Osaka Blazers Sakai is a men's professional volleyball team based in Sakai city, Osaka, Japan. It plays in the V.Premier League.
The club was founded in 1939 as part of the Kitakyushu, Fukuoka-based Yawata Steel athletic club which also included football club Yawata Steel F.C. In 1969 the volleyball section split and moved to Sakai.
On October 2, 2023, the club changed its name into Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers.
Honours Japan Volleyball League/V.League/V.Premier League Champions (17): 1967-1968 1973-1974 1974-1975 1975-1976 1976-1977 1978-1979 1979-1980 1980-1981 1982-1983 1988-1989 1989-1990 1990-1991 1996-1997 1997-1998 2005-2006, 2010–11, 2012–13 Runners-up (4): 1994-95,1995–96, 2008–09 and 2009–10 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship Champions (14): 1952 1953 1957 1960 1967 1974 1975 1976 1977 1980 1984 1988 1989 1990 Emperor's Cup Runner-up (2): 2007, 2021
Current roster The following is team roster of Season 2023–2024.
Player Name Date of birth Position 1 Yoshihiko MatsumotoMiddle blocker 2 Yuki HiguchiOutside hitter 3 Kosuke YasuiOutside hitter 4 Naoya TakanoOutside hitter 5 Tomohiro HorieLibero 6 Aiki MoriLibero 7 Takashi DekitaMiddle blocker 8 Naoto AkimaMiddle blocker 9 Hiroshi SakodaOutside hitter 10 Cole HoglandMiddle blocker 11 Shigetome HyugaOutside hitter 13 Sharone Vernon-EvansOpposite hitter 14 Shohei Yamaguchi (c)Setter 18 Rintaro UmemotoMiddle blocker 21 Yutaro TakemotoMiddle blocker 22 Akahoshi ShinjoSetter 23 Yukiya UnoOutside hitter Head coach: Shinya Chiba
Former roster Team roster – season 2022/2023 Player Name Date of birth Position 1 Yoshihiko MatsumotoMiddle blocker 2 Yuki HiguchiOutside hitter 3 Kosuke Yasui Outside hitter 4 Naoya TakanoOutside hitter 5 Tomohiro HorieLibero 7 Takashi Dekita (c)Middle blocker 8 Naoto Akima Middle blocker 9 Hiroshi SakodaOutside hitter 11 Shigetome HyugaOutside hitter 13 Sharone Vernon-EvansOpposite hitter 14 Shohei YamaguchiSetter 17 Akihiro FukatsuSetter 18 Rintaro UmemotoMiddle blocker 20 Tomohiro YamamotoLibero 21 Yutaro TakemotoMiddle blocker 22 Akahoshi ShinjoSetter 23 Yukiya UnoOutside hitter Head coach: Shinya Chiba
League results Champion Runner-up
LeaguePosition TeamsMatchesWinLoseV.League1st (1994–95) Runner-up 8 21 10 11 2nd (1995–96) Runner-up 8 21 13 83rd (1996–97) Champion 8 21 14 7 4th (1997–98) Champion 8 21 17 4 5th (1998–99) 6th 10 18 10 8 6th (1999-00) 4th 10 18 15 3 7th (2000–01) 5th 10 18 10 8 8th (2001–02) 3rd 10 18 12 6 9th (2002–03) 6th 8 21 8 13 10th (2003–04) 4th 8 21 12 9 11th (2004–05) 6th 8 28 11 17 12th (2005–06) Champion 8 28 17 11 V・Premier2006-07 6th 8 28 9 19 2007-08 4th 8 28 15 13 2008-09 Runner-up 8 28 15 13 2009-10 Runner-up 8 28 18 102010-11 Champion 8 24 19 52011-12 4th 8 21 13 8 2012-13 Champion 8 28 17 11 2013-14 3rd 8 28 19 9 2014-15 4th 8 21 8 13 2015-16 6th 8 21 10 11 2016-17 6th 8 21 8 13 2017–18 7th 8 21 7 14 V.League Division 12018–19 6th 10 32 16 162019–20 5th 10 28 15 132020–21 7th 10 36 17 192021–22 5th 10 36 24 122022–234th10392415SV.League2024-25 7th104415292025-26 7th10441727
References
External links
V.league