#Japan

Tournaments held in Japan are prestigious, drawing players from around the world. But, according to reports, non-Japanese players, even those living in Japan, are now banned from official Yu-Gi-Oh! “Eligibility to participate is limited to those who are Japanese nationals and have an address in Japan at the time of advance reservation for the shop qualifying round and on the day of participation,” reads a line from the updated rules, translated by Google. While this might not impact players outside Japan much, it's a significant obstacle for non-Japanese residents hoping to compete locally. Konami, Yu-Gi-Oh!'s publisher, has tightened rules to limit participation in Japanese tournaments to Japanese nationals with a local address. Previously, non-Japanese winners could compete but had to give up their spot in the world championship. As of now, non-Japanese players are barred even from local qualifiers, altering the landscape of competitive Yu-Gi-Oh! But before you jump in, do note that most of the games listed are Japan exclusive, which means you won't be able to access it directly but don't worry we created a separate guide on how you'll be able to register and even download the games right into your mobile phones and tablets. Read more in our articles including "Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Japan Tournaments Bans Non-Japanese Players, Regardless of Residence" and "30+ Upcoming Android Games you can pre-register now".