Nippon Volleyball: Japanese National Volleyball Team

Japanese National Volleyball Team

Welcome to my blog that I am dedicating to the Japanese Volleyball team.

Why do I like this team especially?
Seeing the Japanese play in 2008 impressed my a lot. Watching a team that has such a "giant" variety of heights and fighting equally with their much bigger opponents displayed a great show. Watch the match 2010 Japan vs. Brazil (Video Link Archive)

What are their skills?

The japanese volleyball team has many extreme skills. Such as: speed, perfect defense and intelligent play. They had to find a way to make up to their limited heights and the much bigger opponents.

Where are they standing in the world?
Japan is for a while now on the 3rd place at the FIVB World Ranking. Only USA (1st) and Brazil (2nd) are on top. Closely behind are Italy (4th) than with some space China (5th), Serbia (6th) and Russia (7th).

Who are the current players?
At the OGQ Tournament played a constant role: Erika Araki, Yoshie Takeshita, Saori Kimura, Yukiko Ebata, Risa Shinabe, Yuko Sano and a new face Kanoko Hirai. A bit in the background were Mai Yamaguchi, Saori Sakoda, Maiko Kano, Hitomi Nakamichi and Nana Iwasaka. Completely missing were Mizuho Ishida, Ai Yamaguchi, Kotoki Zayasu, Megumi Kurihara. But Megumi Kurihara is back!

Watch the last team foto 27.05. 2012

The heights of the japanese volleyball team:

The Japanese volleyball team is at the Olympic Games the lowest of all nations. Their team height average is 1,75 m/ 68,9 inch.

Name	Number	Height	Attack	Block
Kurihara, Megumi	1	187 cm	315 cm	295 cm
Araki, Erika	11	186 cm	308 cm	298 cm
Kimura, Saori	12	185 cm	304 cm	293 cm
Iwasaka, Nana	10	187 cm	300 cm	281 cm
Otomo, Ai	4	184 cm	312 cm	305 cm
Kano, Maiko	15	185 cm	304 cm	285 cm
Ebata, Yukiko	14	178 cm	305 cm	290 cm
Sakoda, Saori	16	175 cm	305 cm	279 cm
Shinabe, Risa	13	173 cm	295 cm	280 cm
Ishida, Mizuho	9	174 cm	301 cm	280 cm
Takeshita, Yoshie	3	159 cm	280 cm	270 cm
Nakamichi, Hitomi	2	159 cm	270 cm	256 cm

Older Team photos

Nippon 2009

What will you find on this site?

On this site you will find major informations and links to different championship videos, mainly form the japanese team. Later will be following other teams.

The video below shows the immense defense power of the japanese volleyball team. One by one is shown with their defense skills. Starting with the libero Yuko Sano and ending with Saori Kimura.

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Fivb World Grand Prix

Finals
24.08. Japan vs Brazil 0:3
(15:25; 18:25; 25:27)
23.08. Japan vs Belgium 3:0
22.08. Japan vs China 3:0
21.08. Japan vs Turkey 3:0
20.08. Japan vs Russia 3:1
(18:25; 25:20; 25:21; 25:17)

Pool I
15: 08 JPN vs SRB
25:17; 10:25; 25:17; 25:19)

16:08. JPN vs KOR
22:25; 25:21; 25:22; 25:19)

17. 08 CHN vs. JPN
(20:25; 22:25; 25:18; 26:28)

Pool F
08.08. JPN vs ITA 2:3
20:25; 17:25; 25:21; 25:20; 11:15)

09.08. JPN vs CHN
(16:25; 14:25; 22:25)

10.08. JPN vs THA
(25:18; 25:15; 19:25; 25:20)

Pool A
03.08. JPN vs USA 2:3
(27:25; 17:25; 22:25, 26:24; 11:15)
03.08. TUR vs Russia 3:2

02.08. JPN vs Russia 1:3
(23:25; 13:25; 26:24, 18:25)
02.08. TUR vs USA 3:2

01.08. USA vs Russia 1:3
01.08 JPN vs TUR 0:3
(27:29; 19:25; 21:25)

Match News

09.07 Japan vs. Brazil

The dream of the gold medal has finally ended in a short 3 set match.
Japan had no chance to built their rhythm and were constantly trying to defend the brazilian attacks which lead to a 25:18 victory in the first set. The next two sets ended at an similar pace . Brazil definitely showed their strength in that match after having a troublesome start in the Olympic matches.

