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Japan men's national volleyball team facts for kids

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Japan
[[File:Logojva.png|180px|frameless|Flag]]
Nickname(s) Ryujin Nippon
Association Japan Volleyball Association
Confederation AVC
Head coach Vacant (Philippe Blain 2022-2024)
FIVB ranking 16 (as of September 2014)
Uniforms
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
　
Home
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
　
Away
Summer Olympics
Appearances 10 (First in 1964)
Best result Gold medal.svg (1972)
World Championship
Appearances 17 (First in 1960)
Best result Bronze medal world centered-2.svg (1970, 1974)
FIVB World Cup
Appearances 15 (First in 1965)
Best result Simple silver cup.svg (1969, 1977)
Asian Championship
Appearances 22 (First in 1975)
Best result Gold medal asia.svg (1975, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 2005, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2023)
Website www.jva.or.jp/national_team/2024/men_member/

The Japan men's national volleyball team is also known as Ryujin Nippon, which means "Dragon God of Japan." This team represents Japan in big international volleyball games. The Japan Volleyball Association manages the team.

As of September 2024, the team is ranked sixth in the world. They even reached second place before the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Japan won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. They then won silver at Mexico 1968 and a gold medal at Munich 1972. After these early successes, the team struggled for a while. They missed three Olympic Games before returning for Beijing 2008.

At the FIVB World Championship, Japan earned bronze medals in 1970 and 1974. They also won silver medals at the 1969 and 1977 FIVB World Cup.

Even with some tough times in world leagues, Japan is known as one of Asia's top volleyball teams. Japan's SV.League is often seen as the best volleyball league in Asia. The national team has won the Asian Championships ten times and the Asian Games eight times.

Recently, Japan has been doing very well in world leagues. They reached the Quarterfinals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. They finished seventh both times, which is their best result since the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. In the last three years, they won bronze and silver medals at the 2023 FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League and the 2024 event. These are their best results in this tournament since it started in 2017.

Team Achievements and Medals

Japan's men's volleyball team has won many medals in different competitions. Here's a quick look at their total medals:

Event Gold Silver Bronze Total
Olympic Games 1 1 1 3
World Championship 0 0 2 2
World Cup 0 3 0 3
World Grand Champions Cup 0 0 1 1
Nations League 0 1 1 2
Asian Games 8 2 3 13
Asian Championship 10 4 4 18
Asian Cup 0 1 3 4
Eastern Asian Championship 6 0 4 10
Universiade 3 3 4 10
Goodwill Games 0 0 1 1
Total 28 15 23 66

Tournament Results

Japan has competed in many major volleyball tournaments around the world. Here are some of their results.

Volleyball WC 2006 Japan flag
Japan national team fans in World Championship 2010

Olympic Games History

     1st place       2nd place       3rd place       4th place

Japan has a strong history at the Olympic Games, winning gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Olympic Games record
Year Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
Japan 1964 3rd place 9 7 2 22 12 Squad
Mexico 1968 2nd place 9 7 2 24 6 Squad
Germany 1972 1st place 7 7 0 21 3 Squad
Canada 1976 4th place 5 2 3 8 9 Squad
Soviet Union 1980 Did not play due to boycott
United States 1984 7th place 6 4 2 13 8 Squad
South Korea 1988 10th place 7 2 5 10 17 Squad
Spain 1992 6th place 8 3 5 13 20 Squad
United States 1996 Did not qualify
Australia 2000
Greece 2004
China 2008 11th place 5 0 5 4 15 Squad
United Kingdom 2012 Did not qualify
Brazil 2016
Japan 2020 7th place 6 3 3 10 12 Squad
France 2024 7th place 4 1 3 8 10 Squad
Total 1 Title 10/15 66 36 30 133 112 —

World Championship History

     Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

Japan has won two bronze medals at the World Championship.

