Sagami Removes Explicit Condom Prize Ad From JOPT Ladies Championship
Generic product gift sets remain listed for successful players after the sponsor apologized over the backlash.
Sagami has withdrawn the advertisement that explicitly listed condoms and lubricant among the prizes for the Japan Open Poker Tour Ladies Championship in Tokyo, after the promotion drew widespread criticism from players and fans.
The ¥30,000 buy-in women-only event remains scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12, during JOPT 2026 Tokyo #03. The detailed listing had offered 150 condoms and three bottles of lubricant to the winner, with smaller condom and lubricant packages for the second- and third-place finishers.
As we reported earlier this week, the original prize list drew objections that a tournament intended to support women poker players was instead sexualizing its finalists.
The specific prize description has now been removed. Sagami’s remaining sponsorship language describes the awards more broadly as Sagami Product Gift Sets, and successful players still appear set to receive those generic packages. The top finishers were also due to receive sponsored merchandise, clothing and jewelry.
Sagami apologized Oct. 7 to people made uncomfortable by the sponsorship. The company said its aim was to promote poker as a mind game, support the challenges of female players, and encourage respect for opponents and oneself. Its original sponsorship materials had said Sagami, a manufacturer of condoms and related products, supported women players’ journeys and challenges.
The change narrows the public description of the sponsored awards, rather than removing the sponsor from the event. JOPT’s website had initially set out the contents of each gift set, including Sagami Original products and water-based lubricant, before switching to the general wording used in Sagami’s press release.
The bonus packages were separate from the tournament’s main prizes. Japanese gaming laws prevent cash payouts to tournament winners, so the Ladies Championship prize pool consists of player contracts and tournament tickets, reported at roughly $10,900 in value, rather than cash. The Ladies Championship is set to begin at noon local time on Oct. 12.
