The Japan women's national volleyball team (Hinotori Nippon, 火の鳥NIPPON), or All-Japan women's volleyball team, is currently ranked 6th[4] in the world by FIVB. The head coach is Masayoshi Manabe.
One of their greatest successes was at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, when they defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union on the way to the gold medal.
Japan was qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics by winning the Women's Olympic Qualifier that was held from 8 May to 16 May in Tokyo, Japan. In Athens, Greece the team took fifth place in the overall-rankings.
Finally after almost three decades of medal drought in the Olympics, Japan took home the bronze medal by defeating South Korea in the 2012 Summer Olympics.[6]
Medals
edit| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Nations League | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| World Championship | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| World Grand Prix | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| World Cup | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| World Grand Champions Cup | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Asian Games | 5 | 4 | 4 | 13 |
| Asian Championship | 5 | 7 | 7 | 19 |
| Asian Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Eastern Asian Championship | 6 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Universiade | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| Montreux Volley Masters | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Asian Cup | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Universiade | 2 | 5 | 4 | 11 |
| Total | 20 | 27 | 23 | 70 |
History
edit2012 London Olympics
editJapan qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics as the best Asian team in the 2012 FIVB Women's World Olympic Qualification Tournament. In the 2012 Olympics, Japan had been placed on Group A with Russian Federation, Italy, Dominican Republic, the host Great Britain and Algeria. Japan finished third in the Group. In the quarter-finals, Japan faced their old Asian rival China. Saori Kimura and Yukiko Ebata each scored 33 points in this thrilling game in which China were beaten by 3–2.[7] It was their first win over China in 11 years as far as FIVB games are concerned. On 9 August 2012, the Japanese were outplayed by the defending champions Brazil in the semi-finals.[8] On 11 August 2012, Japan beat South Korea 3–0 in the bronze medal match. It is the first Olympics' volleyball medal for the Japanese since the 1984 Summer Olympics.[9] On August 13, 2012, Japan Women's Team was ranked 3rd in the world behind United States women's national volleyball team and Brazil women's national volleyball team.
2020 Tokyo Olympics
editJapan was the host nation for the 2020 Summer Olympics. The other teams in their group in Tokyo were Kenya, Serbia, Brazil, Korea and the Dominican Republic.[10] Japan's opening match was on 25 July 2021 in Tokyo against Kenya.[11] They beat Kenya in their first match in straight sets [12] and lost against Serbia, Brazil, Korea and the Dominican Republic which caused them to miss the qualification for the quarterfinals.[13]
Winner of 6 major world titles
edit| Year | Games | Host | Runner-up | 2nd Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 # | 4th World Championship | USSR |  USSR |
 Poland
|
| 1964 # | Tokyo Olympic Games | Japan | USSR |
Poland
|
| 1967 # | 5th World Championship | Japan |  USA |
 South Korea
|
| 1974 & | 7th World Championship | Mexico | USSR |
South Korea
|
| 1976 & | Montreal Olympic Games | Canada | USSR |
South Korea
|
| 1977 & | 2nd World Cup | Japan |  Cuba |
South Korea
|
#, & – Twice 3 Straight Major titles in 1960s and 1970s
(World Women's Volleyball Championship, World Cup, Olympic Games)
Results
editInternational
editOlympic Games
edit
1964 – 
Gold Medal
1968 – 
Silver Medal
1972 – Silver Medal
1976 – Gold Medal
1984 – 
Bronze Medal
1988 – 4th place
1992 – 5th place- 1996 – 9th place
2004 – 8th place
2008 – 7th place
2012 – Bronze Medal
2016 – 8th place- 2020 – 10th place