Japan will face tomorrow their rivals Korea with the tournaments best scorer Kim Yeoun Koung who will be the favorites in that match. Korea who lost to the USA 3:0 played great against the US. women. Both teams have a very similar game play with Saori Kimura and Yukiko Ebata on the Japanese side and the tallest person of this match on the Korean side. Both will not only play for the bronze medal but also for the honor for their country.

07.08 Japan vs. China

A high tension thriller match was won by the unsuspected Japanese team. In a match as David against Goliath with the sheer willpower the much smaller japanese team won after 11 years over China.

It started as an equal match with points gained by both teams one by one. When Japan lost track to a 4 points chinese lead at the end of the first set it was nearly for sure for China to win this set with their much more powerful spikes. But Japan came back due to full concentration and perfect defense and turned this set as their own 28:26.
The second and third set with the same tension was won by China 25:23 while Japan won the third set 25:23. Both teams were full equally opponents even with different skills.
Japan took a small lead in the fourth set and had the possibility to close the match as a 3:1 win but China came back in this play just as Japan turned the fist set and won the fourth set to prove their favorite role.
To this point both teams had nearly exactly the same statistics and it was for sure that the match would be won only by a small lead and by the team with the most concentration.
Japan had a good start but could not finish the tie break with 15 points as China came to an eye to eye level and played past Japan to a set point. . As Wang Y. Mei got the ball for a powerful spike everything looked as the match would end. But the ball was blocked and held in the japanese field to draw level.
A good serve by Hitomi Nakamichi and a mistake by China brought the final win over China.

Saori Kimura and Yukiko Ebata scored both sensational 33 points while the whole team proved 200% concentration in serving setting and digging.
Watching Yoshie Takeshita you could see and feel her willpower by watching her spectacular digging and rescue actions for winning this match and the goal of gaining a Olympic Medal. Like her the whole team showed enormous SPIRIT (!) and be-charmed the audience at the Earls Court who cheered for the Japanese actions and points.

Japan will face tomorrow (09.08) at 19.30 (GWT) Brazil who powered past Russia in a same high tension match that was decided in a five set thriller 21:19.
It will probably be a same equally match as before when they met in Japan at the World Cup 2011. Back then Japan won over Brazil 3:0 - but this time it will not be this easy.

24.06. Japan vs. Korea
Japan was reunited in their last match at the WGP 2012 with their 1st class squad. Korea still didn't bring Kim Yeon Koung into action and lost at least half of their power.
Although for neither of both teams this match had a special meaning due to not being able to qualify for the finals both fought very hard. At most the digging today was very much fun to watch. Japan did everything to get the ball! In the end Japan beat Korea 3:0 with an energetic Saori Sakoda who scored 20 points.

23.06. Japan vs. Turkey

Yuko Sano was back in the second meeting between Japan and Turkey at WGP 2012 and showed the brilliance of the japanese defense. Especially the first set was an impressive battle which Japan could turn as their own 25:23. The second set was dominated by a very concentrated Turkish Team who weren't fooled by Japans tricky play and presented a very perfect defense and strong attack - winning the second set 25:14. Japan returned at times in the 3rd set but could not continue their performance from the first set and lost also the 3rd set 21:25.
Completely out of concentration and accompanied with many faullts by the Japanese Team Turkey took a giant lead in the 4th set finishing this match 25:17.
After defeating Japan Turkey qualified for the finals in Ningbo winning 7 of 8 matches. Japan will not take a part in the finals this year falling on the 10th place in the table.
Mizuho Ishida scored 21 points in this match. Luckily Mai Yamaguchi found her old play and Saori Kimura and Yoshie Takeshita joined in the 4th set.
--> Watch the whole match Japan vs Turkey

Japan vs Thailand 17.06.

