{{Short description|Japanese badminton player (born 2001)}} {{Infobox badminton player | name = Akari Satō | image = File:佐藤灯2023高雄羽球大師賽混雙冠軍.jpg | image_size = | caption = Sato at the [[2023 Kaohsiung Masters]] | country = Japan | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2001|3|31}} | birth_place = [[Saitama Prefecture]], Japan | height = 1.66 m | weight = | years_active = | handedness = Right | coach = Norio Imai | event = Women's & mixed doubles | career_record = XD 46 wins, 23 losses ({{tennis win percentage|won=45|lost=20|decimals=2}})<br />WD 24 wins, 8 losses ({{tennis win percentage|won=24|lost=8|decimals=2}}) | highest_ranking = 30 (XD with [[Hiroki Nishi]], 27 August 2024)<br />106 (WD with [[Hina Osawa]], 2 September 2025) | date_of_highest_ranking = | current_ranking = | date_of_current_ranking = | retired = 30 June 2025<ref name="retired" /> | titles = | medal_templates = {{MedalSport | Women's [[badminton]] }} {{MedalCountry | {{JPN}} }} {{MedalCompetition | [[Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships|Asia Mixed Team Championships]] }} {{MedalBronze | [[2025 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships|2025 Qingdao]] | Mixed team }} | bwfbadminton_id = 91600 }}

{{nihongo|'''Akari Sato'''|佐藤 灯|Satō Akari|born 31 March 2001}} is a former Japanese [[badminton]] player from [[Saitama Prefecture]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Akari SATO {{!}} Profile |url=https://bwfbadminton.com/player/91600/akari-sato |publisher=[[Badminton World Federation]] |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> She was a member of the [[Japan national badminton team|Japan national team]] and affiliated with ACT Saikyo.<ref>{{cite web |title=Akari SATO {{!}} Profile |url=https://www.badminton.or.jp/profile/sato_akari.html |publisher=[[Nippon Badminton Association]] |access-date=7 March 2025 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Akari SATO {{!}} Profile |url=https://actsaikyo-badminton.jp/player/sato.html |publisher=ACT Saikyo |access-date=7 March 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> Sato won two [[BWF World Tour|Super 100]] titles: the [[2024 Vietnam Open|Vietnam Open]] and the [[2024 Kaohsiung Masters|Kaohsiung Masters]].

== Early career == Akari Sato began her badminton training at Hatokaya Wings, a junior club in [[Kawaguchi, Saitama|Kawaguchi]], [[Saitama Prefecture]]. She attended Kasukabe Municipal Takesato Junior High School and [[:ja: 叡明高等学校|Eimei High School]] before enrolling at [[Ryukoku University]] in April 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Akari SATO {{!}} Profile |url=https://www.sj-league.jp/team_playerinfo/team/2024/women/act-saikyo/1.html |publisher=Badminton S/J League |access-date=11 April 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> During her time at university, she partnered with Rio Uemura to win the All Japan Intercollegiate Championships in women's doubles in consecutive years, 2021 and 2022. In 2022, she also teamed up with university teammate [[Hiroki Nishi]], who was two years her junior, securing third place in the mixed doubles at the [[All Japan Badminton Championships]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Akari SATO {{!}} Profile |url=https://www.jsports.co.jp/badminton/about/player/sato/ |publisher=[[J Sports]] |access-date=11 April 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> This performance led to their selection for the 2023 [[Japan national badminton team|Japan National Team]] (B Team), coached by [[Lee Wan Wah]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Announcement of the players selected for the 2023 Japan National Team |url=https://www.badminton.or.jp/press_release/docs/nationalPlayer_info_20221230.pdf |publisher=Nippon Badminton Association |access-date=11 April 2025 |language=ja |date=30 December 2022}}</ref> This selection marked the first time a student-athlete from the Ryukoku University Badminton Club was chosen for the national team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ryukoku University Club: For the first time in the club's history, the pair of Akari Sato and Hiroki Nishi were selected for the 2023 Japanese National Badminton Team |url=https://mainichi.jp/univ/articles/20230213/org/00m/100/013000c |publisher=Mainichi Shimbun |access-date=11 April 2025 |language=ja |date=14 February 2023}}</ref>

