Kazuki Higa and Yosuke Asaji, two of Japan’s most successful players on the international stage, have confirmed their participation in the International Series Japan at the beginning of April – in what is The International Series’ season-opening tournament.

The US$2million event is returning to Caledonian Golf Club in Chiba, for the second successive season, and will be played from 2-5 April.

Higa enjoyed a career-defining 2025 campaign, securing consecutive victories at the Shinhan Donghae Open and the Yeangder TPC enroute to winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit. He also tied for second in the International Series Philippines and ended in 10th place on The International Series Rankings. He has made no secret of his desire to win the Rankings to earn a place on the LIV Golf League.

“Coming so close to an International Series win last year made me realise how clear my goal is this season,” said Higa. “I want to capitalise on the form I’ve built, win on The International Series, and give myself the best opportunity to compete at the top of the Rankings race. To begin that push at home in Japan makes it even more special.”

Yosuke Asaji during the trophy presentation at the Moutai Singapore Open. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Higa became the first Japanese player to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit and will be joined by former Merit list champions American John Catlin and Sihwan Kim, plus Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Asaji won the Singapore Open last year – a result that helped him end the year second on the Rankings to book his place on this year’s LIV Golf League.

He has made a strong start on the League this season, recording a T17 at LIV Golf Riyadh and T24 at LIV Golf Adelaide.

Said the Japan star: “Events of this calibre don’t come around often in Japan, so to have The International Series back at Caledonian Golf Club is something I’m really proud of.”

He is playing on the League this year with fellow Asian Tour members Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, the Rankings champion, and Canadian Richard T. Lee and Bjorn Hellgren from Sweden who successfully negotiated LIV Golf Promotions in January.

The Asian Tour’s Filipino ace Miguel Tabuena, third on last year’s Rankings and winner of International Series Philippines, joined the League recently as well.