Thailand beat Japan at home with great team play and defense.
In the first set Japan had to struggle with the good thai serving which made it difficult to establish a good attack - so Thailand won the first set with a great space 25:15 . The next two sets were turned by better receiving and blocking the thai attack by the japanese Team. Japan played now on more tricky, finding a hole in the middle of the thai defense. After the 3rd set it looked good for Japan to finish this match but Thailand came back showing their great attacks and defense skills. In the 5th set Japan had a great advantage at 13:09 and then 14:11 but a better organized thai team showed to never give up and fought their way past Japan to win the 5th set 18:16. Thailand is probably the most surprising team at the WGP winning to this point 5/6 matches. Congratulation!
Match was linked at Video Link Archive

Japan vs. Puerto Rico 16.06

After a fighting Puerto Rican Team in the first set which Japan could turn as their victory the next two sets Japan played more and more concentrated. Still keeping up the level in the beginning with good serving and defense the Puerto Ricans lost track in the 2nd and 3rd sets. Unnecessarily Megumi Kurihara got injured by jumping on the foot of a Puerto Rican attacker (that was too far on the japanese side) and had to leave at the very end of the last set. It was really a shame this situation happened and so needless two points away from japanese victory 25:16. We hope there will be no problems with the ligament due to her just started coming back!

Japan vs Korea 10.06.:

After two struggling matches against Turkey and Cuba, Japan had to win at least this game against their neighbors and constant rivals Korea.

And they did with the support of captain Erika Araki and Yukiko Ebata in all 4 sets. These two players were missing in the matches before and proofed today their need.

Korea had real trouble with the japanese serving and could not succeed with their young team members against a

more coordinated and better attuned japanese team. Maiko Kano was today's best scorer with 16 attacking points followed by Erika Araki with 10 points.

The last match meant the first victory in pool C.

Japan vs Turkey 08.06.:
A very unspectacular tournament beginning match has ended. Both sides did not play with their best players. The personal changes on the japanese side were very fundamental.
No Yuko Sano, Yoshie Takeshita, Saori Kimura or Yukiko Ebata. So the team played in a young constellation with Hitomi Nakamichi, Saori Sakoda, Maiko Kano, Nana Iwasaka, Mai Yamaguchi, Risa Shinabe and as libero Kotoki Zayasu. Finally back again on the field are the two most important middle blocker Kaori Inoue and Ai Yamamoto - both were missing due to injuries.
It was a match with no glamour that ended after 1 hour and after three sets by a very dominating Turkish team that blocked and attacked to strong for Japan. Masyoshi Manabe gave his players a lot of space for finding their own way but did not succeed. Saori Sakoda was Japans top scorer with 15 points. Followed by Kaori Inoue and Maiko Kano with both 7 points.

27.05 Japan vs. Serbia
This is volleyball! Having started a perfect, concentrated match Japan lost after a fantasic lead in the 3rd and 4th set.
Everything look so good for Erika Araki and her team. Being the master key for the first set japans captain proofed her blocking and attacking qualities from the right outside with 9 direct points and winning the first set.
This match meant to be an eye to eye fight and it was. Serbia won the second set. Both teams played on an equal level which was seen in the statistics. To this point both teams had the same attacking, blocking and serving points.
The 3rd set was a disaster for Serbia for not having any answers to japans actions. Having worked hard for a 20:10 lead it was Japans time to make serious mistakes but finishing this set 25 to 21. Expecting this play and lead to be the ensured win, Serbia turned the 4th set at point 19:19 to win 25:21. This meant to be a fight till the end in the fith set.
Neither of both teams had the concentration and condition from the first set and so Japan gave the lead to Serbia due to serving errors and not overcoming the now well positioned serbian block. Serbia won 15:9 and having ensured the 3rd place of this qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games.
Japans heroine today was definitly Erika Araki with her 17 attacking points and 4 blocks showing that her team is not depending on a single attacker but a collectively team play.

Japanese National Volleyball Team

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