Hinako Shibuno made a heroic return home Tuesday evening after becoming a household name by winning the Women's British Open on Sunday.
What was awaiting the country's newest golf star upon her arrival at Haneda airport was a large flock of fans, reporters and TV cameras. A total number of more than 140 reporters from 54 different media outlets came.
"I was overwhelmed because it was more than I thought it would be," the 20-year-old, who became the second Japanese to capture an overseas major title and the first since Hisako Higuchi won the 1977 LPGA Championship, said of the huge welcome at a news conference at the airport.