The Card Collab – Issue #19
On August 25th, The Card Collab partnered with Taiyo Matcha Cafe for our first Matcha & Mana night, bringing Magic: The Gathering players together for an evening of casual games, matcha, and good company.
What made the night especially meaningful was how unexpectedly it all came together.
I’ve only been playing Magic for about a year, and when we started The Card Collab, I never imagined we’d eventually be helping put together a Magic night at a local café. The Card Collab was created to highlight the people, businesses, and events that make the TCG community what it is. This time, we had the opportunity to help bring that community together in a different way.
And it all started with Tyson Pham, the owner of Taiyo Matcha Cafe.
It Started With a DM
Tyson reached out to The Card Collab through Instagram after replying to a story we had posted. He asked if we would be interested in collaborating on a Magic night at Taiyo.
Taiyo had already been making an effort to connect with the trading card community. The café has hosted numerous pop-up trading card shows, along with a Pokémon tournament, giving collectors, vendors, and players different opportunities to come together.
But Tyson wanted to take that a step further.
He wanted to get more players involved.
Instead of focusing solely on buying, selling, and trading, the idea was to create more opportunities for people to actually sit down and play. That immediately caught my attention, and from there, we started planning what would eventually become Matcha & Mana.
We decided to aim for the end of August, giving us some time to put everything together and create a night centered around casual Magic and player interaction.
A Night at Taiyo
When August 25th finally arrived, it was exciting to see the idea come to life.
The turnout was great, with players coming out to spend the evening playing Magic, talking cards, and enjoying some of the café’s matcha.
And I couldn't be at a matcha café without trying a few things myself.
I started with a Brown Sugar Matcha, and it was phenomenal. Later in the evening, I also ordered a Green Thai Tea, which was just as impressive. Having great drinks alongside the games made the whole experience feel less like a traditional card event and more like a night out with the community.
The atmosphere was exactly what we hoped for. There was no tournament pressure and no expectation that everyone had to be a highly experienced player. It was simply an opportunity to come out, shuffle up, play some games, and enjoy the hobby.
Tyson also went above and beyond to make the night special.
Every participant received a free The Hobbit Play Booster, courtesy of Taiyo Matcha Cafe. It was an incredibly generous gesture and a fun surprise for everyone who came out.
The Card Collab also gave away a Nerd Gear game deck box, giving players another little surprise during the evening.
But while the giveaways were a great addition, the best part of the night was seeing the tables filled with players.
More Than Just Matcha & Mana
Matcha & Mana wasn't Taiyo's first attempt at creating a space for players.
From hosting pop-up trading card shows to putting together a Pokémon tournament, Taiyo has continued finding different ways to bring the hobby into the café.
And the momentum didn't stop with Magic.
After Matcha & Mana, the café hosted a Riftbound night, giving players from another growing card game an opportunity to come together and play.
That progression says a lot about what Taiyo is trying to build.
The café isn't simply providing a place where people can grab a matcha while looking through cards. They're actively creating opportunities for players to interact, play games, and spend time together.
For a hobby that can sometimes revolve heavily around collecting, buying, and selling, having businesses willing to create spaces specifically for playing is important.
That's what made Matcha & Mana so enjoyable.
Players could bring their decks, grab a drink, sit down for a few games, and spend the evening enjoying Magic in a welcoming environment.
An Unexpected Opportunity
For The Card Collab, being part of that was an experience I didn't expect when I first started playing Magic.
I've only been playing for a year. I'm still learning, still building decks, and still figuring out where Magic fits into my own TCG journey.
So, the fact that a local business owner like Tyson would reach out and ask The Card Collab to help create a Magic event was honestly pretty unexpected.
It also felt like a full-circle moment for what The Card Collab is trying to do.
We spend a lot of time highlighting the people and businesses creating opportunities for the TCG community. This time, we got the chance to help create one alongside them.
And seeing players actually show up and enjoy the night made the experience even better.
What's Next?
The first Matcha & Mana night turned out to be a great experience, and we're excited to do it again.
We're currently planning the next event for September 18th at Taiyo Matcha Cafe. But Magic may not be the only game we bring to Taiyo.
We're also exploring the possibility of bringing a One Piece Card Game night to Taiyo in the future. After seeing how well Matcha & Mana came together, it would be exciting to introduce another group of players to the space.
A huge thank you to Tyson and the entire Taiyo Matcha Cafe team for reaching out, opening their doors to the Magic community, and helping make the night possible.
From pop ups to Magic and Riftbound, Taiyo has created a space where different parts of the TCG community can come together, and we're excited to see what comes next.
What started with a simple Instagram reply turned into a night of Magic, matcha, and new connections.
And now, we're looking forward to seeing where the next collaboration takes us.
We'll see you at the next Matcha & Mana, September 18th.
Quick links for Taiyo Matcha Cafe: Taiyo Shop, Instagram
[Photos: Obie Pagaduan]