Lexus has officially teamed up with two of Japan’s top athletes, Wataru Endo, captain of the Japanese national football team, and Kanoa Igarashi, professional surfer and Olympic medalist. The brand says the move reflects their shared pursuit of excellence and global ambition.
Endo, who’s currently playing midfield for Liverpool FC in the Premier League, helped lead his club to a league title in the 2024–2025 season. He also serves as captain of Japan’s national squad, the Samurai Blue. For him, this partnership is personal: “The first car I drove as a professional footballer was a Lexus,” he said. “As a Japanese player living in the UK, driving a Lexus is a point of pride.”
Igarashi, on the other hand, has been a standout in the surfing world since he burst onto the scene in 2016 as the youngest and first Asian surfer to qualify for the World Surf League Championship Tour. He’s kept that streak going for a decade now and took home a silver medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held in 2021. “For surfers, the car is almost part of your body,” he said. “Lexus helps me chase waves no one’s ever ridden before.”
Both athletes bring a global spotlight to the Lexus brand. And it’s not just about logos and commercials—it’s about aligning with people who embody the kind of drive and precision Lexus wants to be known for.
Endo hails from Yokohama and has had a storied football career that includes playing in the 2016 Rio Olympics, multiple World Cup appearances, and stints with clubs across Japan, Belgium, Germany, and now England. Igarashi, based in California but with Japanese roots, became a world champion in 2022 at the ISA World Surfing Games, capping off years of dedication that began when he was a teen winning national titles in the U.S.
As Lexus leans further into supporting global talent, this new chapter with Endo and Igarashi isn’t just about branding—it’s about backing two individuals chasing greatness on land and sea.