Kazuki Higa, Yosuke Asaji and Shugo Imahira are relishing the opportunity to perform on home soil this week, as they headline a strong local contingent at International Series Japan, taking place from 2–5 April at Caledonian Golf Club, the tournament's second edition in the country.
Higa and Imahira will look to convert home support into momentum, while Asaji returns to Japan as a full-time LIV Golf player, having earned his place through The International Series pathway. Together, they lead a formidable Japanese lineup taking on a world-class field drawn from LIV Golf, the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour.
Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Higa is targeting an improved performance on familiar ground.
"I performed well overall last year, but I wasn't able to score the way I wanted here," said Higa. "I'm hoping to do better this time and be in contention this week."
"Playing overseas can be challenging with travel and different environments," he added. "This week, being in Japan, I can focus fully on my game and feel more comfortable. It's going to be very competitive with so many strong players in the field."
Asaji, who secured his LIV Golf status through The International Series, highlighted the significance of the pathway and the opportunity it provides.
"I'm excited to start the season here in Japan," said Asaji. "The International Series gives players a fair opportunity, if you perform well, it can lead you to LIV Golf, like it did for me."
Imahira, a 10-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, also returns with confidence after a strong top-10 finish at this venue last year.
"My game is in a very good place right now," said Imahira. "I'm hoping to play well and put myself in contention again this week."
Reflecting on last year's tournament, he added: "It's a very challenging course and the field is extremely strong. I remember playing with players who hit the ball much further than me, which really stood out."
With many international players competing in Japan for the first time, Imahira also highlighted the importance of course management at Caledonian.
"There are a lot of slopes around the greens," he said. "It's important to miss in the right areas to avoid making mistakes."
Tickets for all four days of International Series Japan, set at Caledonian Golf Club from 2 – 5 April, are now available here, with complimentary entry on Thursday and Friday, and free admission for children throughout the tournament.
