Japan Poker 2025 SPI Review: Top Ten Japanese Poker Players

The 2025 poker season was a breakout year for the Land of the Rising Sun, with the top ten Japanese poker players showcasing their skill and consistency in the world-class tournament play. According to the Somuchpoker Poker Index (SPI) , the 2025 leaderboard highlights a year where Japanese pros dominated stops like in Taipei, Jeju, and Manila, while also making deep runs at the highest stakes in Las Vegas.

The following table breaks down the stats and incredible consistency of the top ten Japanese poker players in 2025.

2025 SPI Score: Japan Top Ten

Player Profiles

1. Jun Obara

Topping the list of the top ten Japanese poker players is the high-stakes crusher Jun Obara . His 2025 was defined by massive quality over quantity, resulting in a 2025 SPI Score of 17,641. Obara focused on the most elite fields, accumulating staggering SPI earnings of $2,668,310.

With over $8.2 million in total live earnings, his season in the Asian circuit was headlined by an impressive run at the Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II 2025, where he bagged a payday of $849,000 score. While impressive, his year reached its peak at the the Wynn Summer Classic in Las Vegas, where he secured a runner-up finish in the Wynn Summer Championship for $1,594,677, setting a new mark in his poker resume.

2. Kaoru Kishimoto

Ranked second among the top ten Japanese poker players, Kaoru Kishimoto showed incredible consistency across the Asian circuit. Kishimoto reached a 2025 SPI Score of 12,020 through 20 cashes in 25 events. His efforts across 7 festivals resulted in total SPI earnings of $399,480.

Currently holding over half a million in lifetime winnings, his best live cash of $183,000 came from a deep run in the Triton One Main Event at the Triton One 2025 . He secured a 7th-place finish in the prime event, marking a highlighted moment in his year.

3. Naohiro Matsuda

Naohiro Matsuda secures the third spot with a 2025 SPI Score of 10,333. Matsuda was the busiest traveler in the top three, hitting 15 festivals throughout the year to earn SPI earnings of $274,261. With a career total nearing $400,000, his 2025 highlight was a 17th-place finish in the Triton One Main Event for $60,400, marking a new career-best score.

4. Kyosuke Nagami

Occupying the fourth position, Kyosuke Nagami recorded a strong 2025 SPI Score of 9,997. Nagami turned 34 event entries into 21 cashes, missing the money only a few times across 8 festivals. His performance resulted in SPI earnings of $218,225, proving his reputation as a highly disciplined tournament pro. His career-best score of $350,000 was set in mid 2024, where he finished his deep run in the MAIN EVENT World Championship at the 55th World Series of Poker , setting the highest score in his resume.

Nagami has amassed over $1.2 million in total live earnings, with his 2025 highlight coming at the 56th World Series of Poker (WSOP), where he made another deep run in the WSOP Main Event World Championship and earned $60,000 for the year.

5. Akira Takasugi

Rounding out the top five of the top ten Japanese poker players is Akira Takasugi with a 2025 SPI Score of 9,796. Takasugi focused on high-value prize pools, resulting in significant SPI earnings of $669,360.

With total live earnings crossing $700,000, his best live cash of $584,285 was achieved during a sensational win at the APT Taipei 2025 , where he claimed the title in the APT Main Event for TWD 19,009,440 (~$584,285), marking a highlighted moment in his year.

6. Hayato Kitajima

Hayato Kitajima holds the 6th spot with a 2025 SPI Score of 9,239. Kitajima was a consistent force in 2025, attending 6 festivals to secure SPI earnings of $140,948. Known for his durability in high-volume events, he recorded 26 cashes throughout the year.

With his total live earnings now surpassing $1.1 million, he recorded his highest cash of the year at the 56th World Series of Poker, earning $84,755 in the Lucky 7’s 7-Handed event. Kitajima secured a 7th-place payout of $77,777, capping off his 2025 season. Impressive as it is, his career-best cash stands at $84,755, which he earned in the 6-Handed event of the EPT Barcelona 2022.