World Championship record
Year Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
Czechoslovakia 1949 Did not participate
Soviet Union 1952
France 1956
Brazil 1960 8th place 9 2 7 8 21 Squad
Soviet Union 1962 5th place 9 5 4 21 20 Squad
Czechoslovakia 1966 5th place 7 4 3 17 17 Squad
Bulgaria 1970 3rd place 11 9 2 30 8 Squad
Mexico 1974 3rd place 11 9 2 28 13 Squad
Italy 1978 11th place 9 5 4 19 15 Squad
Argentina 1982 4th place 9 7 2 22 10 Squad
France 1986 10th place 9 2 7 9 23 Squad
Brazil 1990 11th place 4 1 3 3 9 Squad
Greece 1994 9th place 4 1 3 4 11 Squad
Japan 1998 15th place 10 2 8 15 24 Squad
Argentina 2002 9th place 6 2 4 11 15 Squad
Japan 2006 8th place 14 7 7 2 30 Squad
Italy 2010 13th place 5 1 4 5 14 Squad
Poland 2014 Did not qualify
Italy Bulgaria 2018 17th place 5 2 3 8 11 Squad
Poland Slovenia 2022 12th place 4 2 2 8 7 Squad
Philippines 2025 Qualified
Total 0 Title 17/21 126 61 65 233 248 —

World Cup History

     Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

Japan has won two silver medals at the World Cup.

World Cup record
Year Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
Poland 1965 4th place 7 3 4 13 17 Squad
East Germany 1969 2nd place 8 6 2 20 12 Squad
Japan 1977 2nd place 8 5 3 19 14 Squad
Japan 1981 6th place 7 2 5 12 15 Squad
Japan 1985 6th place 7 2 5 9 15 Squad
Japan 1989 6th place 7 2 5 10 16 Squad
Japan 1991 4th place 5 1 4 7 13 Squad
Japan 1995 5th place 11 7 4 21 13 Squad
Japan 1999 10th place 11 3 8 16 27 Squad
Japan 2003 9th place 11 3 8 14 27 Squad
Japan 2007 9th place 11 3 8 14 26 Squad
Japan 2011 10th place 11 2 9 12 28 Squad
Japan 2015 6th place 11 5 6 21 21 Squad
Japan 2019 4th place 11 8 3 26 16 Squad
Total 0 Title 14/14 126 52 74 214 260 —

World Grand Champions Cup History

     Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

Japan has won one bronze medal in this now-defunct tournament.

Nations League History

     Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

Japan has recently achieved great success in the Nations League, earning both silver and bronze medals.

Nations League record
Year Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
France 2018 12th place 15 6 9 23 37 Squad
United States 2019 10th place 15 7 8 27 32 Squad
Italy 2021 11th place 15 7 8 25 31 Squad
Italy 2022 5th place 13 9 4 29 21 Squad
Poland 2023 3rd place 15 12 3 38 21 Squad
Poland 2024 2nd place 15 11 4 37 20 Squad
Total 0 Title(s) 5/5 88 52 36 179 162 —

Asian Championship History

     Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

Japan has won the Asian Championship an impressive ten times!

Asian Championship record
Year Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
Australia 1975 Champions 6 6 0 18 1 Squad
Bahrain 1979 3rd place 5 3 2 12 6 Squad
Japan 1983 Champions 7 7 0 21 4 Squad
Kuwait 1987 Champions 8 8 0 N/A N/A Squad
South Korea 1989 Runners-up 8 7 1 21 3 Squad
Australia 1991 Champions 7 7 0 21 3 Squad
Thailand 1993 3rd place 6 5 1 15 3 Squad
South Korea 1995 Champions 5 5 0 N/A N/A Squad
Qatar 1997 Runners-up 5 4 1 13 4 Squad
Iran 1999 4th place 7 5 2 16 9 Squad
South Korea 2001 3rd place 6 5 1 15 6 Squad
China 2003 7th place 7 4 3 15 10 Squad
Thailand 2005 Champions 8 7 1 23 6 Squad
Indonesia 2007 Runners-up 7 5 2 17 7 Squad
Philippines 2009 Champions 7 7 0 21 4 Squad
Iran 2011 5th place 8 5 3 18 13 Squad
United Arab Emirates 2013 4th place 7 4 3 14 9 Squad
Iran 2015 Champions 8 5 3 19 14 Squad
Indonesia 2017 Champions 8 7 1 23 4 Squad
Iran 2019 3rd place 8 6 2 22 9 Squad
Japan 2021 Runners-up 8 6 2 19 8 Squad
Iran 2023 Champions 5 5 0 15 1 Squad
Total 10 Titles 22/22 143 117 26 339 116 —

