By John Paolo Gatdula, Ma. Ana Mikaela Calixto, and Julienne Therese Fuentes
Bulakenyo gamer Yuji Aizawa fought for the gold in the finals of MPL-PH Season 1 where his Aether Main team defeated Digital Devils Pro. 📷MPL-PH
With a spectacular skill and advanced game mindset, Bulakenyo gamer Yuji Aizawa clinched the championship in the first-ever season of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) in the country. And since then, a great deal of opportunity has come his way.
Yuji entered Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) professional scene in 2018 under Aether Main – a team managed by streamer Setsuna Ignacio known as “Akosi Dogie.”
Sweep after sweep, Aether Main dominated the earliest season of MPL in which they won $32,084.
Yuji's mage skill became the centerpiece of their winning games, allowing him to close out the tournament with style as he was hailed as the finals mvp.
For him, this achievement held a special place in his heart.
“Pinaka memorable 'yong MPL Season 1 pa rin. 'Yong nasa MOA [SM Mall of Asia] kami kasi una kong [beses na mag-] champion as a pro player. Unang pinaka malaking achievement ko 'yon so iyon 'yong isa sa 'di ko makakalimutan,” Yuji recounted.
[MPL Season 1 is still the most memorable. When we were at MOA [SM Mall of Asia], it was my first time to be a champion as a pro player. That was my first biggest achievement, so that's one of the things I'll never forget.]
After winning in the MPL, a door of opportunity opened instantly.
A huge esports organization Bren Esports was looking for a team that they could sponsor. Him and his fellow members who were recently crowned as champions received the first offer.
“Binigay kami ni Dogie doon sa team [Bren Esports] tapos [masasabi kong] better management din naman talaga. Lumaki 'yong sahod. Mas maganda 'yong naging work environment namin,” he said.
[Dogie transferred us to the team [Bren Esports] and I could say that it really had better management. Increase in salary. Our work environment has become better.]
After a few days of winning a major tournament in the country, Aether Main immediately flew to Jakarta, Indonesia to represent the Philippines in Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup (MSC) 2018 which ran for 3 days.
Aether Main maintained their hot hands during the international tournament as they slain every opponent they faced. Executing their mechanical prowess, they were the first one who secured a spot in the grand finals.
When the news came out that they would also fight with co-Filipino players in the grand finals, Yuji shook off his nervousness and replaced it with confidence.
"Mindset namin no'n [MSC grand finals] ay sure win na kami. Noong alam namin na PH makakalaban namin, 'yong Digital Devils, sabi ko alam na namin hero nito, kabisadong-kabisado na namin [yong laro nila]. Alam na naming panalo na kami,” he told.
[Our mindset for the [MSC grand finals] is that it's a sure win for us. When we knew that PH would be our opponent, the Digital Devils, I said we already knew this hero. We already memorized how they play. We already knew we would win.]
"Kumakanta nalang kami no'n…'Di na kami nagcocommands. Parang instinct na alam na namin na wala na ‘to. Kahit maglaro-laro lang tayo kaya nating durigin to.”
[We were just singing that time...'We didn't do commands anymore. It's like we instinctively knew that it was done. Even if we just play games lightly, we could crush them.]
True enough, their confidence materialized into winning the trophy and cash prize of $34,000. Yuji, being a deadly mid laner and renowned as the Mage God, also bagged the Grand Finals MVP ($1,000) and the King of KDA (Kill-Death-Assist) Award ($1,000).
Here is Yuji Aizawa's list of awards from major MLBB tournaments.
With many tournaments he joined then brought home the trophies, he did not hesitate to answer about the thing that motivated him on joining tournaments.
"Pera." he instantly said, then laughed in an interview with Kalasag.
"Kasi money matters naman din talaga. Nakita ko 'yong prize pool… ‘Yon 'yong nagmomotivate sa'kin para maglaro.”
[Money. Because money matters too. I saw the prize pool... That's what motivates me to play.]
Earning money from his playing career as a pro player does not only benefit him but also his family.
"Salary namin dati noong unang pasok namin is fifty thousand per month. Tapos meron silang streaming na ino-offer noon, around forty to fifty thousand per month din, so parang salary plus streaming, nasa one hundred [thousand] per month."
[Our salary before when we first started was fifty thousand per month. Then they used to offer streaming, around forty to fifty thousand per month as well, so it's like salary plus streaming, around one hundred [thousand] per month.]
As the season 5 of MPL ended, he decided to quit the pro scene and switched to the streaming industry.
From pro player to streamer
Mage God.
Outplays from his Kagura, glorious feathered airstrikes from his Pharsa, instant burst capability from his Gusion, and unli-dashes from his Harith — these are some of his eye-catching mage highlights engraved in people’s minds and by then, he was called the Mage God.