2024 – Qualified
World Championship
edit- 1960 –
Silver Medal 
1962 – 
Gold Medal- 1967 – Gold Medal
1970 – Silver Medal- 1974 – Gold Medal
- 1978 – Silver Medal
1982 – 4th place
1986 – 7th place- 1990 – 8th place
- 1994 – 7th place
- 1998 – 8th place
- 2002 – 13th place
- 2006 – 6th place
- 2010 –
Bronze Medal 
2014 – 7th place- 2018 – 6th place
2022 – 5th place
World Cup
edit
1973 – 
Silver Medal- 1977 –
Gold Medal - 1981 – Silver Medal
- 1985 – 4th place
- 1989 – 4th place
- 1991 – 7th place
- 1995 – 6th place
- 1999 – 6th place
- 2003 – 5th place
- 2007 – 7th place
- 2011 – 4th place
- 2015 – 5th place
- 2019 – 5th place
World Grand Champions Cup
edit- 1993 – 4th place
- 1997 – 5th place
- 2001 –
Bronze Medal - 2005 – 5th place
- 2009 – 4th place
- 2013 – Bronze Medal
- 2017 – 5th place
FIVB World Grand Prix
edit
1993 – 6th place- 1994 – 4th place
- 1995 – 7th place
- 1996 – 8th place
- 1997 – 4th place
1998 – 7th place- 1999 – 7th place
2000 – 8th place
2001 – 6th place- 2002 – 5th place
- 2003 – 9th place
- 2004 – 9th place
- 2005 – 5th place
- 2006 – 6th place
- 2007 – 9th place
- 2008 – 6th place
- 2009 – 6th place
- 2010 – 5th place
- 2011 – 5th place
- 2012 – 9th place
- 2013 – 4th place
- 2014 –
Silver Medal - 2015 – 6th place
2016 – 9th place- 2017 – 7th place
FIVB Nations League
edit- 2018 – 10th place
- 2019 – 9th place
- 2021 – 4th place
2022 – 7th place- 2023 – 7th place
- 2024 –
Silver Medal
Montreux Volley Masters
edit- 1989 – Bronze Medal
- 2001 – Bronze Medal
- 2005 – 4th place
- 2009 – 7th place
- 2010 – 7th place
- 2011 –
Gold Medal - 2013 – 5th place
- 2014 – 6th place
- 2015 – Silver Medal
- 2019 – Silver Medal
Continental
editAsian Games
edit
1962 – 
Gold Medal- 1966 – Gold Medal
- 1970 – Gold Medal
1974 – Gold Medal- 1978 – Gold Medal
1982 – 
Silver Medal- 1986 – Silver Medal
- 1990 –
Bronze Medal - 1994 – Bronze Medal
- 1998 – Bronze Medal
- 2002 – Bronze Medal
2006 – Silver Medal- 2010 – 6th place
- 2014 – 4th place
- 2018 – 4th place
- 2022 – Silver Medal
Asian Championship
edit
1975 – Gold Medal- 1979 – Silver Medal
- 1983 – Gold Medal
- 1987 – Silver Medal
- 1989 – Bronze Medal
- 1991 – Silver Medal
- 1993 – Silver Medal
- 1995 – Bronze Medal
- 1997 – Bronze Medal
- 1999 – Bronze Medal
- 2001 – 4th place
2003 – Silver Medal- 2005 – Bronze Medal
- 2007 – Gold Medal
- 2009 – Bronze Medal
2011 – Silver Medal- 2013 – Silver Medal
- 2015 – 6th place
- 2017 – Gold Medal
- 2019 – Gold Medal
- 2021 – Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
- 2023 – Bronze Medal
Asian Cup
edit
Team
editCurrent squad
editThe following is the Japan roster in the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League[14]
Head coach: 
Masayoshi Manabe
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Pos | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koyomi Iwasaki | 1 May 1989 | S | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| 2 | Kotona Hayashi | 13 November 1999 | OH | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
| 3 | Sarina Nishida | 21 May 1996 | OH | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| 4 | Mayu Ishikawa | 14 May 2000 | OH | 174 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| 5 | Akane Moriya | 8 January 1991 | L | 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) |
| 6 | Nanami Seki | 12 June 1999 | S | 171 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
| 7 | Aya Watanabe | 23 April 1991 | MB | 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| 8 | Manami Kojima | 7 November 1994 | L | 158 cm (5 ft 2 in) |
| 9 | Mizuki Tanaka | 28 January 1996 | OH | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
| 10 | Arisa Inoue | 8 May 1995 | OH | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) |
| 11 | Nichika Yamada | 24 February 2000 | MB | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) |
| 12 | Satomi Fukudome | 23 November 1997 | L | 162 cm (5 ft 4 in) |
| 13 | Tamaki Matsui | 10 January 1998 | S | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
| 14 | Fuyumi Hawi Okumu Oba | 27 June 1998 | OH | 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) |
