Tokyo — In a bold new chapter for Japanese badminton, Arisa Higashino—who previously made her mark as a world-class mixed doubles player—is now teaming up with Chiharu Shida to pursue Olympic dreams in the women’s doubles category. Their ultimate goal? Gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the coveted World No. 1 ranking.
After a near-decade-long partnership with Nami Matsuyama, Shida will now form Japan’s newest elite duo with Higashino. Known as the “Yagi Pair,” Shida and Matsuyama achieved significant success, including 12 BWF World Tour titles, bronze medals at the World Championships and Paris Olympics, and titles at prestigious Super 1000 events such as the All England Open and Indonesia Open.
However, the pair officially parted ways following the 2025 World Championships in Paris. Matsuyama cited physical strain and lingering injuries as key reasons for her decision to step back from high-intensity competition.
Meanwhile, Higashino—now competing under her married name Arisa Igarashi—transitioned from mixed to women’s doubles after separating from long-time partner Yuta Watanabe post-Paris Olympics. Together, Higashino and Watanabe had collected multiple Olympic and World Championship medals and were considered one of the strongest mixed pairs globally.
Initially, Higashino partnered with Ayako Sakuramoto, with whom she won the India Open 2025, but the partnership ended due to reported chemistry issues. This left Higashino temporarily without a fixed partner.
Recognizing her tenacity and agility, Shida personally invited Higashino to form a new team. The two briefly played together during the 2025 Sudirman Cup, where their chemistry began to show promise.
“I’m honestly thrilled. When Chiharu asked me, I didn’t hesitate. I always thought we’d make a great team—it feels like fate,” said Higashino.
The new duo will make their official debut at the Hong Kong Open next week, marking a fresh start not only for them but also for Japan’s women’s doubles landscape post-Paris Olympics.
“I believe in our potential,” added Higashino. “We’re still figuring out each other’s strengths, but our goal is clear—Olympic gold and becoming the world’s top pair.”