== Career == === 2023 === Following her graduation from Ryukoku University in March, Sato initially joined the [[Resonac]] badminton team in April, before transferring to the ACT Saikyo team in July of the same year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Announcement of the addition of Akari Sato to the team |url=https://actsaikyo-badminton.jp/news/2469.html |publisher=ACT Saikyo |access-date=11 April 2025 |language=ja |date=4 August 2023}}</ref> In her first year on the national team, Sato and Nishi won three mixed doubles titles. They secured their first [[BWF World Tour|World Tour]] title at the Super 100 [[2023 Vietnam Open|Vietnam Open]], defeating Thailand's [[Ruttanapak Oupthong]] and [[Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat]].<ref name="vie23">{{cite web |title=Linh wins Vietnam Open badminton title |url=https://vietnamnews.vn/sports/1593959/linh-wins-vietnam-open-badminton-title.html |publisher=[[Việt Nam News]] |access-date=7 March 2025 |date=18 September 2023}}</ref> They then went on to win the Super 100 [[2023 Kaohsiung Masters|Kaohsiung Masters]], overcoming the top-seeded Indonesian duo of [[Dejan Ferdinansyah]] and [[Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja]], and triumphed at the [[Indonesia International]].<ref name="tpe23">{{cite web |title=Kaohsiung Masters 2023 - Dejan/Gloria runner-up |url=https://www.djarumbadminton.com/internasional/berita/read/kaohsiung-masters-2023-dejangloria-runner-up/ |publisher=Djarum Badminton |access-date=7 March 2025 |language=id |date=1 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Indonesia International Challenge 2023 - Hiroki/Akari win third title |url=https://www.djarumbadminton.com/en/internasional/berita/read/indonesia-international-challenge-2023-hirokiakari-raih-titel-juara-ketiga/ |publisher=Djarum Badminton |access-date=7 March 2025 |language=id |date=22 October 2023}}</ref> The pair also finished second in the [[2023 Indonesia Masters Super 100 I|Indonesia Masters Super 100]].<ref name="ina10023">{{cite web |last1=Boopathy |first1=K. M. |title=Roy King-Valeree win first international title this year in Indonesia |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/badminton/2023/09/10/roy-king-valeree-win-first-international-title-this-year-in-indonesia |publisher=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |access-date=7 March 2025 |date=10 September 2023}}</ref>

=== 2024 === In 2024, Sato and Nishi won their sole mixed doubles title at the [[Saipan International (badminton)|Saipan International]], defeating compatriots [[Yuichi Shimogami]] and [[Sayaka Hobara]] in the final.<ref name="si241">{{cite web |last=Gases |first=Leigh |title=Another sweep for Japan in doubles finals |url=https://www.saipantribune.com/sports/another-sweep-for-japan-in-doubles-finals/article_2e0536a0-433f-11ef-9a3f-3703b5c3bbd0.html |publisher=[[Saipan Tribune]] |access-date=22 January 2025 |date=17 July 2024 |archive-date=20 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220191939/https://www.saipantribune.com/sports/another-sweep-for-japan-in-doubles-finals/article_2e0536a0-433f-11ef-9a3f-3703b5c3bbd0.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> They also reached the final of the All Japan Badminton Championships, where a foot injury to Sato forced their withdrawal, resulting in a runner-up finish.<ref>{{cite web |title=Observation Report: Monday, December 30th, 6th Day of the Tournament (Final) |url=https://badminton.or.jp/all_japan/2024/report_1230.html |publisher=Nippon Badminton Association |access-date=11 April 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> Partnering with [[Maya Taguchi]] in women's doubles, Sato reached the semifinals of the [[Luxembourg Open (badminton)|Luxembourg Open]] and the [[Saipan International (badminton)|Saipan International]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Day Four of the DOVE Saipan International 2024: Quarterfinals and Semifinals Deliver Intense Action |url=https://badmintonoceania.org/day-four-of-the-dove-saipan-international-2024-quarterfinals-and-semifinals-deliver-intense-action/ |publisher=Badminton Oceania |access-date=11 April 2025 |date=14 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Luxembourg Open 2024 review |url=https://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/luxembourg-open-2024-review/ |publisher=Badminton England |access-date=11 April 2025 |date=5 May 2024}}</ref>

