TOKYO (TR) – There was no shortage of scandals in Japan in 2025 — and the world of golf was the center of one of the bigger ones.
In May, the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Japan (JLPGA) announced that it has issued “severe warnings” to three female professional golfers following a report of affairs with the same married caddy, who received a suspension.
The affairs involving Haruka Kawasaki, Miyu Abe and Yumeka Kobayashi were reported on the site of weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun on March 5.
The caddy is Ryo Kurinaga, who is married to fellow professional golfer Saki Asai. On May 20, JLPGA president Hiromi Kobayashi announced, “[Kurinaga] actively pursued multiple young members despite being the spouse of an association member.”
The JPLPGA also announced a suspension of 9 years for Kurinaga. The unusually long nine-year ban includes attending domestic women’s tour matches and events.
The association noted, “Conflicts between players who are eligible to participate have a significant impact on the order of the association.”
The association explained that it had “taken into consideration a comprehensive range of circumstances,” including that the three players did not actively cause the incident; are sincerely remorseful; have faced social sanctions such as the termination of sponsorship contracts; and are young and malleable.
“Any girl who dates your husband will win her first tournament”
Kurinaga and Asai announced their marriage in January 2023. Their first child was born in June of the same year.
After the report by Bunshun, JLPGA president Hiromi Kobayashi said, “As an association, we do not intervene in the private lives of our players unless necessary. However, after reviewing the circumstances of this case, we will consider conducting a fact-finding investigation, if necessary, and taking appropriate action based on that investigation.”
However, the need for an “investigation” emerged after a second report by Bunshun (Mar. 12). In that article, it was learned that a board member made inappropriate remarks to Asai after she reported at least one of the affairs in August last year.
According to Asai, the board director kept saying, “I consider the girls he had affairs with to be victims, too.” However, she disagreed, saying, “From my perspective, they’re the perpetrators.”
The board member then remarked, “This is just an inside joke, but they say that any girl who dates your husband will win her first tournament.”
The board member went on, “Do you understand what I’m saying? In the eyes of older ladies, he has some kind of strange power.”
“Investigate the facts”
Asai told Bunshun, “I had no idea what he was talking about, and I felt dizzy. I was shocked to think that the association was condoning infidelity.”
After this report surfaced, Hiromi Kobayashi said, “Our association plans to investigate the facts.”
When the magazine interviewed the board member, he said, “I’m sorry, but I won’t answer your question.”
“I’ll do my best”
The day of the release of the first Bunshun report (March 5) was the day before the start of the Daikin Orchid Ladies Tournament, the opening tournament of the domestic tour.
On April 14, Haruka Kawasaki, who was involved in a relationship with the caddy, released a statement through her management company after missing the first five tournaments of the year. “I apologize for causing a public uproar with these reports,” she said. “Due to various opinions and criticisms regarding tournament participation, I have decided to refrain from participating and have been taking a period of reflection.”
She returned to the tour on April 17. “I’m sorry for causing a fuss,” she said, bowing her head. With tears streaming down her face, she continued, “I’ll do my best. I’ll do what I can. I’ll practice hard, prepare, and do my best.”
“Out of whack”
On August 21, the day before the start of the CAT Ladies 2025 tournament, Asai spoke candidly with Nikkan Sports about her past struggles and current thoughts.
Regarding the April tournament she withdrew from, she revealed that “my autonomic nervous system was out of whack.” She went on to say that she is taking medication.
She also revealed her feelings about her husband’s infidelity. “It’s not without its effects,” she said.
Asai said that even stepping onto the course sometimes made her sick. Her sponsors and fellow tour friends were what supported her through those times.
“I think I’ve recovered mentally thanks to the people around me,” she said. “I want to give back to everyone as soon as possible, including that. Right now, I have a strong desire to do my best in golf.”
