The LPGA of Japan Tour is a professional golf tour for women organised by the Japan Ladies Professional Golfers' Association. The tour was founded in 1968.[1] It is the second richest women's golf tour in the world. The U.S.-based LPGA Tour is the most important women's tour, but the prize money gap has closed markedly since the American tour's total prize fund peaked at just over $60 million in 2008. While the Japan Tour is the second-most lucrative women's tour, two other non-U.S. tours, the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA of Korea Tour, rival the Japan Tour in level of competition. The LPGA of Japan Tour has attracted international players. As of 2022, 120 international golfers from more than 10 countries including Taiwan, Philippines, Korea, China, France, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brazil and Thailand have come to compete on the tour.[2]

LPGA of Japan Tour
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2025 LPGA of Japan Tour
SportGolf
Founded1968
CEOHiromi Kobayashi
Country Japan
Most titlesJapan Hisako Higuchi (69)
Official websiteLPGA.or.jp

The tour has four major events, the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup, the Japan Women’s Open, the World Ladies Championship and the final event, the Japan LPGA Tour Championship.[3]

In 2014, Minami Katsu became the youngest tournament winner in the history of the LPGA of Japan when she won the Vantelin Ladies Open at age 15.[4] In 2022, Miyū Yamashita became the youngest tour winner, at 21 years, 103 days.[5]

Schedule

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The 2025 schedule includes 37 events played in Japan.

Leading money winners

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Year Player Earnings (¥)
2024   Rio Takeda 265,730,016
2023   Miyū Yamashita 213,554,215
2022   Miyū Yamashita 235,020,967
2020–21   Mone Inami 255,192,049
2019   Ai Suzuki 160,189,665
2018   Ahn Sun-ju 180,784,885
2017   Ai Suzuki 140,122,631
2016   Lee Bo-mee 175,869,764
2015   Lee Bo-mee 230,497,057
2014   Ahn Sun-ju 153,075,741
2013   Rikako Morita 126,675,049
2012   Jeon Mi-jeong 131,827,582
2011   Ahn Sun-ju 127,926,893
2010   Ahn Sun-ju 145,073,799
2009   Sakura Yokomine 175,016,384
2008   Miho Koga 120,854,137
2007   Momoko Ueda 166,112,232
2006   Shiho Oyama 166,290,957
2005   Yuri Fudoh 122,460,908
2004   Yuri Fudoh 142,774,000
2003   Yuri Fudoh 149,325,679
2002   Yuri Fudoh 95,690,917
2001   Yuri Fudoh 89,248,793
2000   Yuri Fudoh 120,443,924
1999   Fumiko Muraguchi 66,891,682
1998   Michiko Hattori 81,570,823
1997   Akiko Fukushima 99,594,094
1996   Akiko Fukushima 70,596,190
1995   Ikuyo Shiotani 75,006,561
1994   Mayumi Hirase 69,817,958
1993   Mayumi Hirase 81,474,399
1992   Ikuyo Shiotani 57,799,649
1991   Ai-Yu Tu 70,403,481
1990   Hiromi Takamura 62,576,087
1989   Ai-Yu Tu 90,075,587
1988   Nayoko Yoshikawa 61,462,665
1987   Tatsuko Ohsako 56,763,481
1986   Ai-Yu Tu 62,435,225
1985   Ai-Yu Tu 65,634,788
1984   Ai-Yu Tu 52,897,845
1983   Ai-Yu Tu 45,764,313
1982   Ai-Yu Tu 39,029,644
1981   Ayako Okamoto 32,333,465
1980   Tatsuko Ohsako 23,594,744
1979   Hisako Higuchi 18,399,345
1978   Hisako Higuchi 11,664,650
1977   Tatsuko Ohsako 14,481,500
1976   Hisako Higuchi 14,667,000
1975   Hisako Higuchi 8,428,233
1974   Hisako Higuchi 15,545,700
1973   Hisako Higuchi 12,627,000
1972   Hisako Higuchi 4,150,000
1971   Hisako Higuchi 2,290,000
1970   Hisako Higuchi 1,215,000
1969   Hisako Higuchi 500,000
1968   Hisako Higuchi 350,000

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Most Career Wins on the LPGA of Japan (JLPGA) Tour". Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  2. ^ "Japan LPGA Tour aims to expand global reach by attracting more international players". Golf Matters. 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  3. ^ Kaur, Malkeet (2022-09-08). "Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup set to thrill". ParGolf. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  4. ^ "Katsu, 15, is youngest Japan LPGA winner". ESPN. Associated Press. 2014-04-20. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  5. ^ "Golf: Miyuu Yamashita becomes youngest "queen" on Japan LPGA Tour". Kyodo News+. November 13, 2022. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
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