Rising LPGA stars go glam at big awards night in Tokyo

Updated Dec. 17, 2025, 8:49 p.m. ET

The JLPGA held its year-end awards on Tuesday in Tokyo, and several rising LPGA stars were honored, including major champion Miyu Yamashita and twin sisters Akie and Chisato Iwai. Former No. 1 Jiyai Shin also left with some hardware as the Honorary Award winner.

The woman that stole the show, however, was Shuri Sakuma, whose dress was as stunning as her season. A four-time winner on the JLPGA in 2025, Sakuma won the Nobuta Group Masters in October by a whopping 11 strokes.

For the season, Sakuma won the money title, held the tour’s lowest scoring average and led the tour in top-10 finishes with 19, three more than her cloest competitor. It’s no surprise then the 23-year-old ran away with the Mercedes-Benz Player of the Year title, too.

The 2025 LPGA season was an historic one, with six different winners from Japan claiming seven titles. Miyu Yamashita joined No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul as the only repeats winners in 2025. Yamashita won the AIG Women’s British Open in Wales followed by the Maybank Championship in Malaysia. She was honored as the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year.

Japanese players claimed two of the five LPGA majors this season and have won four of the last nine.

Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!

Akie and Chisato Iwai became the first twins to win on the LPGA and have proven to be among the tour’s most entertaining players, both in song and dance (see below).

Yamashita currently ranks No. 4 in the world as the leading Japanese player, while Chevron Championship winner Mao Saigo is ninth.

Sakuma, meanwhile, has risen to No. 43 in the Rolex Rankings and will no doubt compete in several LPGA majors next season.

At the recent Final Qualifying, 21-year-old Kokona Sakurai earned her LPGA card and will be a rookie on tour next season. A five-time winner on the JLPGA, Sakurai was one of three Japanese players to finish in the top 25 and ties, including former British Open winner Hinako Shibuno and Yuna Nishimura, who both return to the tour.