=== 2025 === Sato was selected for the 2025 Japan National Team in mixed doubles with Nishi.<ref>{{cite web |title=2025 Japan National Team and Coaches |url=https://www.badminton.or.jp/national/member/2025.html |publisher=Nippon Badminton Association |access-date=11 April 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> She represented Japan at the [[2025 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships|Asia Mixed Team Championships]] in February, where the team earned a bronze medal.<ref>{{cite web |title=China Charges into BAMTC 2025 Finals After Epic Showdown Against Japan |url=https://badmintonasia.org/2025/02/16/china-charges-into-bamtc-2025-finals-after-epic-showdown-against-japan-2/ |publisher=Badminton Asia |access-date=11 April 2025 |date=16 February 2025}}</ref> Sato also made her debut at the [[2025 Badminton Asia Championships|Asian Championships]] with Nishi, reached the first round after winning their initial round-robin matches.<ref>{{cite web |title=Badminton Asia Championships 2025: Results, Japanese players, and performance list |url=https://www.olympics.com/ja/news/badminton-asia-championships-2025-team-japan-results |publisher=International Olympic Committee |access-date=11 April 2025 |language=ja |date=8 April 2025}}</ref> In May, Sato and Nishi secured their first national title together, winning the mixed doubles event at the [[Japan Ranking Circuit Tournament|Japan Ranking Circuit]] by defeating Olympic medalist [[Yuta Watanabe (badminton)|Yuta Watanabe]] and [[Misaki Matsutomo]] in the final.<ref>{{cite web |title=[Japan Ranking Circuit 2025] New champions are born in three doubles events! In mixed doubles, Hiroki Nishi and Akari Sato defeat the Olympic medalist pair! <Final results/doubles> |url=https://www.badspi.jp/202505241921/ |publisher=Badminton Spirit |access-date=24 May 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250524123540/https://www.badspi.jp/202505241921/ |archive-date=24 May 2025 |language=ja |date=24 May 2025}}</ref> In the women’s doubles, Sato reunited with [[Hina Osawa]], and together they won three titles: the [[Sri Lanka International]] Series, the Sri Lanka International Challenge, and the [[Vietnam International Challenge|Vietnam International]].<ref name="srlis25">{{cite web |title=Buwaneka claims silver at HUNDRED Series |url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/250309/sports/buwaneka-claims-silver-at-hundred-series-591507.html |publisher=[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|The Sunday Times]] |access-date=9 March 2025 |date=9 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="srlic25">{{cite web |title=Malaysia’s Aidil and Japan’s Suizu emerge HUNDRED Challenge champs |url=https://www.thepapare.com/malaysias-aidil-and-japans-suizu-emerge-hundred-challenge-champs/ |publisher=ThePapare |access-date=7 March 2025 |date=3 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="vie25">{{cite web |title=Đình Hoàng - Đình Mạnh defeated Japanese badminton players, won historic championship at Vietnam Challenge |url=https://tcdulichtphcm.vn/the-thao/dinh-hoang-dinh-manh-ha-cao-thu-cau-long-nhat-ban-vo-dich-lich-su-o-vietnam-challenge-c28a94153.html |publisher=Tạp Chí Du Lịch TP.HCM |access-date=3 April 2025 |language=vi |date=31 March 2025}}</ref> However, on 1 July 2025, ACT Saikyo announced Sato's retirement from professional badminton.<ref name="retired">{{cite web |title=Announcement of retirement of players Akari Sato and Yui Suizu |url=https://actsaikyo-badminton.jp/news/3149.html |publisher=ACT Saikyo |access-date=1 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250701073711/https://actsaikyo-badminton.jp/news/3149.html |archive-date=1 July 2025 |language=ja |date=1 July 2025}}</ref> Concurrently, the [[Nippon Badminton Association]] announced her resignation from the 2025 Japan national team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Press Release: Announcement of withdrawal from the 2025 Japan national team |url=https://www.badminton.or.jp/press_release/docs/pressRelease_2_20250701.pdf |publisher=Nippon Badminton Association |access-date=1 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250701072604/https://www.badminton.or.jp/press_release/docs/pressRelease_2_20250701.pdf |archive-date=1 July 2025 |language=ja |date=1 July 2025}}</ref>

== Achievements == === BWF World Tour (2 titles, 1 runner-up) === The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,<ref>{{cite web |last=Alleyne |first=Gayle |title=BWF Launches New Events Structure |url=http://bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2017/03/19/bwf-launches-new-event-structure/ |publisher=[[Badminton World Federation]] |date=19 March 2017 |access-date=29 November 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201164159/http://bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2017/03/19/bwf-launches-new-event-structure/ |archive-date=1 December 2017}}</ref> is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the [[Badminton World Federation]] (BWF). The BWF World Tour is divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super&nbsp;1000, Super&nbsp;750, Super&nbsp;500, Super&nbsp;300, and the BWF Tour Super&nbsp;100.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sukumar |first=Dev |title=Action-Packed Season Ahead! |url=http://bwfworldtour.com/news-single/2018/01/10/action-packed-season-ahead/ |publisher=Badminton World Federation |date=10 January 2018 |access-date=15 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113162925/http://bwfworldtour.com/news-single/2018/01/10/action-packed-season-ahead/ |archive-date=13 January 2018}}</ref>

