Yukie Sakaguchi is one of the recognizable names in Japanese women's darts, easiest to spot by the black necktie she wears in competition, her trademark look for years. She's built her career on the domestic Japanese circuit before crossing over to the international stage. Here's who she is, how she got started, the titles she's picked up along the way, and her connection to fellow Japanese player Mikuru Suzuki.
Who is Yukie Sakaguchi: the Tokyo player who started at age 9
Sakaguchi was born on November 19, 1994, in Shinagawa, Tokyo. She's reportedly been throwing darts since 2003, at age 9, earlier than many players on tour. Her nickname is "Yukinyan," and the black necktie she wears while competing is a rare touch of distinction among Japanese women's players.
Domestic titles: from U22 champion to multiple women's crowns
Sakaguchi built her early results in the U22 youth division, winning the SOFT DARTS Championship U22 title in both 2015 and 2017. She went on to collect a run of domestic women's titles, including two Dartslive Japan Ladies wins in 2019, plus the Bud Brick Memorial and the West Japan Cup in 2023.
2021: stepping onto the PDC Women's Series
In October 2021, Sakaguchi traveled to Barnsley, England, for her PDC Women's Series debut, and won her first match. Her best WDF results include a last-32 finish at the 2022 World Masters and a top-12 finish at the 2022 Australian Open.
A regular on the PDC Women's Series alongside Mikuru Suzuki
Sakaguchi and Mikuru Suzuki are regular teammates and rivals on the PDC Women's Series circuit, having faced off at events like the West Japan Open and the Australian Darts Open. They're two of the names that come up together whenever Japanese women's darts gets discussed. Sakaguchi currently throws Tiga's signature barrel, the "Emprechu," at 18.5g, a name blending "Empress" with a cuter image, an extension of her own personal style.
From a 9-year-old just picking up darts to a regular fixture on the PDC Women's Series stage, Sakaguchi's path shows that starting early and sticking with it counts for a lot, even before results start showing up on an international scoreboard. Want to meet more Japanese players? Check out our Japanese darts players guide. AI DARTS runs its Phoenix soft-tip boards 24 hours a day, menu here.