Staff WriterJinichiro Kozuma may have slipped into Chiba as quietly as a ninja in soft-spiked shoes, yet the Japanese LIV Golf League star insists his compatriots are poised to ambush him at Caledonian Country Club this week.
Kozuma, fresh off a guts-and-tape T7 at LIV Golf Korea, believes the International Series Japan presented by Moutai is a billboard for the booming depth of golf talent on home soil.
‘We can play with anyone’
Few golfers deliver straight talk with the comedic flourish of David Feherty, but Kozuma comes close.
The Iron Heads GC man, nursing a back that was squeaky-clean one minute and screaming the next, still expects the leaderboard to look like a Tokyo rush-hour train—packed with Japanese flags.
“There are several LIV Golf players competing this week, and I expect many of them will be near the top of the leaderboard.
That said, I believe the Japanese players are definitely at a level where they can compete as well.”
Backed by three titles on the JGTO, Kozuma knows a thing or two about closing time.
Yet he’s under no illusion that the International Series—third of ten elevated Asian Tour stops—has turned into golf’s version of an open-border policy.
“The International Series is a very high-level series, and these days it’s not just players from across Asia, but also from the US and Europe, and the level of competition is truly world-class.”
Growth spurt on the world stage
Kozuma punched his LIV ticket at the 2023 Promotions event—alongside Kieran Vincent and Finland’s Kalle Samooja—and the experience has been an espresso shot to his game.
“The main reason I decided to compete (on The International Series) is because I want to challenge myself in that kind of elite environment.
“Since joining the series, I feel I have grown a lot as a player. It has changed my mindset, and I have really been able to feel the gap between myself and the very top players.”
That gap is narrowing faster than the fairways at Caledonian, which twist through pine forests that look as if Bonsai masters trimmed them for TV.
Higa hunting a LIV berth
Enter Kazuki Higa, the pocket-rocket who topped Japan’s money list in 2022 with four wins and now lurks 11th in the International Series rankings after a top-10 in star-studded Delhi.
With a full-time LIV contract dangling for the season champion, Higa’s motivation is hotter than a summer fryer at a yakitori stand.
“I don’t often get the chance to play with LIV Golf players here, so I see this as a valuable experience and that’s why I’m eager to take part.
On top of that, the fact that we can compete here in Japan makes this week even more meaningful—not just for me, but also for the other players coming from the Japan Golf Tour.
“Usually, we are the ones going abroad to compete in The International Series, but this week we get to play on a course we are familiar with.
When we play overseas, it is often difficult for Japanese players to reach the top of the leaderboard, but this week we know the course and the conditions, so I am excited to see how well we can perform.
“For players who normally compete in Japan, I think playing on home soil in this kind of international field will be a great motivator, and I expect it to be a really meaningful week for all of us.”
Don’t forget the ‘Prince’
Ryo Ishikawa—Japan’s once-crowned “Bashful Prince,” now a 21-time winner—adds stardust to the field. Making his International Series debut, Ishikawa sounded like a man who’d found a new toy in the pro shop.
“The atmosphere certainly feels different,” he said. “While the setup is fairly similar, Caledonian is a challenging course. It’s been a while since I’ve played a full four-day event here, so I’m looking forward to the test.”
His verdict on the Asian Tour’s return to Japan was equally upbeat: “It is great to have overseas tournaments here again. There’s strong interest from Asian Tour players, and events like this benefit both tours.”
The week ahead
- Dates: 8–11 May
- Venue: Caledonian Country Club, Chiba
- Tour: International Series Japan presented by Moutai (Asian Tour elevated event)
- What’s at stake: Rankings points toward a golden ticket into LIV Golf 2026, plus a purse that would make a pachinko parlor blush
The bottom line
Caledonian’s emerald fairways are set for a domestic slugfest laced with international intrigue.
If Japan’s finest succeed in keeping the visiting LIV armada at arm’s length, expect the galleries to erupt like Mt. Fuji at sunrise.
And should Jinichiro Kozuma lift the trophy on Sunday, it won’t just confirm his comeback—it will underscore why Japanese golf, like its most famous sushi, is best served fresh and decidedly raw.
Tickets for all four days are on sale now; check the official International Series website for full details.
