BADMINTON PLAYERS from Japan

Top 5

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Japanese Badminton Players of all time. This list of famous Japanese Badminton Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.

1. Kento Momota (1994 - )

With an HPI of 35.90, Kento Momota is the most famous Japanese Badminton Player.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages on wikipedia.

Kento Momota (桃田 賢斗, Momota Kento, born 1 September 1994) is a Japanese badminton player. He has won several major badminton tournaments including two World Championships titles, two Asian Championships titles, and one All England title. Momota has received a Guinness World Records certificate for "The most badminton men's singles titles in a season", for his achievements by winning 11 titles in the 2019 season.

2. Nozomi Okuhara (1995 - )

With an HPI of 32.88, Nozomi Okuhara is the 2nd most famous Japanese Badminton Player.  Her biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Nozomi Okuhara (奥原 希望, Okuhara Nozomi, born 13 March 1995) is a Japanese badminton player. A former World's number 1 in the BWF rankings for the women's singles, she is well known for her speed, agility and endurance. She won a bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and gold medal at the 2017 World Championships.

3. Ayaka Takahashi (1990 - )

With an HPI of 30.73, Ayaka Takahashi is the 3rd most famous Japanese Badminton Player.  Her biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Ayaka Takahashi (高橋 礼華, Takahashi Ayaka, born 19 April 1990) is a retired Japanese badminton player who was affiliated with Unisys badminton team. She is an Olympic Games gold medalist, two-time Asian Champion, two-time Asian Games silver medalist, and World Championship bronze medalist. Playing for the Unisys team with her regular partner Misaki Matsutomo in the women's doubles, she won five National Championships titles. In the international event, Takahashi and Matsutomo were ranked world number ones in October 2014. They won numerous international titles, including the year-end tournament finals in 2014 and 2018; the historical All England Open in 2016; the Olympic Games in 2016; and also the Asian Championships in 2016 and 2017. The duo won the Badminton World Federation's Female Player of the Year award in 2016. Takahashi was also a member of the victorious Japanese team at the 2017 Asia Mixed Team Championships and of the victorious women's team at the 2018 Asia Team Championships, 2018 Asian Games, and the 2018 Uber Cup.

4. Reika Kakiiwa (1989 - )

With an HPI of 23.77, Reika Kakiiwa is the 4th most famous Japanese Badminton Player.  Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Reika Kakiiwa (垣岩 令佳, Kakiiwa Reika, born 19 July 1989) is a Japanese badminton player from Renesas badminton club. Reika Kakiiwa has gained prominence in the badminton community because of her success in women's doubles. She has reached a career high ranking of third in the world with her partner Mizuki Fujii. She has also competed in mixed doubles reaching a peak ranking of 51st with her partner Kenta Kazuno.

5. Mizuki Fujii (1988 - )

With an HPI of 23.31, Mizuki Fujii is the 5th most famous Japanese Badminton Player.  Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Mizuki Fujii (藤井 瑞希, Fujii Mizuki, born 5 August 1988) is a badminton player from Ashikita, Kumamoto, Japan and plays for the Renesas badminton club. Mizuki Fujii concentrates on doubles badminton. Most of her success has come with women's doubles partner Reika Kakiiwa. Together they reached the final of the 2010 Korea Open Super Series, their first major final as a pair. She also assisted her team in winning the bronze medal at the 2010 Uber Cup. In the mixed doubles she pairs with Hirokatsu Hashimoto. Her career highest achievement was the silver medal in the women's doubles at the 2012 London Summer Olympics with Kakiiwa. She retired from professional badminton after the win at London.