The Japanese women’s national volleyball team held a pre-season press conference in Tokyo on the 11th, where head coach Ferhat Akbaş expressed his determination: “This is the season where we must secure a ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics (2028). We will select players who are the best and can withstand the pressure, and we aim to achieve our goals.” The Asian Championships, where the winner earns a direct spot for the same Olympics, will be held from August 21 to 30 in Tianjin, China.
In the previous 2024 Paris Olympics cycle, Japan secured its qualification based on the results of the Nations League just before the tournament. If the team can clinch the Olympic berth roughly two years ahead of the Games, it would provide a strong tailwind toward winning a medal—the first since the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, which would end a four-tournament medal drought.
Captain Mayu Ishikawa (Japan Volleyball Association) stated firmly, “To achieve this season’s goals, players and staff will fight as one.” Ayane Kitamado, who played a key role both offensively and defensively for the SV League champion SAGA Hisamitsu Springs this season, enters her second year with the national team. She looked ahead, saying, “My strength is defense. I want to create a good flow from defense and contribute to the team.”
Going forward, the national team will conduct intensive training camps in Tokyo, followed by intra-squad matches at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium’s Second Gymnasium on the 18th and at Chiba Port Arena on the 21st. In June, they will compete in the Nations League, followed by the Asian Championships in August, and then the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September.