Hiroki Midorikawa
Japanese badminton player (born 2000)
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Hiroki Midorikawa (緑川 大輝, Midorikawa Hiroki; born 17 May 2000) is a Japanese badminton player who competes in doubles. He plays for the NTT East team and is a member of the Japanese national team.[1] He primarily competes in mixed doubles with Natsu Saito, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 7. The pair won two World Tour Super 500 titles – the 2023 Canada Open and the 2025 Indonesia Masters – and were silver medalists at the 2025 Asian Championships.[2][3][4] In men's doubles, he partners with Kyohei Yamashita, achieving a career-high world ranking of 17.
Midorikawa at the 2025 Taipei Open | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 17 May 2000 Saitama Prefecture, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 56 kg (123 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Badminton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handedness | Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Norio Imai | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Men's & mixed doubles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | 7 (XD with Natsu Saito, 21 October 2025) 17 (MD with Kyohei Yamashita, 20 March 2026) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current ranking | 80 (XD with Nami Matsuyama) (31 March 2026) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BWF profile | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life
Born on 17 May 2000 in Saitama Prefecture, Midorikawa began playing badminton at the age of seven, influenced by his parents and older sister. He attended Saitama Sakae Junior and Senior High School.[5] During junior high, he won the team competition and was a runner-up in singles at the National Junior High School Tournament. In 2017, he won the doubles title at the All Japan Junior Championships.[6] In his second year of high school, he formed a mixed doubles partnership with his classmate Natsu Saito.[7] He later studied sports science at Waseda University from 2019 to 2023.[8]
Midorikawa describes himself as "self-paced and positive." When a shoulder injury prevented him from smashing, instead of being discouraged, he proactively used the opportunity to improve the precision of his drop shots and clears, as well as his footwork. Midorikawa views his relatively short stature as an advantage, believing his high energy and mobility help overcome limitations sometimes associated with shorter players, contrasting the common view that taller players have a natural advantage.[6]
Career
2023: Professional debut and first World Tour title
In April 2023, Midorikawa joined the NTT East team following his graduation from Waseda University. That year, he and mixed doubles partner, Natsu Saito, were promoted to the Japanese A national team under coach Jeremy Gan. The pair won their first World Tour Super 500 title at the Canada Open, defeating Mathias Thyrri and Amalie Magelund in the final.[2] They also finished as runners-up at the Australian Open and reached the semifinals of the Hong Kong and the Arctic Opens.[9]
In men's doubles, Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita won the Osaka International title.[10]
2024: Indonesia Masters runner up
In mixed doubles, Midorikawa and Saito finished as runners-up at the Indonesia Masters, losing to the top seeds Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong.[11] They qualified for the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals but were eliminated in the group stage.
In men's doubles, Midorikawa and Yamashita returned to international competition in August, winning consecutive titles at the Sydney International and the North Harbour International.[12][13] Domestically, the pair won all three of Japan's major national tournaments: the Japan Ranking Circuit, the All Japan Members Championships, and the All Japan Championships.[14][15][16]
2025: Second Super 500 title, Asian Championships silver
Midorikawa was selected for the Japanese national team in both mixed and men's doubles. He contributed to the Japanese squads that earned bronze medals at the Asia Mixed Team Championships and at the Sudirman Cup.[17][18]
In mixed doubles, Midorikawa and Saito won the Indonesia Masters in January and secured a silver medal at the Asian Championships.[19][4] The pair reached the semi-finals of the Denmark Open and the quarter-finals of the World Championships.[20] They achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 7 in October. They concluded their season and ended their partnership at the BWF World Tour Finals in December, where they advanced to the semi-finals.[21][22] In November, the pair of Midorikawa and Saito announced their separation. Midorikawa will be paired with Nami Matsuyama prior to future Olympics.[23]
