Hajime Watanabe 🇯🇵

Originally from Tokyo, Japan, where he currently resides, Hajime Watanabe has successfully transitioned from regional Japanese festivals to the global professional stage. While he is a staple of the Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT), his resume has expanded significantly to include regular appearances at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in the United States and major Asian Poker Tour (APT) stops in Taiwan and South Korea.

Hajime Watanabe is known for a resilient and high-pressure tournament strategy, often excelling in fast-paced “Turbo” and “Deepstack” formats. His ability to navigate massive fields was evidenced at the 2025 WSOP, where he bagged a top ten chip count ending Day 1 of the $800 Deepstack, demonstrating strong accumulation skills and aggression against world-class fields. His tactical approach combines a disciplined understanding of stack management with the versatility needed to succeed in both traditional freezeouts and high-stakes bounty events.

With over $322,900 in total live earnings, Hajime Watanabe ranks 81st on the Japan All Time Money List. According to The Hendon Mob, his career-best live cash of $85,992 was achieved in November 2025 at the APT Championship Taipei , where he finished 4th in the Natural8 Cup Freezeout. The year 2025 served as a definitive breakout for Watanabe, during which he surpassed the $100,000 earnings milestone and briefly led the chip counts on Day 2 of the WSOP $800 Deepstack in Las Vegas. His performance on the world stage included multiple deep runs, most notably a 1,025th place finish in the WSOP Main Event for $17,500. Watanabe’s recent records highlight his elite consistency in high-stakes fields. In November 2025, he secured a runner-up finish in the APT Taipei Single Day High Roller Mystery Bounty for $24,042. Additionally, he recorded a 3rd place finish in the APT Jeju Last Chance High Roller for $23,614 and a 2nd place finish in the APT Jeju Turbo High Roller for $14,385 earlier in October 2025. Hajime Watanabe (photo courtesy of Asian Poker Tour)