Daigo Explains Why So Few Japanese Players Are Traveling For CPT

The Capcom Pro Tour for 2024 has already gone at least a third of its run with some major tournaments already taking place including Evo, CCC, and UFA. However, it has been noticed that there has been a smaller Japanese contingent at these tournaments (excluding Evo) and it has led many to question the reasons. 

Daigo Umehara, one of the most well known names in esports history, spoke on the issue on his YouTube channel where he explained that one of the major reasons was— Street Fighter League Japan. 

The annual team tournament has gotten really big in Japan and Daigo thinks that with its popularity and the fact that players don't have to leave the general area to compete make its a better option, along with streaming, than traveling for CPT events.

Daigo added that from a financial standpoint, it is also counterintuitive to make the trip considering how expensive travel has become to Japanese pepple. 

He believes that if the old format of the CPT which was the global leaderboard standard, makes a return, Japanese players will travel again. He mentioned the Esports World Cup and how the huge prize pool and the greater ease of qualification made it a lot more worth it to travel. 

As for his personal thoughts on the developments, Daigo believes that it is fine as is since Street Fighter 6 isn't supposed to be a Japanese only game and that developing the other scenes around the world is important too.