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]
Current season, competition or edition: 2025 LPGA of Japan Tour | |
| Sport | Golf |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1968 |
| CEO | Hiromi Kobayashi |
| Country |  Japan |
| Most titles | Hisako Higuchi (69) |
| Official website | LPGA.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
editThe 2025 schedule includes 37 events played in Japan.
Leading money winners
edit| 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "Most Career Wins on the LPGA of Japan (JLPGA) Tour". Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ "Japan LPGA Tour aims to expand global reach by attracting more international players". Golf Matters. 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ Kaur, Malkeet (2022-09-08). "Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup set to thrill". ParGolf. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ "Katsu, 15, is youngest Japan LPGA winner". ESPN. Associated Press. 2014-04-20. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ "Golf: Miyuu Yamashita becomes youngest "queen" on Japan LPGA Tour". Kyodo News+. November 13, 2022. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
External links
edit- Official website (in Japanese)