Outside of Japan, Yuji Masuda-san isn’t as famous as he is in Japan. But to the surprise of many in the global golf industry, Masda Golf is a bigger name than both Miura and KYOEI in Japan.
For over twenty years, Masda Golf has been known as the best “G” brand in Japan. For those of you who are not aware, “G” Brand refers to smaller makers from Japan. And Masda Golf is at the top of that mountain.
He has appeared on Japan’s most famous variety television programs and rubbed elbows with famous Japanese baseball players and athletes, many of whom use his equipment. He is also well known as Jumbo Ozaki’s artisan club crafter, creating many of the custom irons, wedges, and putters throughout Jumbo’s famous career.
Who is Yuji Masuda?
Yuji Masuda is the visionary founder and master craftsman behind Masda Golf, recognized as the greatest among Japan’s “small” golf equipment makers. Since establishing the company in 2004, Yuji Masuda has committed himself to preserving the art of traditional Japanese club crafting, which seamlessly blends performance, beauty, and a deeply rooted respect for heritage.
The Art of Yuji Masuda’s Craftsmanship
Masda Golf is the vision of Yuji Masuda. With decades of experience, Masuda’s hands-on approach to shaping, grinding, and fine-tuning each club ensures that every piece embodies performance and beauty. His journey includes working alongside legendary golfer Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki, crafting clubs that played a role in his historic career. When Ozaki made history at the 2013 Tsuruya Open by shooting his first age-score round on a men’s regular tour event, he used a special-tuned wedge made exclusively by Masuda.
While many of today’s golf clubs are cranked out by machines in huge factories, Masda Golf likes to do things the old-school way. Every club we make is shaped, ground, and finished by hand in Japan by some seriously skilled craftsmen. It’s not about pumping out high volume—it’s about taking the time to get each detail right.
Masda clubs are designed to work with your natural swing, helping you improve your game instead of covering up mistakes. We’re not chasing the latest trends or gimmicks. Instead, we build clubs that focus on real performance and feel—tools that help you become a better golfer, one swing at a time.
Masda Golf runs its factory in Yachiyo, Chiba Prefecture, where the magic happens. Every club goes through a super detailed process, from raw materials to final hand-finishing. Nothing gets rushed, and nothing slips by unnoticed. Our craftsmen inspect each club by hand to ensure everything meets our high standards.
In 2014, they took things further and built a grip factory. That’s where the “Slick Fit Grip” was born, a unique design that built a cult following among golfers who know what they like. While most brands outsource their grips, they keep everything in-house to control the quality from top to bottom. It’s all part of making sure every Masda club lives up to the level of craftsmanship they believe in.
Take their “STUDIO” putter, for example. It blends precise machining with careful hand-polishing, resulting in a putter that feels thoughtfully made, both in appearance and performance.
Every curve and line is intentional, shaped with a clear purpose. Masda isn’t about chasing trends or mass appeal—it’s for golfers who care about the process behind what they’re using. There’s a quiet satisfaction in playing something made with actual hands, in a place where that kind of work still matters. If that approach speaks to you, Masda might be worth a closer look.
This isn’t your typical grip factory churning out products on an assembly line. It’s a proper old school setup in Japan, where every grip starts from scratch no pre-made blanks, no shortcuts. They use all natural rubber, and I actually watched someone cut the raw material with scissors before grinding and painting them by hand. I’ve seen a lot in the golf world, but this was definitely a first.
The factory itself is bigger than I expected five buildings in total, with a couple that are two stories tall. It’s got all the high-tech gear too: a Golfzon simulator, a separate Trackman for dialing in fittings, even an outdoor putting green, a bunker, and a massive swing cage. Pro golfers stop by here regularly to get dialed in.
One of their most well known staffers right now is Sakura Yokomine from the JLPGA. She’s had a strong career with 23 wins in Japan, a top-10 finish at the U.S. Women’s Open, and even played on the LPGA Tour for a bit. These days she’s rolling with 11 Masda clubs in her bag no endorsement deal, just using them because she likes them.
Yuji Style
There’s no mistaking when you’ve stepped into Yuji Masuda’s world. Unlike many of Japan’s well-known club makers who are undoubtedly skilled but often quiet and reserved—Yuji brings a whole different kind of energy. The guy’s got flair. Every corner of his factory feels like a reflection of his personality.
Old-school Americana is everywhere. Vintage license plates, classic tools, custom knickknacks it’s like walking into a personal museum. You’ll find at least three motorcycles scattered across the place, from a heavily customized Harley in the main showroom to a couple of old Honda bikes upstairs. Nothing is stock. Most of it, he’s worked on himself.
Climb up to the second floor and you’ll stumble into a full-blown tribute to baseball, golf, and boxing—walls packed with signed memorabilia and collectibles. It’s less of a typical golf factory and more like a creative space built by someone who’s deeply into what he does not just golf, but life in general.
What stood out most during my visit was that Yuji Masuda clearly isn’t trying to fit any mold. He’s not following the typical path of a golf brand founder or a traditional craftsman. He’s doing things his way, simply because he enjoys it. And honestly, that vibe is just as much a part of Masda as the clubs themselves.
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