Asian Games History

     Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

Japan has won the Asian Games eight times, showing their strength in Asia.

Asian Games record
Year Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
Japan 1958 Champions 4 4 0 12 2 Squads
Indonesia 1962 Champions 7 7 0 21 4 Squads
Thailand 1966 Champions 8 8 0 26 0 Squads
Thailand 1970 Champions 7 7 0 21 0 Squads
Iran 1974 Champions 5 5 0 15 1 Squads
Thailand 1978 Runners-up 9 8 1 24 4 Squads
India 1982 Champions 6 6 0 18 1 Squads
South Korea 1986 4th place 8 4 4 22 9 Squads
China 1990 3rd place 5 3 2 11 6 Squads
Japan 1994 Champions 5 4 1 13 5 Squads
Thailand 1998 4th place 6 3 3 13 9 Squads
South Korea 2002 3rd place 5 3 2 10 10 Squads
Qatar 2006 5th place 3 2 1 6 5 Squads
China 2010 Champions 10 8 2 27 9 Squads
South Korea 2014 Runners-up 9 8 1 25 8 Squads
Indonesia 2018 5th place 5 4 1 14 10 Squads
China 2022 3rd place 7 6 1 18 4 Squads
Total 8 Titles 16/16 109 90 19 296 87 —

Asian Cup History

     Champions       Runners up       Third place       Fourth place

Japan has won one silver and three bronze medals at the Asian Cup.

Asian Cup record
Year Position GP MW ML SW SL Squad
Thailand 2008 4th place 6 4 2 13 11 Squad
Iran 2010 8th place 6 0 6 4 18 Squad
Vietnam 2012 3rd place 6 5 1 15 4 Squad
Kazakhstan 2014 6th place 6 1 5 5 17 Squad
Thailand 2016 3rd place 6 3 3 13 11 Squad
Taiwan 2018 3rd place 5 2 3 10 12 Squad
Thailand 2022 Runners-up 6 4 2 14 6 Squad
Total 0 Titles 7/7 41 19 22 74 79 —

Team Members

Current Squad

This is the list of players for the Japanese team at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Head coach: France Philippe Blain

No. Name Position Date of birth Height Weight Spike Block 2024–25 club
1 Nishida, YujiYuji Nishida OP (2000-01-30) January 30, 2000 (age 25) 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 89 kg (196 lb) 346 cm (136 in) 335 cm (132 in) Japan

