Japanese Golfers

The best Japanese golfers of the world ranking era

Ranked by the highest world ranking each player reached, then by weeks spent inside the world top 10. Every figure comes from the weekly world ranking itself — not from an editor's opinion. Showing the top 50 of 743.

The Official World Golf Ranking began in April 1986, so this covers the ranking era. Players whose best years came earlier are missing or appear well below their true standing.

1. 1Hideki Matsuyamanow #26#2672212008–20262008–2026672w top 5021 wins
2. 2Masashi Ozaki#5602671988–20221988–2022602w top 5067 wins
3. 3Toshimitsu Izawa#17113161988–20241988–2024113w top 5016 wins
4. 4Shigeki Maruyama#19337131990–20181990–2018337w top 5013 wins
5. 5Shingo Katayamanow #2465#23237311993–20261993–2026237w top 5031 wins
6. 6Toru Taniguchinow #2656#2770201994–20261994–202670w top 5020 wins
7. 7Satoshi Kodairanow #401#275292008–20262008–202652w top 509 wins
8. 8Ryo Ishikawanow #311#29101202007–20262007–2026101w top 5020 wins
9. 9Tommy Nakajima#30100241988–20221988–2022100w top 5024 wins
10. 10Isao Aoki#3094151988–20191988–201994w top 5015 wins
11. 11Shugo Imahiranow #423#3027102008–20262008–202627w top 5010 wins
12. 12Naomichi Joe Ozaki#33177281988–20221988–2022177w top 5028 wins
13. 13Yuta Ikeda(Dec1985)now #842#33102212002–20262002–2026102w top 5021 wins
14. 14Hiroyuki Fujita#4329181993–20261993–202629w top 5018 wins
15. 15Hideto Taniharanow #1142#4712192000–20262000–202612w top 5019 wins
16. 16Takumi Kanayanow #179#49792015–20262015–20267w top 509 wins
17. 17Ryuji Imada#49232000–20252000–20252w top 503 wins
18. 18Yusaku Miyazatonow #772#50372000–20262000–20263w top 507 wins
19. 19Koumei Odanow #2780#53—82003–20262003–20268 wins
20. 20Masahiro Kuramoto#54—171988–20261988–202617 wins
21. 21Ryo Hisatsunenow #65#55—42016–20262016–20264 wins
22. 22Hidemichi Tanaka#57—101995–20241995–202410 wins
23. 23Yoshinori Kaneko#62—61988–20121988–20126 wins
24. 24Tateo Jet Ozaki#63—81988–20141988–20148 wins
25. 25Hiroshi Iwatanow #413#63—82004–20262004–20268 wins
26. 26Rikuya Hoshinonow #542#63—72014–20262014–20267 wins
27. 27Tetsuji Hiratsuka#65—91998–20261998–20269 wins
28. 28Kazuki Higanow #176#67—112011–20262011–202611 wins
29. 29Ryosuke Kinoshitanow #318#69—32010–20262010–20263 wins
30. 30Taichi Teshima#69—81996–20261996–20268 wins
31. 31Azuma Yano#69—32000–20262000–20263 wins
32. 32Yuki Inamorinow #680#73—52012–20262012–20265 wins
33. 33Kenichi Kuboya#73—71996–20251996–20257 wins
34. 34Satoshi Higashi#75—71988–20131988–20137 wins
35. 35Keita Nakajimanow #93#75—52015–20262015–20265 wins
36. 36Yasuharu Imano#75—81995–20221995–20228 wins
37. 37Nobuhito Sato#76—91995–20171995–20179 wins
38. 38Hisayuki Sasaki#77—31992–20121992–20123 wins
39. 39Hajime Meshiai#77—101988–20171988–201710 wins
40. 40Kazuhiko Hosokawa#80—81995–20251995–20258 wins
41. 41Tsukasa Watanabe#80—21988–20131988–20132 wins
42. 42Michio Matsumuranow #1946#82—52007–20262007–20265 wins
43. 43Shintaro Kai#85—12002–20262002–20261 wins
44. 44Hirofumi Miyase#86—71992–20251992–20257 wins
45. 45Tsuyoshi Yoneyama#87—31989–20221989–20223 wins
46. 46Tomohiro Kondonow #1128#88—62000–20262000–20266 wins
47. 47Katsumasa Miyamoto#89—121996–20261996–202612 wins
48. 48Shunsuke Sonoda#89—22007–20262007–20262 wins
49. 49Yoshinori Fujimotonow #398#92—32006–20262006–20263 wins
50. 50Katsuyoshi Tomori#92—71988–20141988–20147 wins

Japanese women in the world ranking

42 Japanese golfers are in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking — a separate ranking from the men’s world ranking above.