Japan women's national volleyball team

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Japan
Flag of Japan.svg
Nickname(s)Nippon (火の鳥NIPPON) [1]
Association Japan Volleyball Association [2]
Confederation AVC
Head coach Ferhat Akbaş
FIVB ranking 5 Steady2.svg (29 June 2025) [3]
Uniforms
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Home
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Away
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Third
Summer Olympics
Appearances14 (First in 1964 )
Best result Gold medal.svg (1964, 1976)
World Championship
Appearances18 (First in 1960 )
Best result Gold medal world centered-2.svg (1962, 1967, 1974)
www.jva.or.jp/en/senior_women/ (in English)
Honours

The Japan women's national volleyball team (Hinotori Nippon, 火の鳥NIPPON), or All-Japan women's volleyball team, is currently ranked 7th [4] in the world by FIVB. The head coach is Ferhat Akbaş.

Contents

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.

Masae Kasai standing in the center of podium as the captain of Oriental Witches [ja]
, 1964 Tokyo Olympics Women's Volleyball Oriental Witches, volleyball at the 1964 Summer Olympics.jpg
Masae Kasai standing in the center of podium as the captain of Oriental Witches  [ ja ], 1964 Tokyo Olympics Women's Volleyball

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

EventGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Olympic Games 2226
Nations League 0101
World Championship 3317
World Grand Prix 0101
World Cup 1203
World Grand Champions Cup 0033
Asian Games 54413
Asian Championship 57719
Asian Cup 1102
Eastern Asian Championship 60410
Universiade 33410
Montreux Volley Masters 1225
Asian Cup 1146
Universiade 25411
Total20272370

History

2012 London Olympics

Japan 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

Japan 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

YearGamesHostRunner-up2nd Runner-up
1962 # 4th World Championship USSR Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Flag of Poland.svg Poland
1964 # Tokyo Olympic Games Japan Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Flag of Poland.svg Poland
1967 # 5th World Championship Japan Flag of the United States.svg USA Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea
1974 & 7th World Championship Mexico Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea
1976 & Montreal Olympic Games Canada Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea
1977 &2nd World CupJapan Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea

#, & – Twice 3 Straight Major titles in 1960s and 1970s

(World Women's Volleyball Championship, World Cup, Olympic Games)

Results

International

Olympic Games

 Gold    Silver    Bronze    Fourth place

Olympic Games record
YearRoundPositionGPMWMLSWSL
Flag of Japan.svg 1964 Round robinGold550151
Flag of Mexico.svg 1968 Round robinSilver761193
Flag of Germany.svg 1972 FinalSilver541143
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 1976 FinalGold550150
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg 1980 Did not participate
Flag of the United States.svg 1984 SemifinalsBronze541125
Flag of South Korea.svg 1988 SemifinalsFourth place5231012
Flag of Spain.svg 1992 Quarterfinals5th place532109
Flag of the United States.svg 1996 Group stage9th place514312
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2000 Did not qualify
Flag of Greece.svg 2004 Quarterfinals5th place624613
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 2008 Quarterfinals5th place624714
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 2012 SemifinalsBronze8531711
Flag of Brazil.svg 2016 Quarterfinals5th place624712
Flag of Japan.svg 2020 Group stage10th place514612
Flag of France.svg 2024 Group stage9th place31246
Total2 titles14/16764333145113

World Championship

 Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

World Championship record
YearRoundPositionGPMWMLSWSL
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg 1952 Did not compete
Flag of France.svg 1956
Flag of Brazil (1960-1968).svg 1960 Final placesRunners-up761195
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg 1962 Final placesChampions990271
Flag of Japan.svg 1967 Round robinChampions33090
Flag of Bulgaria.svg 1970 Final placesRunners-up981255
Flag of Mexico.svg 1974 Final placesChampions11110332
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg 1978 FinalRunners-up9722112
Flag of Peru.svg 1982 SemifinalsFourth place963209
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg 1986 5th–8th places7th place8441314
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 1990 5th–8th places8th place7341113
Flag of Brazil.svg 1994 5th–8th places7th place7431411
Flag of Japan.svg 1998 5th–8th places8th place8441412
Flag of Germany.svg 2002 First round13th place523810
Flag of Japan.svg 2006 5th–8th places6th place11742318
Flag of Japan.svg 2010 SemifinalsThird place11832817
Flag of Italy.svg 2014 Second round7th place9542117
Flag of Japan.svg 2018 Third round6th place12752818
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Flag of Poland.svg 2022 Quarterfinals5th place10732411
Flag of Thailand.svg 2025 SemifinalsFourth place7521811
Total3 titles18/2015210646356186

World Cup

World Grand Champions Cup

FIVB World Grand Prix

FIVB Nations League

Montreux Volley Masters

  • 1989 Med 3.png Bronze Medal
  • 2001 Med 3.png Bronze Medal
  • 2005 – 4th place
  • 2009 – 7th place
  • 2010 – 7th place
  • 2011 Med 1.png Gold Medal
  • 2013 – 5th place
  • 2014 – 6th place
  • 2015 Med 2.png Silver Medal
  • 2019 Med 2.png Silver Medal

Continental

Asian Games

  • 1962 Asian Games Gold medal blank.svg Gold Medal
  • 1966 Asian Games Gold medal blank.svg Gold Medal
  • 1970 Asian Games Gold medal blank.svg Gold Medal
  • 1974 Asian Games Gold medal blank.svg Gold Medal
  • 1978 Asian Games Gold medal blank.svg Gold Medal
  • 1982 Asian Games Silver medal blank.svg Silver Medal
  • 1986 Asian Games Silver medal blank.svg Silver Medal
  • 1990 Asian Games Bronze medal blank.svg Bronze Medal
  • 1994 Asian Games Bronze medal blank.svg Bronze Medal
  • 1998 Asian Games Bronze medal blank.svg Bronze Medal
  • 2002 Asian Games Bronze medal blank.svg Bronze Medal
  • 2006 Asian Games Silver medal blank.svg Silver Medal
  • 2010 – 6th place
  • 2014 – 4th place
  • 2018 – 4th place
  • 2022 Asian Games Silver medal blank.svg Silver Medal

Asian Championship

Asian Cup

Head-to-head record

This page shows Japan women's national volleyball team's Head-to-head record at the Volleyball at the Summer Olympics, FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League.

