Cards by Shin Nagasawa: TCG Illustrator Guide

Shin Nagasawa (Japanese: 長澤真) is a freelance illustrator who provides artwork for the Pokémon Trading Card Game and other Pokémon related merchandise. Nagasawa worked as a graphic designer at Square for a number of years after graduating from university in 1994, and was credited as a monster concept artist for several titles during this time. He went freelance in 2000, and has had numerous illustrations and manga series published since, as well as continuing to provide concept art for several games and illustrations for various trading card games. He often uses the pseudonym "JASON" (ジェイソン) or "J-mura" (J村) for self-published works (dōjinshi).

Nagasawa's first illustrations were featured Supreme Victors and Supreme Victors from the Supreme Victors expansion. In addition to card art, he has also produced the packaging artwork for expansions released outside of Japan, which include Boundaries Crossed, Plasma Storm, Plasma Freeze, and Plasma Blast. Other Pokémon related illustrations include those featured on merchandise sold in Japan. These include: Reshiram & Zekrom 2011 New Year's Greeting card and Pochi bags, Tepig, Pignite, and Emboar Uniqlo T-shirt design, Kyurem VS Tornadus•Thundurus•Landorus Pokémon Center stationery, and Gardevoir & Lilligant deck shields.

Nagasawa's illustration style within the TCG varies as does his work for other publications. Some are drawn in a style reminiscent of comic books, in that the Pokémon is drawn with a solid black outline, with areas of extreme shadow and other details also in solid black. In other illustrations, color shading is used to define details and the accompanying background, making outlines less explicit. In nearly all instances Nagasawa focuses on motion and a specific portion of the Pokémon's body with varying degrees of tilt, giving the impression that the Pokémon is moving out of the confines of the image.