Osaka Bluteon
2 Onodera, TaishiTaishi Onodera MB (1996-02-27) February 27, 1996 (age 29) 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 94 kg (207 lb) 343 cm (135 in) 330 cm (130 in) Japan Suntory Sunbirds
3 Fukatsu, AkihiroAkihiro Fukatsu S (1987-07-23) July 23, 1987 (age 37) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 78 kg (172 lb) 334 cm (131 in) 315 cm (124 in) Japan Tokyo Great Bears
4 Miyaura, KentoKento Miyaura OP (1999-02-22) February 22, 1999 (age 26) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 87 kg (192 lb) 347 cm (137 in) 320 cm (130 in) Japan JTEKT Stings
5 Otsuka, TatsunoriTatsunori Otsuka OH (2000-11-05) November 5, 2000 (age 24) 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 80 kg (180 lb) 340 cm (130 in) 325 cm (128 in) Italy Power Volley Milano
6 Yamauchi, AkihiroAkihiro Yamauchi MB (1993-11-30) November 30, 1993 (age 31) 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 354 cm (139 in) 335 cm (132 in) Japan Osaka Bluteon
8 Sekita, MasahiroMasahiro Sekita S (1993-11-20) November 20, 1993 (age 31) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 71 kg (157 lb) 324 cm (128 in) 305 cm (120 in) Japan JTEKT Stings
10 Takahashi, KentaroKentaro Takahashi MB (1995-02-08) February 8, 1995 (age 30) 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 361 cm (142 in) 350 cm (140 in) Japan JTEKT Stings
11 Tomita, ShomaShoma Tomita OH (1997-06-20) June 20, 1997 (age 28) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 80 kg (180 lb) 342 cm (135 in) 320 cm (130 in) Japan Osaka Bluteon
12 Takahashi, RanRan Takahashi OH (2001-09-02) September 2, 2001 (age 23) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 72 kg (159 lb) 343 cm (135 in) 315 cm (124 in) Japan Suntory Sunbirds
14 Ishikawa, YūkiYūki Ishikawa (c) OH (1995-12-11) December 11, 1995 (age 29) 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 351 cm (138 in) 327 cm (129 in) Italy Sir Safety Perugia Volley
15 Kai, MasatoMasato Kai OH (2003-09-25) September 25, 2003 (age 21) 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 79 kg (174 lb) 352 cm (139 in) 330 cm (130 in) France Paris Volley
20 Yamamoto, TomohiroTomohiro Yamamoto L (1994-11-05) November 5, 1994 (age 30) 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) 69 kg (152 lb) 301 cm (119 in) 299 cm (118 in) Japan Osaka Bluteon

Coach History

Many coaches have led the Japan men's national volleyball team over the years. Here are some of them:

  • Japan Yasutaka Matsudaira (1965–1972)
  • Japan Tsutomu Koyama (1973–1976)
  • Japan Yūzo Nakamura (1977–1980)
  • Japan Naohiro Ikeda (1980–1984)
  • Japan Masaru Saito (1984–1986)
  • Japan Tsutomu Koyama (1986–1988)
  • Japan Masayuki Minami (1989–1990)
  • Japan Seiji Oko (1991–1995)
  • Japan Shinichiro Tsujiai (1996–1997)
  • Japan Futoshi Teramawari (1997–2000)
  • Japan Mikiyasu Tanaka (2001–2004)
  • Japan Tatsuya Ueta (2005–2013)
  • United States Gary Sato (2013–2014)
  • Japan Masashi Nambu (2014–2016)
  • Japan Yuichi Nakagaichi (2016–2021)
  • France Philippe Blain (2021–2024)

Team Gear and Sponsors

Kit Providers

The table below shows who has provided the team's uniforms and gear.

Period Kit provider
2000– Asics

Sponsorship

Many companies support the Japan national volleyball team. Main sponsors include Shiseido. Other sponsors are Japanet, Molten, All Nippon Airways, Suntory, JTEKT, Nisshin Steel, Nippon Life, Marudai, Mizuno, Meiji Seika, Descente, Mikasa and Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical.

Home Stadiums

Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium front doors
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium

The Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium and Yoyogi National Gymnasium are important places for the Japan national team. They use these stadiums for training and for hosting their home games.

Media Coverage

In Japan, the team's matches and friendly games are shown on TV by Nippon TV, GAORA, and NHK.

Images for kids

  • Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium front doors

    Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección masculina de voleibol de Japón para niños

  • Volleyball
  • Japan women's national volleyball team
  • Japan men's national under-19 volleyball team
  • Japan men's national under-21 volleyball team
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