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Yuki Kurihara (栗原悠輝)

Yuki Kurihara (栗原悠輝) is a Japanese Puyo Puyo esports player who won gold at the 2026 Asian Games at age 11.

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Updated October 13, 2026

Commercial snapshot

Role

Professional Puyo Puyo player

SEGA says Kurihara received a Japan eSports professional licence in April 2026.[2]

Affiliation

Tokyo Verdy eSports Puyo Puyo · Puyo Puyo Champions

JOC lists Tokyo Verdy eSports as his affiliation; the team announced his Puyo Puyo division signing in June 2026.[1][3]

Signature achievement

2026 Asian Games Puyo Puyo gold medalist

He won the final 10–2 at age 11 and became the Games' youngest medalist, Nikkan Sports reported.[4]

Market reach

Japan

JOC lists Kurihara with Team Japan for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.[1]

Career

  1. – Present

    Tokyo Verdy eSports
    PlayerPuyo Puyo ChampionsSource 1Source 2

Overview

Kurihara’s competitive profile combines a first-party SEGA record of junior and open-entry tournament results with a documented professional licence and a Japan national-team place. The 2026 Asian Games gold adds a major multisport title to that record; Nikkan Sports reported that his age made him the youngest medalist in Games history.[2][3][4]

The Tokyo Verdy eSports Puyo Puyo team announced his signing on June 5, 2026. The official announcement also records wins at the 2024 and 2025 national prefectural esports championships, alongside his other Puyo Puyo credentials.[6]

References6
  1. [1]JOC — Yuki Kurihara athlete profile
  2. [2]SEGA — YUUKI's Asian Games selection and tournament record
  3. [3]SEGA — Puyo Puyo professional licences
  4. [4]Tokyo Verdy eSports — YUUKI joins the Puyo Puyo division
  5. [5]Nikkan Sports — Asian Games gold medal report
  6. [6]Tokyo Verdy Club — YUUKI joins the Puyo Puyo division

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News and features

11-Year-Old Yuki Kurihara Wins Asian Games Puyo Puyo Gold
NewsSep 26, 2026

11-Year-Old Yuki Kurihara Wins Asian Games Puyo Puyo Gold

Japan's 11-year-old Yuki Kurihara beat South Korea's Kang Dong-shin 10–2 in the Puyo Puyo final at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, becoming the Asian Games' youngest medalist.

Related entities

Markets

Japan

Cities

Nagoya

Games

Puyo Puyo Champions

Competitions

2026 Asian Games — EsportsAsian Games

Organizations & companies

SEGA

Teams

Tokyo Verdy eSports Puyo Puyo