WATCH: Yují Aizawa's Top 5 favorite heroes in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Astounding the crowd in the pro scene, Yuji did not have any difficulty in gaining viewers when he entered the path of streaming. He had established his name well and gathered fans by his outstanding skills in playing.
Switching his sides on to the gaming community from pro player to streaming, ‘bigger profit’ led him to this choice of transition.
"Actually, late ko na ngang nalaman na sobrang laki ng kita ng streamer kumpara sa pro player. Kung nalaman ko lang no'n siguro by Season 3 [ng MPL], nagquit na 'ko ng pro-player tapos nag-stream na 'ko," he stated.
[Actually, I found out too late that a streamer's income is way bigger than a pro player's. If only I had found it out earlier, may be by Season 3 [of MPL], I would have quit my pro-player career and started streaming.]
"Halos times three, times four 'yong kita. 'Yong iba times six pa."
[The income was almost a times three, times four. Others even had a times six.]
In the streaming industry, Yuji has a quota of 120 hours to meet per month. He said that there was no specific time he needed to accomplish per day nor per week for as long as he finished the 120 hours within a month.
WATCH: How Yují Aizawa sets up his stream
When the pandemic came like an unwanted visitor in everybody’s door last 2020, everyone struggled on keeping their jobs in place but as a streamer like Yuji, their income did not much change as he stated as their salary’s mostly based on other countries. At the same time, it is more convenient for streamers like him who stays at home as he gathers numbers of viewers who are mostly also in fact their homes on the days of pandemic.
"Sa mga streamers kasi, during pandemic, dumami kasi 'di ba mga walang trabaho, so dumami 'yong mga viewers namin. 'Yong ibang mga tao talaga, most of the time, kung walang job ay nagsipag-ML or nanonood ng streamers at vloggers. Ang dami talagang kumita no'n. Mas nag-raise 'yong mga salary,” he explained.
[Streamers gained many viewers during the pandemic as a lot of people had lost their job. Other people who lost their job, most of the time, play ML or watch streamers and vloggers. A lot of streamers really raised their salary.]
And just like any other people who encounter bad days, being a streamer does not mean only money and good days. He also received and experienced some bashers or spam comments every time his stream went on.
But, just like a shrug on the shoulder, he chose to ignore and keep on doing what he loves the most as he assured that his fans are always on his side.
Other fans also commented how Yuji influences them on his stream:
“I think ang naging influence niya sa amin is huwag mag-focus sa teammates na toxic, mas mag-focus lang sa laro at enjoy lang,” Armie, a fan for almost 2 years and 3 months.
[I think his influence on us is don't focus on toxic teammates, just focus on the game and enjoy it.]
“Maging magaling na mage user [ako]. Maging disiplinado as a player,” Kavin, a fan for more than a year.
[Be a good mage user. Be disciplined as a player.]
“Marami pong lumalakas at gumagaling pati natututo dahil sa panonood sa kaniya,” Rolito, a fan also for more than a year.
[Many people are getting stronger and better as they are learning through watching him.]
With all the love he received, Yuji expressed his gratitude to his fans and followers for supporting him.
"Maraming-maraming salamat sa mga followers ko, sa mga sumusuporta sa akin hanggang ngayon. Sana 'wag kayo magsawa and sobra ko kayong naa-appreciate all throughout these years. Maraming salamat."
[Thank you so much to my followers, and to those who have supported me until now. I hope you don't get bored and I appreciate you throughout these years. Thanks a lot.]
More time with family
Yuji Aizawa with his family. 📷MageDad.Yuji Facebook Page
Compared to his tight schedule as a pro player who goes from different countries and isolates himself from his family to stay in the boot camp, being a streamer gives Yuji more convenient in terms of handling his time.
“...Halimbawa magstream ako ng four hours ngayon, the rest of the day, ano na, kasama ko na pamilya ko. P'wede na kami lumabas, maglaro kami ng mga laruan ng baby ko, or p'wede kami mag-Netflix sa tv. Ayon, mas balance naman. Mas marami oras mo [sa pamilya] kapag streamer ka," he said.
[For instance, I will stream for four hours now, then rest of the day, i'll spend my time with my family. We can go out, we can play with my baby's toys, or we can watch Netflix on tv. It is more balanced. You have more time [with family] when you are a streamer.]
When asked about his plans on going back as a pro player, he refused as of now he enjoyed and found the streaming side more comfortable for him.
In the present, Yuji streams in his MageDad.Yuji Facebook Page and creates content in his MAGE YUJI YouTube Channel.
