Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist, who had claimed two Super 300 titles at Syed Modi International and Swiss Open this year, prevailed 21-15, 21-7 over world number 38 Kawakami in a 32-minute last-four clash.
This was Sindhu's first semifinal entry since the Thailand Open in May. She will next face unseeded Saena Kawakami
PV Sindhu staved off a spirited challenge from Thuy Linh Nguyen, while HS Prannoy defeated Chou Tien Chen to reach the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open.
Mithun Manjunath recorded a stunning win over Kidambi Srikanth while Ashmita Chaliha defeated world number 12 Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the first round of Singapore Open.
Being the last tournament before the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, starting later this month, the duo cannot afford to take it easy.
With the loss India's campaign at the tournament ends as Prannoy lost despite claiming the first game 17-21, 21-9, 21-17
Sindhu lost for the 17th time in her career to her nemesis Tai Tzu Ying. The last time Sindhu had defeated Tzu Ying was en route to her 2019 World Championship gold in Basel.
PV Sindhu will cross swords with her nemesis Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the last eight of Malaysia Masters.
Tsuneyama, ranked 14th in the world, beat Momota 21-15, 21-16 in an encounter lasting 50 minutes
Praneeth defeated Cordon 21-8, 21-9, in a match that lasted for 26 minutes. The Indian shuttler dominated the proceedings in both the games and stormed into the second round
The Indian pair was outplayed by the Malaysians 14-21 14-21 in the opening round match that lasted just 33 minutes.
The incident occurred during PV Sindhu's women's singles semi-final match of the Badminton Asia Championships in April.
Axelsen won his fifth title at Malaysia Open this season after already claiming the All England Open, European Championships and Indonesia Open and Masters titles.
Sindhu and Prannoy had suffered contrasting defeats at the quarter-final stage of the Malaysia Open Super 750 last week and will look to make amends this week even though there was hardly any time to iron out the flaws.
Chinese Taipei shuttler extended her domination over the Indian ace, leading 16-5 on the head-to-head record. Sindhu has now lost six matches on the trot against Tai Tzu.
While HS Prannoy has had a blistering year so far, PV Sindhu will try to make a comeback after a poor show at the Indonesia Open. Saina Nehwal, on the contrary, will come back after a break.
While Prannoy beat Malaysia’s Daren Liew, Praneeth and Sameer lost to Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka and Jonatan Christie respectively.
Two stalwarts of Indian women's badminton, PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, suffered contrasting fates at the Malaysia Open Super 750 tournament.