''Mixed doubles'' {| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! Year ! Tournament ! Level ! Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result ! Ref |- | align="center" | [[2023 Indonesia Masters Super 100 I#Finals 5|2023 (I)]] | align="left" | [[Indonesia Masters Super 100|Indonesia Masters]] | align="left" | Super 100 | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hiroki Nishi]] | align="left" | {{flagicon|MAS}} [[Yap Roy King]]<br />{{flagicon|MAS}} [[Valeree Siow]] | align="left" | 21–13, 14–21, 14–21 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} '''Runner-up''' | style="text-align:center; background:white" | <ref name="ina10023"/> |- | align="center" | [[2023 Vietnam Open#Finals 5|2023]] | align="left" | [[Vietnam Open (badminton)|Vietnam Open]] | align="left" | Super 100 | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} Hiroki Nishi | align="left" | {{flagicon|THA}} [[Ruttanapak Oupthong]]<br />{{flagicon|THA}} [[Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat]] | align="left" | 15–21, 21–18, 21–14 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' | style="text-align:center; background:white" | <ref name="vie23"/> |- | align="center" | [[2023 Kaohsiung Masters#Finals 5|2023]] | align="left" | [[Kaohsiung Masters]] | align="left" | Super 100 | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} Hiroki Nishi | align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} [[Dejan Ferdinansyah]]<br />{{flagicon|INA}} [[Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja]] | align="left" | 22–20, 12–21, 21–14 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' | style="text-align:center; background:white" | <ref name="tpe23"/> |}

=== BWF International Challenge/Series (5 titles) === ''Women's doubles'' {| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! Year ! Tournament ! Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result ! Ref |- style="background:#D8CEF6" | align="center" | 2025 | align="left" | [[Sri Lanka International]] | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hina Osawa]] | align="left" | {{flagicon|THA}} [[Tidapron Kleebyeesun]]<br />{{flagicon|THA}} [[Nattamon Laisuan]] | align="left" | 22–20, 15–21, 21–15 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' | style="text-align:center; background:white" | <ref name="srlic25"/> |- style="background:#D5D5D5" | align="center" | 2025 | align="left" | Sri Lanka International | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} Hina Osawa | align="left" | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Min-ji (badminton)|Kim Min-ji]]<br />{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Yu-jung]] | align="left" | 21–19, 17–21, 21–13 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' | style="text-align:center; background:white" | <ref name="srlis25"/> |- style="background:#D8CEF6" | align="center" | 2025 | align="left" | [[Vietnam International Challenge|Vietnam International]] | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} Hina Osawa | align="left" | {{flagicon|TPE}} [[Hsu Ya-ching]]<br />{{flagicon|TPE}} [[Sung Yu-hsuan]] | align="left" | 21–13, 21–12 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' | style="text-align:center; background:white" | <ref name="vie25"/> |}

''Mixed doubles'' {| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! Year ! Tournament ! Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result ! Ref |- style="background:#D8CEF6" | align="center" | 2023 (II) | align="left" | [[Indonesia International]] | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hiroki Nishi]] | align="left" | {{flagicon|MAS}} [[Choong Hon Jian]]<br />{{flagicon|MAS}} [[Go Pei Kee]] | align="left" | 22–20, 18–21, 21–14 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' | style="text-align:center; background:white" | <ref>{{cite web |title=Indonesia International Challenge 2023 - Japan dominates, hosts no title |url=https://www.djarumbadminton.com/internasional/berita/read/indonesia-international-challenge-2023-jepang-mendominasi-tuan-rumah-nirgelar/ |publisher=Djarum Badminton |access-date=7 March 2025 |language=id |date=22 October 2023}}</ref> |- style="background:#D8CEF6" | align="center" | 2024 | align="left" | [[Saipan International (badminton)|Saipan International]] | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} Hiroki Nishi | align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yuichi Shimogami]]<br />{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Sayaka Hobara]] | align="left" | 21–11, 21–10 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} '''Winner''' | style="text-align:center; background:white" | <ref name="si242">{{cite web |title=Thrilling Conclusion: Champions Crowned at DOVE Saipan International 2024 Finals |url=https://badmintonoceania.org/thrilling-conclusion-champions-crowned-at-dove-saipan-international-2024-finals/ |publisher=[[Badminton Oceania]] |access-date=22 January 2025 |date=13 July 2024}}</ref> |}

: {{Color box|#D8CEF6|border=darkgray}} [[BWF International Challenge]] tournament : {{Color box|#D5D5D5|border=darkgray}} [[BWF International Series]] tournament

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category|Akari Sato}} * {{BWFB|91600}} * [https://bwfworldtour.bwfbadminton.com/player/91600/akari-sato Akari Sato] at BWFWorldTour.BWFBadminton.com * [https://www.badminton.or.jp/profile/sato_akari.html Akari Sato] at [[Nippon Badminton Association]] {{in lang|ja}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20250312101911/https://actsaikyo-badminton.jp/player/sato.html Akari Sato] at ACT Saikyo {{in lang|ja}} (archived) * [https://www.jsports.co.jp/badminton/bwf/player/sato/ Akari Sato] at [[J Sports]] {{in lang|ja}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sato, Akari}} [[Category:2001 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Japanese female badminton players]] [[Category:21st-century Japanese sportswomen]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Saitama (city)]] [[Category:Ryukoku University alumni]]