Kazuko Aichi

Biography

Kazuko Aichi is one of Japan's most distinguished polo figures, a 5-goal player and former president of the Japan Polo Association (JPA) whose career has combined competitive excellence with transformative contributions to Japanese polo governance and international advocacy. A pioneering figure in Japanese polo, Aichi has worked for decades to raise the sport's profile in a country where equestrian culture exists but polo specifically has struggled to gain mainstream recognition. Her playing career took place across Japan's domestic circuit, including at the Yokohama Country & Athletic Club and at private polo facilities in the Kanto and Kansai regions. She competed at the highest level of Japanese polo and represented Japan at FIP Asia regional events, where she faced competition from the more established polo nations of Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina while demonstrating that Japanese polo was capable of producing internationally competitive players. As JPA president, Aichi navigated the complex challenge of growing polo in Japan — a sport that requires significant land, capital, and specialist knowledge in a country where such resources are not easily combined. She worked to establish structured handicap assessment aligned with FIP standards, to develop junior polo programmes through the JPA's club network, and to attract international tournaments and exhibitions to Japanese venues as a means of raising the sport's domestic profile. Her international advocacy has been particularly significant. At FIP meetings and Asian continental championships, Aichi has been a consistent voice for Asian polo's recognition and for the development of polo in markets across East and Southeast Asia. She has supported exchange programmes between Japanese and Argentine polo professionals and has worked to build relationships with the HPA and USPA that have brought international expertise to Japanese club development. Her legacy in Japanese polo is substantial: she leaves the sport better organised, more internationally connected, and with a clearer developmental pathway than it had when she began her governance role.

Career Highlights

Kazuko Aichi has dedicated her life to polo, competing at a level that has earned international respect. She has represented Japan at numerous FIP Asian and World Championships and has been central to the development of polo infrastructure in Japan, including working with the Japan Polo Association to grow participation at grassroots level.

Clubs & Teams