Scandal at JOPT: Condoms and Lubricant Among Prizes in Ladies Championship

The Japanese poker tournament JOPT found itself at the center of a scandal due to unusual prizes for women — 150 condoms and lubricant. The community is discussing the poor choice of gifts.

A scandal has erupted in the Japanese poker community over the upcoming Ladies Championship tournament, which will take place as part of the Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) series in Tokyo. The controversy was sparked by the announcement of unusual prizes for the winners: the organizers, together with sponsor Sagami—a well-known Japanese condom manufacturer—prepared prize sets for the top female players consisting of 150 condoms and lubricant. This decision triggered a wave of criticism and discussion on social media, putting the JOPT series in the spotlight not only among poker fans but also the general public. JOPT and the Sagami Partnership: Announcement Details The Japan Open Poker Tour is one of the largest poker series in Japan, attracting thousands of players each year and supported by dozens of sponsors. This year, for the Ladies Championship, which will be held in Tokyo on Monday, October 12, the organizers announced a partnership with Sagami. The tournament buy-in is ¥30,000 (about $190). In the official press release, Sagami stated that it brings its corporate spirit to the tournament: “Pleasure first, always respect.” This philosophy is based on the beliefs of the company’s founder, Saku Matsukawa, who believed that the foundation of any human relationship is the ability to enjoy life and respect others. In 1934, Matsukawa became the first in Japan to start producing thin latex condoms, inspired by the problem of unwanted pregnancies and abandoned children in the country at the time. Today, Sagami Original 0.01 mm is one of the thinnest condoms in the world (standard thickness is 0.04-0.07 mm). In the announcement on the X platform (formerly Twitter), the organizers emphasized: “Sagami, which creates products for women and loving couples, supports the journey and aspirations of women players.” However, after a wave of criticism, the detailed description of the prizes was removed from the JOPT website, and in the press release, they are now simply referred to as “Sagami product gift sets.” Prize Breakdown for Ladies Championship Winners 1st place: 12 boxes of Sagami Original condoms (10 per box), 3 boxes of Sagami Original Large (10 per box), and three bottles of water-based lubricant. 2nd and 3rd places: also receive condom sets, lubricant, and branded merchandise. All three prize winners additionally receive jewelry (pearl rings and ear cuffs), as well as branded hoodies, t-shirts, and socks. Community Reaction and Criticism of the Format The prize announcement sparked a strong reaction in the Japanese poker community, especially on X. User @whitezexy was one of the first to draw attention to the unusual choice of prizes: “Is this some kind of joke? The tournament is supposed to expand the female audience, but the prizes are huge sets of sex products for the top three women. It feels like the winners are being seen not as players, but as sexual objects.” According to @whitezexy, concern for the sponsor outweighed respect for the players: “As soon as the prizes become ranked—1st place: 150, 2nd place: 80—this is no longer about education, but a show. Even if they prepared pearl rings and ear cuffs, the huge condom sets ruin the whole impression. If this is a women’s tournament, treat women first and foremost as poker players.” User @hirune_nyam suggested that because of this prize format, fewer women would want to participate in the tournament. @rion_maki_QQ noted the importance of disease prevention but emphasized: “Good intentions and proper execution are different things. If this is about sexual education, why are such prizes only for the women’s tournament?” A long post by @taku88pocket was dedicated to the question: why didn’t the organizers foresee the negative reaction? He noted: “Creating a newsworthy event is one thing, but if women stop participating in the Ladies Championship because of this, doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of the tournament?” Context: The Rise of Poker in Japan and the Role of JOPT In recent years, poker has been rapidly gaining popularity in Japan, helped by the successes of local players on the international stage. Among them are Ryutaro Suzuki , Koji Fujimoto , Naoya Kihara , as well as the historic victories of Shiina Okamoto , who won the Ladies Championship twice in a row. The popularity of live poker events in Japan is also growing: this year, the country hosted the RunGood Poker Series for the first time, and in 2025, a major USOP stop was held in Osaka. JOPT remains the leading national series, and last year’s festival in Tokyo had a total prize pool of about $3 million. In 2025, JOPT was supported by a record 60 sponsors, and the current series is no exception. In addition to Sagami, partners include cigar brands, jewelry companies, and Burger King, which sponsors Event #34. The winner of this tournament will receive coupons for free Whopper burgers for six months and a unique deck of playing cards. Ladies Championship Tournament Table and Prizes 1st place: 12 boxes of Sagami Original (10 each), 3 boxes of Sagami Original Large (10 each), 3 bottles of lubricant, a pearl ring, ear cuff, hoodie, t-shirt, socks. 2nd place: condom and lubricant sets, jewelry, merchandise. 3rd place: condom and lubricant sets, jewelry, merchandise. Tournament buy-in: ¥30,000 (about $190). The Ladies Championship will be held in Tokyo on October 12. Discussion of Ethics and Consequences for Women’s Poker The main complaint against the organizers is the inappropriateness of the prize selection for the women’s championship. Critics note that such gifts can be seen as sexualizing female players and distract from their poker achievements. Although Sagami positions itself as a brand that cares about women’s health and rights, many in the community believe that such initiatives should be implemented differently—for example, through educational campaigns rather than ranked prizes. Among the comments, there is a recurring thought that such decisions may discourage new participants, which contradicts the very idea of expanding the women’s poker community. At the same time, it is noted that partnerships with major brands are an important step for the development of poker in Japan, and organizers should be more careful in choosing the format of such partnerships. The Role of Sponsors in Modern JOPT JOPT actively collaborates with various brands, which not only increases prize pools but also draws attention to poker as a mass sport and entertainment. Among the series’ sponsors are jewelry manufacturers, cigar brands, and major fast-food chains. For example, the winner of Event #34, sponsored by Burger King, will receive coupons for free Whoppers for six months and an original deck of cards. However, the case with Sagami showed that not all partnership formats are equally well received by the audience. It is especially important to consider the specifics of women’s tournaments and player expectations to maintain the series’ reputation and support the development of the poker community. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this situation is a reason to reflect on the importance of respectful treatment of players of any gender and age. Organizers of home and online tournaments can learn a lesson: when choosing prizes and partners, it’s important to consider not only commercial benefits but also audience perception, to maintain a positive atmosphere and attract new participants. Moreover, the JOPT example shows how sponsor integrations can affect a tournament’s image. For PPPoker clubs, this is a signal: even the most creative ideas require prior assessment of community reaction. It’s important to remember that the main value of poker is respect for the player and their achievements, not just flashy prizes. Finally, the development of women’s poker and expanding the audience is a relevant task for all organizers. PPPoker club members can use this case to discuss women’s tournament formats and find the optimal balance between sponsor support and player comfort. This approach will help create truly inclusive and appealing events for all poker enthusiasts.