In men's doubles, Midorikawa and Yamashita reached the semifinals of the Swiss Open in March and the Taipei Open in May.[24][25] They achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 25 in September. The pair concluded the season with a runner-up finish at the Super 500 Japan Masters in November, losing to Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae.[26]
2026
Midorikawa formed a new mixed doubles partnership with Nami Matsuyama in 2026. The pair competed on the European circuit in March, winning the Polish Open and finishing as runners-up at the Vietnam International.[27]
In men's doubles, Midorikawa and Yamashita began the year by reaching the final of the India Open in January.[28] On 21 April 2026, the Badminton Association of Japan announced that Midorikawa had been called up to the Japanese team for the 2026 Thomas Cup, replacing Yugo Kobayashi.[29]
Personal life
Midorikawa married on 2 February 2025.[30]
Achievements
Asian Championships
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ningbo Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, Ningbo, China |
 Natsu Saito |
 Tang Chun Man Tse Ying Suet |
15–21, 21–17, 13–21 |  Silver |
[4] |
BWF World Tour (2 titles, 5 runners-up)
The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[31] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour is divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300, and the BWF Tour Super 100.[32]
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Japan Masters | Super 500 | Kyohei Yamashita |
 Kim Won-ho Seo Seung-jae |
22–20, 11–21, 16–21 |  Runner-up |
[26] |
| 2026 | India Open | Super 750 | Kyohei Yamashita |
 Liang Weikeng Wang Chang |
21–17, 23–25, 16–21 | Runner-up |
[28] |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Canada Open | Super 100 | Natsu Saito |
 Ye Hong-wei Lee Chia-hsin |
21–12, 12–21, 15–21 | Runner-up |
[33] |
| 2023 | Canada Open | Super 500 | Natsu Saito |
 Mathias Thyrri Amalie Magelund |
21–17, 16–21, 21–13 |  Winner |
[2] |
| 2023 | Australian Open | Super 500 | Natsu Saito |
Feng Yanzhe Huang Dongping |
14–21, 21–16, 15–21 | Runner-up |
[9] |
| 2024 | Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | Natsu Saito |
Zheng Siwei Huang Yaqiong |
15–21, 16–21 | Runner-up |
[11] |
| 2025 | Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | Natsu Saito |
Guo Xinwa Chen Fanghui |
21–15, 21–17 | Winner |
[3] |
BWF International Challenge/Series (9 titles, 1 runner-up)
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Malaysia International | Kyohei Yamashita |
Liang Weikeng Shang Yichen |
18–21, 21–10, 21–16 | Winner |
[34] |
| 2023 | Osaka International | Kyohei Yamashita |
Wei Chun-wei Wu Guan-xun |
21–14, 21–14 | Winner |
[10] |
| 2024 | Sydney International | Kyohei Yamashita |
Lai Po-yu Tsai Fu-cheng |
21–14, 21–16 | Winner |
[12] |
| 2024 | North Harbour International | Kyohei Yamashita |
Lai Po-yu Tsai Fu-cheng |
16–21, 21–14, 21–14 | Winner |
[13] |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Waikato International | Natsu Saito |
 Simon Leung Gronya Somerville |
21–15, 21–13 | Winner |
[35] |
| 2019 | Vietnam International | Natsu Saito |
 Vichayapong Kanjanakeereewong Ruethaichanok Laisuan |
21–16, 21–8 | Winner |
[36] |
| 2021 | Belgian International | Natsu Saito |
Jesper Toft Clara Graversen |
21–18, 21–9 | Winner |
[37][38] |
| 2022 | Belgian International | Natsu Saito |
Chiu Hsiang-chieh Lin Xiao-min |
21–13, 21–17 | Winner |
[39] |
| 2026 | Polish Open | Nami Matsuyama |
Jeppe Søby Sofie Røjkjær |
21–11, 21–13 | Winner |
[27][40] |
| 2026 | Vietnam International | Nami Matsuyama |
Chan Yin Chak Ng Tsz Yau |
17–14 retired | Runner-up |
- BWF International Challenge tournament
- BWF International Series tournament
BWF Junior International (1 title, 2 runners-up)
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Dutch Junior | Natsu Saito |
Guo Xinwa Liu Xuanxuan |
21–16, 18–21, 19–21 | Runner-up |
[41] |
| 2018 | German Junior | Natsu Saito |
Wang Chan Jeong Na-eun |
19–21, 21–18, 21–17 | Winner |
[42] |
| 2018 | Banthongyord Junior International | Natsu Saito |
Kunlavut Vitidsarn Lalinrat Chaiwan |
21–23, 18–21 | Runner-up |
[43] |
- BWF Junior International Grand Prix tournament
- BWF Junior International Challenge tournament
Record against selected opponents
Record against year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi-finalists, and Olympic quarter-finalists. Accurate as of 24 December 2025.[44]
Natsu Saito
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