Peacepoker conducted an interview with Nozomu Shimizu, who performed well at the 2023 WSOP and is ranked 31st on the 2023 WSOP Money List.
Mr. Shimizu Nozomu, first of all, congratulations on achieving a career-high 3rd place finish in this $5,000 No Limit Hold’em – Freezeout EVENT.
In the PokerGo Live video, you were introduced as the NO.1 Telemarketer in JAPAN, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
A) Thank you!
I started my career at the age of 18 with a part-time job in a call center, and I was able to start my own company at the age of 26 and take it public at the age of 36. As a second career, I quit my company to focus on poker, and I’ve been participating in tournaments around the world since November last year.
Anyway, I’m a good communicator!
Nozomu Shimizu won his first ITM at The Hendon Mob in 2019, then became very active in the EPT in 2022 and reached a career high of 19 ITMs in 2023.
When and how did you get into poker and how did you suddenly find yourself competing in so many tournaments?
A) When I was in the corporate world, I didn’t get out much, so as a reaction to that, I really wanted to get out as much as I could this year, and I have the most fun playing overseas anyway.
This is actually my first time at the WSOP.
You’ve had a great first half of the year with a number of ITMs and were named Japan POY #1, what are your goals in poker?
A)There are many, but rather than money, my goal is to become a player who cherishes the encounters with my colleagues and future partners through poker, and to become a player who is loved more than anyone else! I hope there will be good results at the end of that process!
Nobuyuki Shimizu, you are known to many people by the nickname ‘LASONE’, how did the nickname come about?
A) I chose LASONE because the name of my company, Last One Mile, is LASONE for short, and it also means last.
Lastly, in Korea, I am known as a poker player who shouts “natural 9” or “wave!” which makes many Koreans laugh.
I would like to ask you to explain to Korean and Japanese players what kind of poker player you are in one word.
A)The essence of poker is to take away equity, so I always play more aggressively than anyone else, and I want to be a player who can make people laugh after the game
Peacepoker is a new news site that will deliver fast news and information to poker players.
What would you like to say to Peacepoker?
A) We are very grateful for the poker media, because as adults, we have fewer opportunities for rankings and awards.
