Kento Momota
Two-time World Champion (2018, 2019). Career derailed by a 2020 car crash; retired 2024.
Play like Kento →Players
Top BWF pros across singles + doubles disciplines. Click out to Wikipedia, YouTube highlights, or BWF's site search — we don't host any branded photos or scraped tournament data here.
Kodai Naraoka
2023 World Championships silver. Defensive-minded endurance player.
Racquet
Victor Thruster Ryuga II Pro B
✓ verified
badminton-navi.net equipment page (web-verified 2026-05-18); switched from Yonex Astrox 99 Pro
Kenta Nishimoto
Akane Yamaguchi
Two-time World Champion (2021, 2022). Endurance specialist.
Endurance · counter-attacking
b. 1997
156 cm
- Two-time World Champion (2021, 2022)
- Career-high BWF #1
- 2022 + 2024 All England runner-up
Racquet
Yonex Astrox 99 Pro
✓ verified
String
Yonex BG80 Power
Yonex athlete roster (web-verified 2026-05-18)
5'1" of relentless defense — turned a perceived height disadvantage into a stamina weapon. Back-to-back World titles in 2021 and 2022 anchored a long run inside the top 5. Court coverage and depth-shot consistency keep her competitive against a younger, taller field.
Play like Akane →Aya Ohori
Tomoka Miyazaki
Teenage breakout — Japan's next-generation singles hope.
Racquet
Yonex athlete
specific model unconfirmed
Yonex athlete roster
Takuro Hoki / Yugo Kobayashi
2021 World Champions.
Racquet
Yonex athlete
specific model unconfirmed
Yonex athlete roster (pair)
Nami Matsuyama / Chiharu Shida
Mayu Matsumoto / Wakana Nagahara
2018 + 2019 World Champions.
Play like Mayu →Misaki Matsutomo / Ayaka Takahashi
2016 Olympic gold — Japan's first Olympic badminton gold.
Racquet
Yonex Nanoray 800
legacy model
Career racquet (discontinued)
Yuta Watanabe / Arisa Higashino
Racquet
Yonex athlete
specific model unconfirmed
Yonex athlete roster (pair)