Norton, MA – Yujiwai has a motto for twin girls. “Enjoying is work, and work is fun.”
As a former prison guard, that wasn’t Yuji’s option, but he makes the most of this upcoming chapter with his daughters Chizart and Akie.
Kayak, parasailing, deep sea fishing, hiking, improvising gym dances, and plenty of billiards for Japanese Iwai twins who turned 23 in July, making the most of the LPGA’s global schedule.
They are looking for a good burger – they like honest burgers in the UK, but the iconic burger dogs of the Olympic Club certainly didn’t disappoint. They have been to Formula 1 races and Dodger Stadium. He posed with Justin Bieber at Madame Tussauds in London. They played baseball in Thailand and felt the mist blow through the mighty Niagara Falls.
Both the Iwai Twins ranked in the top 32 Rolex rankings
It’s hard to imagine a pair of rookies born a minute apart (Akie is the oldest) and having a better time. Not to mention the fact that in 2025 they made history as the first twin sisters to win the LPGA. Akie is currently ranked 23rd in the world, while Chisato is ranked 32nd. Sisters are not unusual in LPGAs, but are they twins? This is the first.
Yuji calls his wife Emiko (a former nurse) to the major boss and says that they have decided how they split up and chased the girl. In the first two rounds of the FM Championship, the twins were paired. Yuji laughed, saying that he only doubled his nerves.
Rotation is common for IWAIs who have transformed individual sports into team environments. Twins exchange caddies every 3-4 weeks. The team of managers/interpreters also switches to keep things fresh. Everything is done as one big group, including food and sightseeing. The sisters stay in the same hotel, but the rooms are different.
“Of course, they’re brothers so we’ll fight,” Yu said with the help of an interpreter. “Even the smallest thing, it’s about what you’re doing. But after about 30 minutes, they forget about it.”
Both sisters work to do interviews in English. Chisato, known as “Chizzy,” wears an American flag ball marker and a simple smile on her visor.
Chisat and Akki have 14 JLPGA victories
Akie was the first to show interest in competing in the LPGA. They won a total of 14 titles at the JLPGA and after working in a small number of LPGA majors, they decided to sign up for LPGA Q-School last year.
They’ve definitely pushed each other, but the ultimate drive comes from the inside.
“Just because we are twins doesn’t mean we’re not going to do that to each other.”
Their origins of golf are familiar stories. One day, Yuji was heading towards driving range and Emiko, who was busy with housework, told her to take the kids. The sisters were eight years old. Kota, his younger brother, two years younger, is currently playing club golf at a university in Japan.
The sisters were grown runners, both long and short. At least one sister wins big races each year on school field day and travels back and forth. Chisat points out that Akie can pick up any sport very easily. Yuji said Akie’s football potential was incredible, but at age 15, the twins decided to give up everything in pursuit of golf.
Despite being twins, Iwais has a variety of games
They’re all successful, but their games are very similar, but not.
“My style,” Akie said. “Aiming for every shot, pin, Chizzy sticks to the game plan.”
The difference also extends to the outside of the rope.
“If I have a break, I’d like to go out,” Akie said. “And Chizzy wants to stay home.”
When they’re shopping, Akie buys quickly, but Chisato likes to spend time.
Akae is something that often awaits.
Chisat first won the JLPGA in August 2022. Akie continued eight months later. In the LPGA, Cissart broke through with a six-shot victory at his first Riviera Maya Open. Akie continued three months later with a four-stroke victory at Standard Portland Classic.
Was there jealousy?
“Of course,” Akie said with a smile. “Every time, Chizzy is the first.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bylemu3z-m
The rookie is appearing in the LPGA this year.
So far, it has been a banner year for the 2025 LPGA rookie class. Seven newcomers won in the first eight months of the season. This is the most rookie winner since the 2009 season. These include Anna Nord Qvist, Jiu-Jitsu Singh, Staysys and Michelle Wee West.
The transition to living with LPGA is tough for any player from any country. Having a built-in best friend for a ride is definitely an advantage. Leona Maguire’s twin sister Lisa recently graduated from dental school and came out to travel to LPGA every summer as a client manager.
Growing up in Ireland, Maguire’s twins were the only girls at their home club. They rose to the top of the amateur ranks and played college golf together at Duke. Leona was the only person to reach the LPGA.
“There were many times when we were in the finals against each other. Obviously you wanted to win,” Leona said. “After those finals, there were some quiet car trips, but the next day you were fine. That’s what Dad said all the time, so it doesn’t matter who it is, as long as the trophy goes home.”
That’s why the prizes were often split. When Lisa won one of the starts of her first tournament and received the Windbreaker, her father took Leona to the pro shop and got her too.
“In the end, I want Lisa to win over strangers,” Leona said.
Iwai Twins misses Japanese food
The Iwai twins return to Japan about triple in season and enjoy burgers and pizza, but the food they miss the most is the food.
When asked what surprised them most about this most mainly American adventure, Akie didn’t need the help of an interpreter to answer this.
She went on to explain that in Japan, bathroom stalls are “secret rooms” with walls extending to the floor, with no cracks in the door. And sometimes, in the United States, she has to reach behind her to reach the roll of toilet tissue.
At this point in the interview, everyone is laughing.
And that is the best part of knowing the twins in the pond. They have a good time and their joy is contagious.
