Home favourite set to tee it up with close friend Yosuke Asaji as The International Series returns to Chiba
Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma has confirmed his return to home soil next month, aiming to reignite his push back to the LIV Golf League. The three-time Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) winner will join a strong local challenge for International Series Japan at Caledonian Golf Club from 2–5 April, teeing it up alongside fellow Japanese star and close friend Yosuke Asaji.
Kozuma enjoyed an impressive run on the global stage after earning his LIV Golf place through LIV Golf Promotions in 2023, highlighted by a runner-up finish at LIV Golf Dallas in 2025 and further top-10 finishes in Korea and Andalucía that same season.
Before making his mark internationally, Kozuma established himself as one of Japan’s leading players with three victories on the JGTO, capturing the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters in 2020 before adding the Token Homemate Cup in 2022 and the Sansan KBC Augusta in 2024.
Speaking during the International Series Japan Media Golf Day at Caledonian Golf Club, the 32-year-old said: “Events like International Series Japan are incredibly important because they give players the chance to test themselves against a truly global field. I’m really looking forward to competing on the Series again this season, and my goal is to win one of the events and earn my way back to the LIV Golf League through the Rankings.”
The home crowd will also be eager to see Kozuma reunited with Asaji, whose rise over the past year has captured the attention of golf fans across Asia. The 2025 Singapore Open champion finished second on The International Series Rankings last season to earn a coveted LIV Golf League Wild Card for the current campaign.
“It’s always special to play in front of home fans,” said Asaji, who joined the International Series Japan Media Golf Day online while competing at LIV Golf Singapore. “Having an event like International Series Japan gives local players the opportunity to compete against global stars without leaving the country, and that’s incredibly valuable for the development of Japanese golf.”
The Japanese duo, alongside Kazuki Higa, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, will spearhead a formidable home challenge against a world-class international field.
They will be joined by fellow JGTO winners including Ryosuke Kinoshita, Ryo Katsumata, and Shugo Imahira, the 10-time JGTO champion previously confirmed for the tournament.
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said the emergence of Japanese players through the pathway reflects the growing impact of the circuit.
“Japan has produced some outstanding performers from The International Series. It’s incredibly rewarding to see players like Yosuke Asaji via the Rankings and Jinichiro Kozuma via LIV Golf Promotions progress along this pathway and go on to compete in the LIV Golf League.
“Seeing them perform on the global stage alongside some of the best players in the world is hugely exciting, not just for The International Series, but also for the future of golf in Japan.”
Tickets for all four days of International Series Japan are now available here. Admission is complimentary on Thursday and Friday, with free entry for children across all tournament days.
The International Series is the most prized pathway in golf. It consists of a set of elite tournaments co-sanctioned by LIV Golf and the Asian Tour and offers the year-long Rankings Winner & Runner-Up promotion to the LIV Golf League.
