TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC

November 4, 2026

Nasa Hataoka

Taihelyo Club Minori Course

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Joining us ahead of the 2026 TOTO Japan Classic is Nasa Hataoka. Nasa, you won this event last year for the second time. What does it mean to win in your home country?

NASA HATAOKA: So when I won last year it was like three years and a half, so I feel really special, especially because I can win U.S. tour in my home country. Winning this tournament give my a lot of confidence so it's just really special.

THE MODERATOR: Japanese players are having a lot of success on the LPGA Tour. We see it with Miyu and Yuri. Why do you think the Japanese players are so prepared?

NASA HATAOKA: So actually I talked about it with a guest at the gala party. When I joined the LPGA Tour, there are not many Japanese player who could win and it was really hard to win the tournament in the U.S.

These days it's very natural for Japanese player to win the tournament because I think the level of the performance has been really increasing in Japan and obviously in the U.S. as well.

So that's why nowadays Japanese players could win.

THE MODERATOR: What is your inspiration for competing on the U.S. tour and what does it mean to have a U.S. tour event in Japan?

NASA HATAOKA: So when I play at Tokyo Olympic Games, to compete in the Olympic Games I had to work really well, and when I joined the U.S. tour as a an amateur player I was really impressed with the other players who performed really well.

So I think U.S. LPGA Tour is a prestigious tour in the world, so to work hard and to perform well in U.S. is very special, and it kind of like a momentum to keep my career going really well.

THE MODERATOR: How have you seen the preparation for events change from when you first began to now?

NASA HATAOKA: When I joined the U.S. LPGA Tour I didn't really know the course and I don't know how to spend time to accustom to the Tour, so it was quite hard to get accustomed to the Tour itself.

Now I know when to rest and I know when to practice, so it's well controlled. Even the physical condition, it's easier to prepare.