'Katas ng ML'
His job does not only require him to battle his ground from the arena and his device, Yuji also needs to battle the reality when it comes to financial needs. However, the Mobile Legends community gave him a lot to gain.
After his hard-earned win and receiving his pay, the first thing that he spent his money on is to his family. A father ready to provide needs for his family as he paid the hospital bills after his wife gave birth.
"Una ko pa lang ginastos ay hospital bills. Kasi sakto no'n nanganak 'yong asawa ko [sa baby namin]. Tapos second, ito 'yong binili ko, laptop."
[The first thing I spent was hospital bills. Because that's when my wife gave birth [to our baby]. Then second, I bought a laptop.]
With his head held up high, he also proudly told what other things being an ML streamer gave to his life. It started from setting up a gaming room, television, other investment, insurance and a car.
But wait, there’s more!
Yuji also started his own laundry shop ‘Mage Dad Laundry Hub’ located in Bunlo, Bocaue Bulacan.
Yuji Aizawa does laundry services in his laundry shop. 📷Magedad Laundry Hub Facebook Page
In 2020, it was his idea to start his own laundry business after seeing how much customers grew interested in their place. However, he did not have enough money to start so he spent his two years learning and mastering it.
The shop opened last August 23 this year, nearing four months this December.
Luck is definitely on his side as opportunities started pouring in because of ML. He became a brand endorser of ROG, Asus, Vivo, and Oppo.
After asking him, “Ano masasabi mo sa mga sabi-sabi na ‘ML lang ‘yan, hindi ka mapapakain niyan,” he refuted with, “Hanapin niyo ‘yong mga katas ng ML. Napakaraming katas ng ML.”
Playing ML does not only bring him joy to himself as someone who loves gaming for so long, but it also gives him and the people around him benefits. People thought it is something not worthy as a job to earn something but with those things, he managed to only give them the wrong idea of what his job is as a ML streamer.
A price to pay
Nothing ventured nothing gained as they say. Before he got all this success, Yuji went through holes of needles and faced struggles in his gaming career.
The first challenge that Yuji faced after deciding on entering the gaming community is his family. Doubts and hindrance are what he received for taking the path he has now chosen.
"Noong una pa lang, parang ayaw na ng mga kakilala ko lalo na 'yong mama ko na pasukin ko 'yong gaming," he said.
[At first, it seemed that people who were close to me, especially my mom, didn't want me to get into gaming.]
His parents are not aware of how the tournament works and how much a single player can earn while playing.
Aside from playing in the name of the country and aiming for the trophy, he also has other roles to play in his own family. Yuji also expressed his disappointments and struggles from the times he missed as a father to his newborn baby when he was still in a boot camp preparing for the tournament.
"Mainly, oras sa family ['yong kailangan i-sacrifice]. Kasi that time, sakto na after namin mag-champion sa ibang bansa, lumabas na 'yong baby ko no'n e. Pero kailangan ko pa rin mag-stay sa boot camp so 'di ko masyadong nakita 'yong pag-grow niya no'ng baby siya."
[Mainly, family time [that needs to be sacrificed]. Because at that time, right after we won a championship in another country, my baby came out. But I still had to stay at the boot camp so I didn't see much of her growth when she was a baby.]
Playing for 18 hours a day, leaving only 6 hours of sleep, and moving away from his family are the other prices he needs to pay in order to gain another.
"To be honest, s'yempre 'yong memories sana na magagawa mo that time with your baby 'di mo na mababawi kasi lumipas na 'yong time na 'yon e. At the same, kaya ko rin naman ginawa 'yon kasi nga para ma-secure ko rin 'yong future ng family ko through incomes [sa paglalaro] Iniipon ko," he said.
[To be honest, of course, the memories that you wish you could have made that time with your baby. You cannot get it back because that time has already passed. At the same, I was only able to do that to secure the future of my family through my income [in gaming]. I saved it.]
Tough decision making has to be done on his part as he needs to continue on playing that time to secure his baby's future. Another battle is whether to choose to be with them and spend time together or to carry on playing in order to let his career rise up and save a better future for their family.
Having the time to adjust and adapt to the environment around him inside the boot camp gave him a hard time. For Yuji, it feels like the first time taking your step outside of your comfort zone and meeting a whole new world around you.
Then, his battle continues even outside the arena.
Going into the world of gaming can be a lot more difficult than everyone can imagine. There might be someone to drag you down, ignore you while starting from the bottom and at some point, people will start to doubt you.
However, Yuji proved them wrong.
He started winning tournaments owning cash prizes that can not only be used as life expenses but as a proof of how much you can do and earn while doing everything that is within your passion.
TAGS: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Yuji Aizawa, MPL-PH, MSC, Aether Main, Bren Esports
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