Two teenagers from Hawaii headed the brackets for the Sansan Tokyo Open 2026, the tour's first event in Japan's capital. Kiora Kunimoto, 18, was the top Women's Singles seed on her Asia debut. Tama Shimabukuro, 15, topped the Men's Doubles and Mixed Doubles draws and was seeded second in Men's Singles.
Dates | July 1 to 4, 2026 |
Venue | Arena Tachikawa Tachihi, Tokyo |
City | Tokyo, Japan |
Pro prize money | US$50,000 |
Ranking tier | PPA Asia 500 |
Ranking points | 500 to each champion |
Official results | pickleballtournaments.com |
Kunimoto's first year as a professional
Kunimoto turned professional in mid-2025 and spent the following months on the PPA Challenger circuit before reaching the main tour. She arrived in Tokyo during an MLP off-week, and her own California Black Bears teammate Sahra Dennehy was seeded second in the same draw, on the opposite side.
Shimabukuro arrives after the Atlanta Slam
Shimabukuro had played the Sansan Fukuoka Open a year earlier as a 14-year-old qualifier. In April he reached the Men's Singles final at the Atlanta Slam as the 22nd seed, beating Federico Staksrud and Hunter Johnson before losing to Chris Haworth.
Ford returns after the Beijing final
Zane Ford took the top Men's Singles seeding. Beijing had been his first Asia event and he lost the final there to Hong Kit Wong 11-5, 11-8. Wong was seeded third in Tokyo as the reigning Beijing champion, with Grayson Goldin fourth.
Dennehy's triple crown chance
Dennehy had won the Women's Singles and Women's Doubles in Beijing, where Chao Yi Wang denied her the Mixed Doubles. Wang was not in the Tokyo draw. Dennehy was also the top Women's Doubles seed with Danni-Elle Townsend.
More from the Sansan Tokyo Open
Results verified against the official bracket on pickleballtournaments.com and the PPA Tour Asia tournament page. Photographs: PPA Tour Asia.