Yasushi, or ‘Dragon’ as he prefers to be called, triumphed in his first year on the European Seniors Tour in 2002. That year he became the third 2001 Qualifying School graduate to win when he defeated Ireland’s Denis O’Sullivan in a three-hole play-off in the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open in Switzerland. The victory made him the third Japanese golfer, after Seiji Ebihara and Noboru Sugai, to win on the 2002 Seniors Tour. In 2003 he finished joint second in the season-ending Estoril Seniors Tour Championship behind Carl Mason. In 2004 he picked up three top ten finishes but had to return to the Qualifying School where he was ranked 15th to receive conditional status for 2005. Turned professional in 1979 and subsequently became known as one of his country’s biggest hitters, having won the JPGA Long Driving Championship on four occasions. He is a huge fan of Elvis Presley and is a familiar sight on Tour with his hair slicked back in the style of his hero.