. Unable to defend this attack, Naoki loses, thus putting Hitsue High up 1-0. For the next fight, Kourin is chosen to battle Izaki (which leaves Morikawa extremely envious).
#16 - Ride to Victory
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 1 - Episode 2
After Aichi plays Blaster Blade, he and Kai recall their first meeting. Back then, after seeing a young Aichi beaten up, the young Kai cheered him up by giving him Blaster Blade, and he told Aichi to imagine himself as a strong warrior like the card. With that in mind, Aichi got absorbed into Vanguard, creating his own deck in the hopes of playing against Kai, who had already moved away by then. Back to the game, Aichi deals a bit of damage to Kai, who retaliates with his ace card, Dragonic Overlord. It wipes out Aichi's units and greatly damages him. All seems lost until Aichi draws a "Heal Trigger", which allows Aichi to stay in the game for one last turn. Aichi launches a final attack with Blaster Blade, which breaks through Kai's defenses and deals one more point of damage to Kai, thus giving Aichi the win. A day later, Aichi revisits the card shop. Despite thinking that Kai would not show up after being defeated, Aichi is glad to see that Kai returns.
#17 - Miwa's Ability
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 1 - Episode 38
The fight between Miwa and Aichi begins. Miwa, who surprisingly uses a Kagero deck like Kai, forces Aichi into a corner by using powerful retiring strategies, and even though Aichi manages a powerful attack using two Pongal and Young Pegasus Knight, and then Solitary Knight, Gancelot as well as Soul Saver Dragon, Miwa blocks his efforts, and calls Dragonic Overlord, activating its Eternal Flame. Though Miwa gloats with 'Final Turn', Aichi blocks his attack, and then places down Flash Shield, Iseult to neutralize Overlord's hit. He proceeds to win the game using Soul Saver Dragon - however, Kai is informed by Miwa that Aichi hears the call of card spirits, which greatly worries him.
#18 - Makai no Shōgun
Cardfight!! Vanguard - Season 1 - Episode 32
The match between Aichi and Tetsu continues while an anxious Kamui watches. Confronted by Nagisa, Gouki and Emi, who learned of the situation via Team Caesar, Kamui is motivated to support Aichi. Aichi begins to make a comeback by shutting down his opponent's offense and evening out the damage with a heal trigger, but Tetsu rides Demon World Marquis Amon, and with a Critical Trigger, pushes Aichi down to five damage. Aichi gains a vision of the Royal Paladin knights joined together, and draws and rides Soul Saver Dragon, whose effect is used to power up all his units. Regardless, Tetsu manages to block, and during his next turn rides Still Vampyr. That card has a deadly effect that replaces the opponent's Vanguard with another Rear-Guard, thus Aichi is forced to ride the Grade 0 Future Knight, Llew. In this weakened form, he is unable to withstand Tetsu's attack and suffers a terrible defeat. It seems as if all hope is not lost, as Jurassic Army loses to Muscle Brain and a 3-way tie is formed. Through a final judges' call based on overall performance, Ultra Rare announces that Jurassic Army is the team that progress. Ren meets up with Q4 and tries to get Kai to rejoin his team, but Kai refuses him, and Ren blames Aichi for Q4's failure.