7. Keijiro Shimojo

Keijiro Shimojo takes the 7th position among the top ten Japanese poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 8,756. Shimojo was a true grinder, recording the highest cash number, 39, across 62 events. While his SPI earnings of $37,155 were lower than his peers’, his relentless volume across 11 festivals kept him in the elite rankings.

With his total live earnings approaching $200,000, Shimojo’s career-best score of $14,913 came from Manila Megastack 20 with his victory in the Kickoff event for the top prize of PHP 874,443 (~14,913). His momentum in 2025 reached its peak at the Manila Megastack 22 , where he demonstrated well in the final table appearance with a 5th-place finish in the Kick Off event for a payday of PHP 265,000 (~4,624).

8. Ryosuke Ikari

Ryosuke Ikari ranks 8th with a 2025 SPI Score of 8,754. Ikari focused on quality stops, participating in 20 events to earn SPI earnings of $308,258. With nearly $400,000 in career earnings, his 2025 highlight came at the iconic festival, APT Championship Taipei , where he finished runner-up for TWD 4,724,500 ($151,425) in the High Roller – Single Re-Entry event, contributing a majority of his 2025 earnings.

9. Arita Naohiro

Arita Naohiro ranks 9th among the top ten Japanese poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 8,504. Naohiro matched the consistency of the leaders with 26 cashes, resulting in SPI earnings of $75,274. His total live earnings have climbed to around $150,448, with his biggest score of 2025 coming at APT Championship Taipei, where he picked up TWD 421,900 (~$13,610) after a deep run in the Natural8 Cup Championship Freezeout event.

In early 2026, Naohiro soon set a new benchmark in his career with a best live cash of $54,811, which he banked at the   APT Jeju Classic 2026 by finishing in 7th place in the APT Main Event for KRW 79,520,000 (~$55,220).

10. Shiina Okamoto

Rounding out the list is world-class pro Shiina Okamoto , Japan’s top-ranked female player, who won WSOP bracelets in back-to-back years and finished with a 2025 SPI Score of 8,281. Okamoto recorded 18 cashes across 7 festivals, concluding the year with SPI earnings of $110,972.

With over $1.1 million in career earnings, her biggest live cash is $184,094, earned in the Ladies Championship at the 56th WSOP. That result topped her previous best of $171,732, which also came from her win in the same event at the 55th WSOP.

Where to Play in Japan

Because of current regulations, live poker in Japan is primarily played in “Amusement Clubs” where players compete for points, prizes, or tournament tickets rather than direct cash.

• Dojima River Forum : A modern multipurpose hall situated on the banks of the Dojima River in the vibrant Nakanoshima district of  Osaka . The poker action at Dojima River Forum is almost exclusively focused on large-scale tournament series. It is renowned for hosting elite events with professional dealers, high-quality equipment, and transparent structures, such as USOP stops.
• Casino Stadium Tokyo : A cornerstone of the Shinjuku poker scene, widely regarded as one of the most technically focused “Amusement Casinos” in Tokyo. Located in the bustling Nishi-Shinjuku business district, the venue serves as a high-volume arena for tournament strategy, where local players and aspiring professionals test their skills.

Japan’s Poker Festivals

• Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) : The largest and most prestigious poker series in Japan. It frequently breaks attendance records and serves as the primary stepping stone for Japanese players to move onto the international circuit.
• World Poker Tour (WPT) Japan: A major stop on the WPT Asia-Pacific schedule, offering local players a chance to win seats to the WPT World Championship in Las Vegas.

As 2026 gets underway, Japan’s Ryuta Nakai has already locked up a place in the top ten with a SPI Score of 8,177. With the competition getting tougher this year, the country’s top players look ready to raise the bar again. While the talent pool continues to grow, Japan has firmly cemented its place on the global poker stage.