Tokyo, Japan: Japan Golf Association (JGA) has announced that Masanari Iketani will serve as its new Chairman.

Iketani was nominated at an Extraordinary Board Meeting to succeed Tsunetada Takeda who served as JGA Chairman for seven years since 2015. Takeda will now take on a new position as JGA Honorary Chairman.

Iketani, aged 76, said: “We will make every effort to continue to develop golf in Japan, with everyone in the JGA working as one and united to accomplish our common mission. 

“Building upon his tremendous efforts and the series of organisational reforms led by outgoing Chairman Takeda, I would like to further reinforce JGA’s governance role under the framework of the Japan Sport Agency’s ‘Governance Code’. 

“Our focus will be to continue to contribute to golf development, including but not limited to improving the golfing environment, to promote more women golfers as well as younger golfers, to help promote the education of the Rules of Golf and World Handicap System (WHS), and to focus on performance enhancement of our National Team with the goal of securing further medals at future Olympic Games.”

With the Japan Golf Association set to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2024, Iketani said the Association will redouble its efforts to promote the golf for the enjoyment of all golfers and for the continued development and success of the game into the future.