Kakeru Announces Retirement from Esports Amid Health Challenges

Kakeru, the reigning Capcom Cup champion and Evo 2025 finalist, has announced his retirement from competitive esports.

The shocking news was confirmed through official statements from his team, ZETA DIVISION, as well as Capcom and Kakeru himself. According to the statements, an ongoing neurological issue is at the root of his decision. As a result, Kakeru has also withdrawn from Street Fighter League Japan for this season. His spot on the team will be filled by teammate Yamaguchi, and Kakeru will officially leave ZETA DIVISION by the end of the year.

Kakeru first broke into the spotlight in 2023 after winning the Red Bull Kumite Japan qualifiers, earning a chance to compete in the Last Chance Qualifier in South Africa. There, he defeated EndingWalker in the grand finals to secure a spot in the main Red Bull Kumite event.

His strong performance continued at Evo 2023, where he made Top 8 before falling to Tokido in a match that is still fondly remembered by fans. Later that year, he won the first iteration of the Esports World Cup (then known as Gamers8), defeating Evo 2023 champion AngryBird in the grand finals and earning a reputation as the “Master of the Perfect Parry.”

Throughout 2024, Kakeru remained a major figure on the global Street Fighter 6 scene, claiming victories at tournaments such as Blink Respawn and consistently placing highly at others. However, he faced a period of adjustment when JP, his main character, received balance changes that forced him to adapt. He eventually returned to form, finishing at the top of the World Warrior Japan leaderboard and qualifying for Capcom Cup. There, he triumphed in dominant fashion, dropping only one game to Tokido in the group stage.

Heading into 2025, expectations were high as Kakeru joined ZETA DIVISION following his departure from Team Ibushigin. His new lineup was widely seen as one of the strongest in Street Fighter League Japan.

Unfortunately, his season took a sudden downturn at the Esports World Cup, where he was forced to withdraw at the group stage after a loss to Xiao Hai. Since then, his participation in tournaments has been minimal, and fans grew concerned about his absence. Hope briefly returned when it was discovered that Kakeru had been playing Street Fighter 6 ranked matches and had reached one of the top positions globally with C. Viper.

However, his recent announcement confirms that he will no longer be competing for the foreseeable future. It is an unfortunate development for the scene, especially since it marks the second time in recent years that a reigning Capcom Cup champion has stepped away from competition. In 2024, UMA, the previous champion, also chose to retire shortly after his win, opting to pursue other endeavors.

Kakeru’s case is particularly painful because he had made it clear that he wanted to continue his career in the game. Sadly, his health issues have made that impossible for now.

Capcom Esports also released a statement explaining that Kakeru’s forfeited Capcom Cup slot will be transferred to AngryBird, who placed fourth in the last Capcom Cup. This follows tournament protocol, as the second-place finisher, Blaz, already qualified through Evo France, and the third-place finisher, LeShar, earned his spot earlier this year by winning Combo Breaker.

The FGC has shown an outpouring of support since the announcement, with many expressing sadness but also wishing Kakeru a full and speedy recovery.

While his competitive career has been cut short, Kakeru’s impact on Street Fighter 6 and his legacy as one of Japan’s most exciting players will not be forgotten. Fans across the world are hopeful that one day he can make a full recovery and return to the game he helped define.