| 15 | Airi Miyabe | 29 July 1998 | MB | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) |
| 16 | Ai Kurogo | 14 June 1998 | OH | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| 17 | Minami Nishimura | 23 March 2000 | L | 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) |
| 18 | Tsukasa Nakagawa | 13 August 2000 | S | 159 cm (5 ft 3 in) |
| 19 | Shion Hirayama | 7 November 2000 | MB | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| 20 | Ayaka Araki | 2 September 2001 | MB | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) |
| 21 | Yukiko Wada | 8 January 2002 | OH | 174 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| 24 | Miwako Osanai | 19 July 1997 | OH | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| 25 | Hiroyo Yamanaka | 11 November 1999 | MB | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| 26 | Yoshino Sato | 12 November 2001 | OH | 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) |
| 27 | Erika Sakae | 3 April 1991 | S | 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) |
| 28 | Kyoko Hayashi | 16 December 1991 | MB | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) |
| 29 | Mika Shibata | 7 June 1994 | S | 171 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
| 30 | Shiori Tsukada | 7 September 1994 | S | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| 31 | Moeka Kinoe | 24 December 1997 | MB | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| 32 | Ameze Miyabe | 12 October 2001 | OH | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
Former squads
edit- 1994 squad:
Head coach: Tadayoshi Yokota
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Height | 1994 club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motoko Obayashi | 15.06.67 | 182 cm (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | Hitachi |
| 2 | Aki Nagatomi | 17.07.69 | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | Hitachi |
| 3 | Chie Natori | 09.08.69 | 176 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | Daiei |
| 4 | Mika Yamauchi | 07.10.69 | 182 cm (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | Daiei |
| 6 | Tomoko Yoshihara | 04.02.70 | 179 cm (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | Hitachi |
| 7 | Kiyoko Fukuda | 04.08.70 | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | Hitachi |
| 8 | Miho Murata | 03.09.70 | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | Hitachi |
| 9 | Asako Tajimi | 26.02.72 | 179 cm (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | Hitachi |
| 12 | Yumi Natta | 12.07.69 | 161 cm (5 ft 3+1⁄2 in) | Daiei |
| 13 | Naomi Eto | 12.07.72 | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) | Hitachi |
| 16 | Maki Fujiyoshi | 24.05.74 | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | Hitachi |
| 17 | Miyuki Shimasaki | 13.10.74 | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | Hitachi |
| 5 | Kazuyo Matsukawa | 07.01.70 | 181 cm (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | Daiei |
| 10 | Kumiko Sakamoto | 13.12.72 | 177 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | Daiei |
| 14 | Minako Onuki | 15.10.72 | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | NEC |
| 15 | Miho Ota | 27.10.73 | 179 cm (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | Hitachi |
| 18 | Eiko Yasui | 08.05.71 | 164 cm (5 ft 4+1⁄2 in) | Kanagawa |
- 1996 Olympic Games — 9th place (tied)
- 1999 FIVB World Cup — 6th place
- 2002 World Championship — 14th place
- 2003 FIVB World Cup — 5th place
- 2004 Olympic Qualification Tournament — 1st place (qualified)
- 2004 Olympic Games — 5th place (tied)
- 2005 FIVB World Grand Prix — 5th place
- 2008 Olympic Qualification Tournament — 3rd place (qualified)
- 2008 Olympic Games — 5th place (tied)
- 2010 World Championship — 3rd place
- 2012 Olympic Games — Bronze Medal
- Erika Araki (c), Saori Kimura, Yoshie Takeshita, Yukiko Ebata, Kaori Inoue, Ai Otomo, Yuko Sano, Mai Yamaguchi, Risa Shinnabe, Saori Sakoda, Maiko Kano, and Hitomi Nakamichi, Head coach: Masayoshi Manabe.
