Asuka Kashiwabara Ordered to Pay 3 Million Yen in Damages Over Affair with Caddie

Asuka Kashiwabara was ordered to pay 3 million yen in damages in a lawsuit involving an affair.

On December 13, popular female professional golfer Asuka Kashiwabara (28) updated her Instagram. She drastically cut her long black hair and shared a photo showing her new short bob hairstyle with the hashtag #Sukkiri (clean and refreshed). Kashiwabara’s sudden image change drew praise on social media, with comments like, “I thought it was Aimi Higa” and “She looks like a model.”

Kashiwabara first achieved victory on the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour in 2019 and has continued to perform well in major tournaments. She is especially known for her precise iron shots and reliable approach play around the greens. In her personal life, in February 2024, she shared a photo of herself in a pure white dress on Instagram, announcing her marriage.

On December 10, the Tokyo District Court delivered a verdict in the lawsuit Kashiwabara had been contesting for some time regarding an affair. In March 2024, Modern Business reported on Kashiwabara’s involvement in an affair with a married man, identified as A, leading to a lawsuit filed by his wife, B, seeking damages. The December 10 ruling ordered Kashiwabara to pay B 3 million yen in damages.

This revelation that Kashiwabara, a golfer both admired and respected, had been involved in an affair with a man who was married at the time, A, who also happened to be her caddie, has sparked significant attention. The court documents reveal the details of the affair, shedding light on the situation.

“Ha? What are you talking about?” was her immediate response.

The wife, Mrs. B, began suspecting their relationship around November 2020. It was revealed that Mr. A was frequently in contact with Kashiwabara late at night and early in the morning, and his days at home became fewer. Additionally, Mr. A started carrying his phone with him at all times, which raised Mrs. B’s doubts. Their marriage began to strain, and overwhelmed by the situation, Mrs. B tried reaching out to Kashiwabara, only to be met with harsh responses.

“I could no longer endure the strained relationship with my husband. For the sake of our children, I decided to call the defendant. When I spoke to her, explaining the need to maintain distance with my husband, her response was, ‘Ha? What are you talking about?’ and she ended the call abruptly” (as per Mrs. B’s statement).

The court documents indicate that the affair between the two began around October 2020, and by the following year, they started living together in an apartment in Tokyo.

“In January 2021, after returning from a training camp, Mr. A, who was supposed to arrive at Haneda Airport, never came home. Initially, he claimed he was quarantined for a week due to COVID-19, but when asked where he was staying, he seemed evasive. After a week, he continued to stay away, and later, he claimed to be staying at a friend’s house” (as per Mrs. B’s statement).

Ultimately, in February 2021, Mrs. B hired a private investigation firm and confirmed the affair. Kashiwabara’s management company and her parents were aware of the relationship before Mrs. B, and both strongly opposed it.

The court documents reveal that the affair began in October 2020, and despite early attempts to conceal it, the relationship gradually became public within the golf community. Despite being urged by her management company and parents to end the relationship, Kashiwabara moved in with Mr. A in Tokyo, resembling a runaway situation. Mrs. B faced a tragic situation, as they had three young children, with the youngest being only 0 years old.

 

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“Due to an affair with the defendant, my husband left the house, which caused me immense emotional distress. I suddenly couldn’t stop crying, had trouble sleeping, and lost about five kilograms in a month. I struggled to visit a hospital with my children, and only went to a psychiatrist a few times, being diagnosed with depression. At events like my children’s Shichi-Go-San and the shrine visit for their first birthday, my husband, who is their father, was absent. My children innocently asked if their father would ever come back, which made me feel lonely and helpless. (Omitted for financial reasons) My dizziness, insomnia, cold sweats, and stomach pains took a long time to recover.

Due to prolonged insomnia, from around summer 2021 for nearly half a year, I developed further mental and physical issues, including mild memory impairment. I began forgetting everyday events immediately, making it extremely difficult with a young child, so my mother (omitted for privacy reasons) frequently came to support us in Tokyo, helping us maintain our lives.” (From B’s statement)

It is easy to imagine the mental burden B has endured, but there is another reason for her suffering beyond her husband’s departure. From around May 2021, A began to withhold financial support for living expenses. While A’s credit card was still usable, cash ran out, and frequent demands for pensions, taxes, and other payments began arriving at their home. Why did A stop sending money to the family? In the complaint, B claims:

“The defendant urged the plaintiff’s husband to divorce quickly, but insisted that the adulterous relationship should not be a reason for divorce due to external factors as she is a professional golfer. She tried to force a quick divorce by instructing the plaintiff not to pay spousal support (living expenses: editor’s note) by citing reasons such as a lack of motivation when with the plaintiff, leading to inability to work and earn income. The plaintiff’s husband and his lawyer were informed of this.”

It is argued that Kashiwa manipulated A to stop sending money to B to expedite the divorce. However, B’s claim was dismissed in court.

“Nonetheless, there is testimony that, later, it was revealed that the defendant instructed the plaintiff’s husband to also stop using the plaintiff’s credit card. According to the plaintiff’s husband, he pretended to stop the credit card to consider the children’s needs.” (From the complaint)

If B appeals, the appellate court may reach a different decision from the initial trial.

The passionate relationship that disregarded family and ignored advice from those around them ended after about a year and a half. In March 2022, A unexpectedly returned home.

 

Kashiwabara, in response to our questionnaire.

B, whose statement is as follows:

“Suddenly, my husband came home. The intensity of the defendant’s restraint and the numerous negative comments about my ex-boyfriend (content omitted for privacy reasons) were too much for me, and I could no longer bear being with him. However, these reasons didn’t matter to me, as I haven’t forgiven my husband. He even showed me a LINE where the defendant expressed a desire not to break up.

I was filled with the desire not to let my husband back into our home. Yet, seeing my children, who hadn’t seen their father in a while, so happy to reunite, and considering the financial struggles and the fact that the house is in my husband’s name, I couldn’t bring myself to force him out.” (From B’s statement)

Currently, the couple is not divorced. However, B’s statement mentions:

“Of course, there’s no possibility of the marriage being restored.”

What does Kashiwabara think about being a significant factor in the breakdown of one family? Her response includes:

“When the plaintiff’s husband informed me that his marriage with the plaintiff was broken, I ended up engaging in an affair with him. At the age of 24, naive and trusting, I believed the plaintiff’s husband when he said the marriage was irreparable, without questioning his words. I deeply regret my actions and acknowledge that my infidelity caused the plaintiff significant mental distress. I believe I should compensate for the damages.”

What does B think about the court’s decision?

In an interview with Friday Digital, B said:

“The trial has just concluded, and it’s difficult for me to speak about it at this stage. Regarding the appeal, I am still discussing with my lawyer and haven’t made a decision yet.”

Meanwhile, a questionnaire was sent to Kashiwabara. It asked how she views the judgment, her thoughts on breaking up B’s family and causing her pain, and whether she pressured A to divorce or persuaded A to stop financial support to B.

Her response was, 

“I have no comments.”

Will the four-year-long infidelity scandal come to a resolution?