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"My ideal magic is to amaze people with its inexplicable nature and to captivate them with its beauty."

Také, 3rd year, School of Creative Science and Engineering

At Building 52, Nishi-Waseda Campus

Také, who won the "Student Magic Contest" held in March 2026, has reached the pinnacle of stage magicians among university and graduate students throughout Japan. While active in the magic club (officially recognized student club), he also performs widely outside of school, such as in competitions and magic shows. We spoke with Také about his encounter with magic, his challenge in competitions,  studies at Waseda University, and his future goals.

—Could you tell us what got you started playing Magic and what you find appealing about it?

When I was two or three years old, my father, who enjoyed magic as a hobby, showed me a coin trick and taught me how to do it. That's when I became captivated by magic.

I believe the appeal of magic lies in its universality compared to all other forms of entertainment. The stage magic I specialize in uses no words at all, so its wonder can be conveyed to speakers of any language. It's also age-friendly, enjoyable for everyone from young children to the elderly, and requires no prior knowledge. The greatest appeal of magic is that it can amaze everyone in the same way.

—Could you tell us about the "Student Magic Contest" that you won this past March? Also, what were some of the things you particularly focused on in preparation for the competition?

A photo from when I won the "Student Magic Contest".

The "Student Magic Contest" is a competition where university and graduate students from all over Japan compete to be the best stage magician in the country. The preliminary rounds are judged by video submissions, and the final round is judged by live performances on stage. I performed an act using a fan, involving appearances, disappearances, movement, and color changes.

When the winner's name was announced, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!" Even more, my seniors from the magic club rushed over and congratulated me as if it were their own victory. That's when I truly realized that this win was thanks to everyone around me, a victory we all achieved together, and I was filled with gratitude. At the time, I was a second-year university student and the youngest contestant, so I was anxious, but I'm proud to have won.

I put particular effort into my body movements and creating the gimmicks (mechanisms). To eliminate unnecessary movements in magic, what I call "noise," I filmed my performances and practiced while having my seniors watch them and give me advice. I also went through many prototypes and adjustments to perfect the gimmicks. I started practicing the performance I presented at the competition around December of my first year, and it took me over a year to perfect it.

—What kind of activities do you do on campus? Also, what was theきっかけ (trigger/reason) for starting off-campus performances, and are there any performances that have left a lasting impression on you?

In the magic club, students from the first to third years each hold a stage magic recital once a year. First and second-year students also perform table magic at WASEDASAI. Upperclassmen act as masters and lowerclassmen as apprentices, and students basically receive one-on-one instruction from their seniors.

A photo from the summer training camp at the magic club. Takae is on the right.

I also performed in "Suguru YUUSI," a recital organized by current and former members of the magic club, and was involved in its operation. I learned a great deal from being able to stand on the same stage as respected seniors who have competed in world championships.

My journey into performing outside of school began when a senior student took me to a magic show at a banquet requested by a hotel or company, which the magic club had been commissioned to do. There, I learned that "there are other ways to perform," and at the same time, I thought, "This is a great opportunity to gain experience and hone my skills." As I started sharing my activities on social media, I began receiving requests for performances on my own.

What I remember most vividly is the Christmas party at Tokyo DisneySea Hotel Miracosta. It was my first performance outside of school, and the venue was a sacred place for entertainment, so I remember being very excited. Not only the children, but also the adults were amazed, and I realized that "my magic works."

Magic show at Hotel Miracosta

—What are some things you value or are particular about when acting?

What I value most is beauty. Mystery is a prerequisite. On top of that, I want people to be captivated by the beauty. That is my ideal magic. I believe that everything involved in the performance—the costumes, makeup, facial expressions, lighting, gimmicks, music, etc.—should be beautiful. The timing of the music and the performance is especially important, and I am very conscious of what is called "synchronization with the music," such as performing the magic at the moment the chorus of the song starts.

What I focus on for beauty is eliminating any noise from my movements. For example, the movement of my feet. The feet are just as important as the hands, and even a momentary unnecessary movement of the toes can unconsciously make the audience feel uncomfortable. I practice by watching videos of my performances frame by frame, so that every moment captured will look beautiful.

A performance using rings (left) and a performance using a fan (right).

—Could you tell us why you chose to attend the School of Creative Science and Engineering at Waseda University, and what you are currently studying?

Takae being interviewed

I was originally interested in robots and wanted to build them, so I decided to enroll in the Faculty of School of Creative Science and Engineering. After enrolling, my interests shifted a bit, and now I'm studying fluid dynamics simulations in Professor Kenji Takizawa 's laboratory. It's fascinating because fluids are involved in so many things around us, like parachutes and trumpets.

The other day, I suddenly thought it would be interesting to create an AI-powered magician robot. But then I realized that if a robot performed magic, it wouldn't be strange at all. It could easily embed magnets all over its body and hide doves. Not being strange is a fatal flaw for magic. I was reminded once again that magic is mysterious precisely because it is performed by imperfect humans.

--What are your plans for the future?

In Magic: The Gathering, my goal is to compete in and win an award at the "MAGINATION Magic Meeting." It's a big challenge as it's a tournament with professional and amateur players from both Japan and abroad. Beyond that, I aim to win world championships such as the "Taiwan Magic Development Association" held in Taiwan and the "FISM World Championship of Magic," which is often called the Olympics of Magic.

Academically, I would like to continue my research on fluid dynamics by going on to graduate school. In the future, I would like to continue playing Magic while working and participate in competitions.

 

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Interview and text by: Waseda Weekly Reporter
Yuki Matsumoto, 3rd year student, School of Commerce

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A photo from when a friend let me play the saxophone.

Born in Tokyo. Graduated from the University of Tokyo's School of Education Affiliated Secondary School. Hobbies include magic and singing. In her first year of university, she was also a member of a light music club and was the vocalist. Her favorite singers are Southern All Stars and Official Hige Dandism. Recently, she has also been attending Mrs. GREEN APPLE concerts. Her favorite Waseda cuisine is from "Waseda no Bento-ya" and "Musashino Abura Gakukai".

Instagram: @take_magic3