- 2014 World Championship
- Saori Kimura (c), Miyu Nagaoka, Hitomi Nakamichi, Arisa Takada, Arisa Satō, Mai Yamaguchi, Mizuho Ishida, Yuki Ishii, Risa Shinnabe, Yukiko Ebata, Saori Sakoda, Kana Ōno, Sayaka Tsutsui, and Haruka Miyashita, Head coach: Masayoshi Manabe.
- 2016 Olympic Games — 5th place
- Saori Kimura (c), Miyu Nagaoka, Arisa Satō, Mai Yamaguchi, Yuki Ishii, Saori Sakoda, Haruka Miyashita, Kanami Tashiro, Erika Araki, Yurie Nabeya, Haruyo Shimamura and Kotoki Zayasu, Head coach: Masayoshi Manabe.
- 2018 World Championship — 6th Place
- 2020 Summer Olympics — 10th Place
- Erika Araki (c), Ai Kurogo, Sarina Koga, Kanami Tashiro, Mayu Ishikawa, Haruyo Shimamura, Mako Kobata, Yuki Ishii, Mai Okumura, Aki Momii, Kotona Hayashi and Nichika Yamada, Head coach: Kumi Nakada
- 2022 World Championship — 5th Place
Coaches history
edit- Tadayoshi Yokota
- Kuniaki Yoshida
- Nobushika Kuzuwa
- Masahiro Yoshikawa
- Shoichi Yanagimoto (2003–2008)
- Masayoshi Manabe (2008–2016; 2021–present)
- Kumi Nakada (2016–2021)[15][16]
Gallery
edit-
Sata Isobe spiking ball against Soviet Union National Team, 1964 Tokyo Olympics Women's Volleyball -
Emiko Miyamoto at the 1964 Olympics -
Yuriko Handa at the 1964 Olympics -
Masae Kasai standing in the center of podium as the team leader, 1964 Tokyo Olympics Women's Volleyball
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Nickname：HINOTORI NIPPON". jva.or.jp.
- ^ "JVA".
- ^ "AVC".
- ^ "FIVB Senior World Ranking - Women". The FIVB. FIVB. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ Remembering Volleyball's 'Oriental Witches' - The New York Times
- ^ "LONDON 2012 VOLLEYBALL, VOLLEYBALL WOMEN". olympic.org. August 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ "Brazil, Japan reach semifinals". ESPN.com. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ "Japan humbled by Brazil in women's volleyball semifinals, to play S. Korea for bronze". The Japan Times. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ "Japan beats South Korea for historic volleyball bronze". The Japan Times. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ "Kenya Unveil Roster For The Tokyo Olympics". fivb.com. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ "Kenya Unveil Roster For The Tokyo Olympics". This is Volleyball. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "Malkia Strikers go down to Japan in Olympics opener". Citizentv.co.ke. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ NEWS, KYODO. "Olympics: Dominican Republic ends Japan women's volleyball quest". Kyodo News+. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ^ https://en.volleyballworld.com/volleyball/competitions/volleyball-nations-league/teams/women/6607/players/
- ^ "New women's volleyball coach Nakada ready for challenge". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "女子バレー 中田久美監督が退任「不本意な結果、大変申し訳ない」後任は未定" (in Japanese). yahoo.co.jp. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.