Merging performance with passion, Lexus introduces two remarkable athletes as its newest global brand partners: Wataru Endo, commanding the field as captain of Japan’s national football team and a midfield force for Liverpool FC, and Kanoa Igarashi, a surfing sensation and Olympic silver medalist.
Celebrated for their unwavering drive and exacting standards, Endo and Igarashi personify the bold excellence that defines the Lexus identity.
This partnership reflects Lexus’ commitment to individuals who go beyond limits in pursuit of mastery. With this collaboration, Lexus will support Endo and Igarashi through a variety of initiatives that amplify their achievements on and off the field.
Driven by Excellence: Wataru Endo
A fixture in global football, Endo joined Liverpool FC in 2023 and played a pivotal role in securing the club’s Premier League title in the 2024–2025 season. As captain of SAMURAI BLUE, Japan’s national team, Endo represents leadership, resilience, and focus—values that align with Lexus’ own pursuit of exceptional performance.
“The first car I ever drove as a professional was a Lexus,” Endo shared. “It’s an honor to now represent a brand I’ve long admired. Driving a Lexus in the UK as a Japanese athlete is a personal point of pride, and I remain dedicated to performing at my highest level for both club and country.”
In Pursuit of the Perfect Wave: Kanoa Igarashi
Igarashi made history as the first Asian surfer to qualify for the WSL Championship Tour in 2016. A decade later, he remains one of the sport’s defining figures, with a silver medal from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and a World Surfing Games title to his name. Surfing, much like driving, requires instinct, balance, and harmony with one’s surroundings—values that Lexus continues to refine through every model.
“Surfers see the car as an extension of the body—an essential part of the journey,” said Igarashi. “With Lexus, I believe I can chase waves no one has ever reached. I’m excited to explore this journey with a brand that shares my vision for excellence.”
| Detail | Wataru Endo | Kanoa Igarashi |
| Date of Birth | February 9, 1993 | October 1, 1997 |
| Height / Weight | 178 cm / 77 kg | 180 cm / 78 kg |
| Hometown | Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan | California, United States |
| Current Club / Sport | Liverpool FC | Professional Surfer |
| Previous Clubs | Shonan Bellmare, Urawa Reds, Sint-Truidense VV, VfB Stuttgart | N/A |
| Career Highlights | 2015: Selected for the Japan National Team (SAMURAI BLUE) for the first time 2016: Competed in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games 2017: Won the AFC Champions League 2018: Represented Japan at the FIFA World Cup in Russia 2021: Competed in the Tokyo Olympic Games 2022: Represented Japan at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2023: Transferred to Liverpool FC in the English Premier League 2023: Appointed captain of the Japan National Team (SAMURAI BLUE) |
2012: Became the youngest-ever winner of the USA Championship U-18 at age 14 2019: Made history as the first Asian surfer to win an event on the WSL Championship Tour (Round 3) 2021: Won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, where surfing debuted as an official Olympic sport 2022: Won the ISA World Surfing Games and achieved his long-held dream of becoming world champion |
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About Lexus
Lexus launched in 1989 with a flagship sedan and a guest experience that helped define the premium automotive industry. In 1998, Lexus introduced the luxury crossover category with the launch of the Lexus RX. The luxury hybrid sales leader, Lexus delivered the world’s first luxury hybrid and has since sold over 2 million hybrid vehicles.
A global luxury automotive brand with an unwavering commitment to bold, uncompromising design, exceptional craftsmanship, and exhilarating performance, Lexus has developed its line-up to meet the needs of the next generation of global luxury guests and is currently available in over 90 countries worldwide.
Lexus associates/team members across the world are dedicated to crafting amazing experiences that are uniquely Lexus, and that excite and change the world.