Kumamoto Japan Masters 2025: The Winners and Their Payouts
The 2025 Kumamoto Masters Japan, a premier event on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour, concluded on November 16, 2025, crowning a stellar lineup of champions and distributing a substantial prize purse. Held at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium, this BWF Super 500 tournament saw intense competition across five categories, captivating fans with thrilling finals action. The tournament boasted a significant total prize money of US$475,000, marking a notable increase from the previous year, and drawing the sport’s elite to the Japanese courts.
The financial rewards for the champions were highly attractive, particularly in the doubles categories, which offered a slightly higher payout per pair than the singles events. The detailed prize structure ensured that not just the winners, but also finalists and semi-finalists, were handsomely rewarded for their efforts in this critical stop on the tour.
Men’s Singles: A Historic All-Japan Final
The Men’s Singles competition culminated in a spectacular all-Japanese showdown, securing a monumental victory for the home nation. Fourth seed Kodai Naraoka showcased exceptional stamina and tactical maturity to defeat his compatriot, sixth seed Kenta Nishimoto, in a grueling three-game battle. Naraoka’s triumph was met with a thunderous ovation, confirming his status as the 2025 Kumamoto Masters Men’s Singles Champion.
For his performance, Naraoka claimed the top prize for the singles category, taking home US$35,625. His opponent, Kenta Nishimoto, despite falling short in the final, secured a significant runner-up prize of US$18,050. The strong Japanese presence in the final, which also saw India’s Lakshya Sen reach the semi-finals, underscored the rising talent in the region.
Women’s Singles: Ratchanok Intanon Captures the Crown
In the Women’s Singles event, the final was a clash of titans between two Southeast Asian powerhouses. Third seed Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand faced off against fourth seed Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia. The match was a tightly contested affair, especially in the second game, where Tunjung staged a furious comeback to tie the score at 20-20 before Intanon sealed the victory (21–16, 22–20).
Intanon’s clinical performance earned her the Women’s Singles title and a championship cheque of US$35,625. Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, who achieved her third appearance in the Kumamoto Masters final since the tournament’s inception, earned the runner-up prize of US$18,050, solidifying her consistent presence at this Super 500 event. The Thai shuttler’s victory marked one of two titles claimed by Thailand at the tournament.
Doubles Dominance and Prize Distribution
The three doubles events provided equally thrilling finishes, with champions crowned from South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand. Importantly, the prize money structure dictates that doubles winners receive a higher total amount per pair than their singles counterparts, acknowledging the teamwork required.
Men’s Doubles
The Men’s Doubles title was secured by the top-seeded South Korean pair of Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae. Their dominant run culminated in a hard-fought final against the Japanese duo of Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita. The South Korean pair, who are recognized for their dynamic court coverage, shared the doubles top prize of US$37,525. The Japanese runners-up, Midorikawa and Yamashita, split the second-place payout of US$18,050.
Women’s Doubles
The Women’s Doubles champions came from Malaysia, where Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan clinched the title. The Malaysian pair demonstrated exceptional synergy, defeating the local Japanese runners-up, Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi. Tan and Muralitharan split the US$37,525 top prize, confirming their status as one of the BWF tour’s most formidable pairings. Iwanaga and Nakanishi took home the US$18,050 runner-up share.
Mixed Doubles
The Mixed Doubles event saw a successful title defense by Thai superstars Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran. The number one seeds defeated the French pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue in a grueling final, securing their second consecutive Kumamoto Masters title. The defending champions earned a shared prize of US$37,525. The French runners-up received US$18,050 for their silver medal finish.
Kumamoto Masters 2025 Prize Payout Breakdown
The distribution of the total US$475,000 prize money, adhered strictly to BWF World Tour Super 500 regulations, rewarding competitors down to the Round of 16. The structure highlights the premium placed on achieving victory in the high-stakes doubles categories.
| Event | Winner (USD) | Finalist (USD) | Semi-finalists (USD) | Quarter-finalists (USD) | Last 16 (USD) |
| Singles | $35,625 | $18,050 | $6,887.50 | $2,850 | $1,662.50 |
| Doubles | $37,525 | $18,050 | $6,650 | $3,443.75 | $1,718.25 |
The 2025 Kumamoto Masters Japan reaffirmed its position as a crucial tournament on the BWF calendar, delivering world-class badminton and generous financial rewards that celebrated the exceptional talents of the champions from Japan, Thailand, South Korea, and Malaysia.
