Jason Sato was my friend for 29 years. We first met when he was an attendee at Iguanacon, the 1978 World Con, held here in Phoenix. Over the next several decades I came to know Jason as a powerful competitor across hundreds of game boards, as a creative role player and game master, and as a staunch companion.

Gaming was just one of Jason's many interests, however. He was a stolid reader of science fiction, being a great fan of Larry Niven, C. J. Cherryh, Poul Anderson, and Robert Heinlein. He collected comic books, Japanese video, and media-oriented collector cards. He enjoyed Babylon 5, Warner Brothers Cartoons, Dr. Who, and pro-wrestling.

He supported science fiction fandom and comics fandom by attending local and regional conventions. He supported gaming fandom by working on local gaming conventions such as Hexacon and Congames. He attended Origins and Gencon, as well as regional gaming conventions.

Fandom, indeed - the world, will be a darker place without Jason Sato in it; however, you can dispel some of that darkness by digging out one of those old board games you have in the back of the closet and playing it. It's what he would want you to do.

Jason Sato was a Japanese-American master gamer. Game Master at Hexicon I, employee of Flying Buffalo and Atomic Comics, great gamer, and a good friend. He passed away with a brain hemorrhage on Friday, April 13, 2007. There was a gaming night in his honor at Game Depot on Saturday, April 21.

Jason Sato was not only a gamer but he was THE gamer. If he was on your side, you have a great ally. If he was your opponent, you were generally toast. I should know. I played a few games with him at local game conventions. I lost more than I really want to say.

He was a game lawyer but always was nice and polite. After a game, one could chat with him about anything. Also, he was the first to try out new games from anywhere on the planet. Jason is always in my mind, a cool guy. I'll miss him at the gaming conventions. -Jeffrey Lu