OpponentGPMWML
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 110
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 220
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 422
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 14113
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 440
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 110
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 431
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 1358
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 110
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 211
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 220
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 862
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 101
Flag of France.svg  France 110
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 651
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 110
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 110
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 110
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 725
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 330
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 110
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 725
Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 110
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru 541
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 954
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 110
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 523
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 734
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 17125
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 633
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 110
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 550
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 743
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 110
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1358
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 110
Total1649470

Team

Current squad

The following is the Japan roster in the 2025 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League [14]

Head coach: Flag of Turkey.svg Ferhat Akbaş
No.NameDate of birthPositionHeight
2 Ayaka Araki September 2, 2001 (age 24)MB185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
3 Haruyo Shimamura March 4, 1992 (age 33)MB182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
4 Mayu Ishikawa (c)May 14, 2000 (age 25)OH174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
6 Nanami Seki June 12, 1999 (age 26)S171 cm (5 ft 7 in)
8 Manami Kojima November 7, 1994 (age 30)L158 cm (5 ft 2 in)
11 Nichika Yamada February 24, 2000 (age 25)MB184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
12 Satomi Fukudome November 23, 1997 (age 27)L162 cm (5 ft 4 in)
13 Yukiko Wada January 2, 2002 (age 23)OH174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
15 Airi Miyabe July 29, 1998 (age 27)MB181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
19 Miiku Iwasawa October 13, 1999 (age 25)OH162 cm (5 ft 4 in)
22 Tsukasa Nakagawa August 13, 2000 (age 25)S159 cm (5 ft 3 in)
26 Yoshino Sato November 12, 2001 (age 23)OH178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
30 Ayane Kitamado July 6, 2004 (age 21)OH183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
33 Miku Akimoto August 18, 2006 (age 19)OH185 cm (6 ft 1 in)

Former squads

Head coach: Tadayoshi Yokota

No.NameDate of birthHeight1994 club
1 Motoko Obayashi 15.06.67182 cm (5 ft 11+12 in) Hitachi
2 Aki Nagatomi 17.07.69173 cm (5 ft 8 in) Hitachi
3 Chie Natori 09.08.69176 cm (5 ft 9+12 in) Daiei
4 Mika Yamauchi 07.10.69182 cm (5 ft 11+12 in) Daiei
6 Tomoko Yoshihara 04.02.70179 cm (5 ft 10+12 in) Hitachi
7 Kiyoko Fukuda 04.08.70178 cm (5 ft 10 in) Hitachi
8 Miho Murata 03.09.70178 cm (5 ft 10 in) Hitachi
9 Asako Tajimi 26.02.72179 cm (5 ft 10+12 in) Hitachi
12 Yumi Natta 12.07.69161 cm (5 ft 3+12 in) Daiei
13 Naomi Eto 12.07.72186 cm (6 ft 1 in) Hitachi
16 Maki Fujiyoshi 24.05.74178 cm (5 ft 10 in) Hitachi
17 Miyuki Shimasaki 13.10.74178 cm (5 ft 10 in) Hitachi
5 Kazuyo Matsukawa 07.01.70181 cm (5 ft 11+12 in) Daiei
10 Kumiko Sakamoto 13.12.72177 cm (5 ft 9+12 in) Daiei
14 Minako Onuki 15.10.72173 cm (5 ft 8 in) NEC
15 Miho Ota 27.10.73179 cm (5 ft 10+12 in) Hitachi
18 Eiko Yasui 08.05.71164 cm (5 ft 4+12 in) Kanagawa

Coaches history

See also

References

  1. "Nickname:HINOTORI NIPPON". jva.or.jp. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  2. "JVA". Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  3. "The FIVB Women's World Ranking". FIVB. 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  4. "FIVB Senior World Ranking - Women". The FIVB. FIVB. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  5. "Remembering Volleyball's 'Oriental Witches' - The New York Times". Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  6. "LONDON 2012 VOLLEYBALL, VOLLEYBALL WOMEN". olympic.org. August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  7. "Brazil, Japan reach semifinals". ESPN.com. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  8. "Japan humbled by Brazil in women's volleyball semifinals, to play S. Korea for bronze". The Japan Times. 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  9. "Japan beats South Korea for historic volleyball bronze". The Japan Times. 12 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  10. "Kenya Unveil Roster For The Tokyo Olympics". fivb.com. 26 June 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  11. "Kenya Unveil Roster For The Tokyo Olympics". This is Volleyball. 26 June 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  12. "Malkia Strikers go down to Japan in Olympics opener". Citizentv.co.ke. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  13. NEWS, KYODO. "Olympics: Dominican Republic ends Japan women's volleyball quest". Kyodo News+. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  14. "Japan VNL 2025". Volleyball World. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  15. "New women's volleyball coach Nakada ready for challenge". japantimes.co.jp. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  16. "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.