Japan women's national volleyball team

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

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.

Medals EventGoldSilverBronzeTotal 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 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. 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. 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. 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. Japan's opening match was on 25 July 2021 in Tokyo against Kenya. They beat Kenya in their first match in straight sets and lost against Serbia, Brazil, Korea and the Dominican Republic which caused them to miss the qualification for the quarterfinals.

Winner of 6 major world titles 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 International Olympic Games Gold   Silver   Bronze   Fourth place

Olympic Games record Year Round Position 1964 Round robin Gold 5 5 0 15 1 1968 Round robin Silver 7 6 1 19 3 1972 Final Silver 5 4 1 14 3 1976 Final Gold 5 5 0 15 0 1980 Did not participate 1984 Semifinals Bronze 5 4 1 12 5 1988 Semifinals Fourth place 5 2 3 10 12 1992 Quarterfinals 5th place 5 3 2 10 9 1996 Group stage 9th place 5 1 4 3 12 2000 Did not qualify 2004 Quarterfinals 5th place 6 2 4 6 13 2008 Quarterfinals 5th place 6 2 4 7 14 2012 Semifinals Bronze 8 5 3 17 11 2016 Quarterfinals 5th place 6 2 4 7 12 2020 Group stage 10th place 5 1 4 6 12 2024 Group stage 9th place 3 1 2 4 6 Total 2 titles 14/16 76 43 33 145 113

World Championship Champions   Runners up   Third place   Fourth place

World Championship record Year Round Position 1952 Did not compete 1956 1960 Final places Runners-up 7 6 1 19 5 1962 Final places Champions 9 9 0 27 1 1967 Round robin Champions 3 3 0 9 0 1970 Final places Runners-up 9 8 1 25 5 1974 Final places Champions 11 11 0 33 2 1978 Final Runners-up 9 7 2 21 12 1982 Semifinals Fourth place 9 6 3 20 9 1986 5th–8th places 7th place 8 4 4 13 14 1990 5th–8th places 8th place 7 3 4 11 13 1994 5th–8th places 7th place 7 4 3 14 11 1998 5th–8th places 8th place 8 4 4 14 12 2002 First round 13th place 5 2 3 8 10 2006 5th–8th places 6th place 11 7 4 23 18 2010 Semifinals Third place 11 8 3 28 17 2014 Second round 7th place 9 5 4 21 17 2018 Third round 6th place 12 7 5 28 18 2022 Quarterfinals 5th place 10 7 3 24 11 2025 Semifinals Fourth place 7 5 2 18 11 2027Qualified 2029To be determinedTotal3 titles18/2215210646356186

World Cup 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 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 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

Nations League Champions   Runners up   Third place   Fourth place

Nations League record Year Round Position Squad 2018 Preliminary 10th 15 7 8 27 31 Squad 2019 Preliminary 9th 15 7 8 27 27 Squad 2021 Semifinals Fourth place 17 12 5 37 24 Squad 2022 Quarterfinals 7th place 13 8 5 31 19 Squad 2023 Quarterfinals 7th place 13 7 6 28 23 Squad 2024 Final Runners-up 15 10 5 35 21 Squad 2025 Semifinals Fourth place 15 10 5 36 20 Squad 2026 Quarterfinals 7th place 13 8 5 28 24 Squad 2027 qualified Total0 Titles9/91166947249189—

Montreux Volley Masters 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 Asian Games 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 2026 – Silver Medal

Asian Championship 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 2026 – Bronze Medal

Asian Cup 2008 — 4th place 2010 — 4th place 2012 — 5th place 2014 — 4th place 2016 — 4th place 2018 — Silver Medal 2022 — Gold Medal

2026 Results and fixtures # Opponent Date Result Host city Tournament13 Jun3–1 (23–25, 25–12, 25–22, 25–13) Quebec City2026 Nations League25 Jun3–1 (25–20, 16–25, 25–16, 25–20) 36 Jun3–0 (25–20, 25–15, 26–24) 47 Jun3–2 (29–27, 25–20, 23–25, 28–30, 15–12) 517 Jun3–2 (20–25, 26–24, 18–25, 32–30, 15–7) Pasig619 Jun3–0 (25–15, 25–23, 27–25) 720 Jun1–3 (25–17, 20–25, 26–28, 23–25)821 Jun0–3 (21–25, 23–25, 18–25) 98 Jul1–3 (20–25, 25–19, 19–25, 23–25) Osaka109 Jul3–1 (25–15, 25–21, 22–25, 25–22) 1111 Jul 1–3 (22–25, 25–22, 22–25, 22–25)1212 Jul 3–2 (20–25, 14–25, 25–19, 25–21, 15–13)1322 Jul1–3 (26–24, 22–25, 16–25, 20–25) Macau1421 Aug3–0 (25–9, 25–15, 25–12) Tianjin 2026 AVC Women's Volleyball Continental Championship1523 Aug3–0 (33–31, 25–19, 25–20)1625 Aug3–0 (25–23, 25–17, 25–21)1727 Aug3–0 (25–14, 25–21, 25–13)1829 Aug1–3 (21–25, 20–25, 25–20, 20–25)1930 Aug3–0 (25–21, 25–16, 26–24)Head coach: Ferhat Akbaş

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.

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Team Current squad The following is the Japan roster in the 2025 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League Head coach: Ferhat Akbaş

No.NameDate of birthPositionHeight2 Ayaka Araki 3 Haruyo Shimamura 4 Mayu Ishikawa (c)6 Nanami Seki 8 Manami Kojima 11 Nichika Yamada 12 Satomi Fukudome 1 Yukiko Wada 15 Airi Miyabe 9 Miiku Iwasawa 10 Tsukasa Nakagawa 5 Yoshino Sato 22 Ayane Kitamado 26 Miku Akimoto

Former squads 1994 squad: Head coach: Tadayoshi Yokota No.NameDate of birthHeight1994 club1 Motoko Obayashi 15.06.67 Hitachi2 Aki Nagatomi 17.07.69 Hitachi3 Chie Natori 09.08.69 Daiei4 Mika Yamauchi 07.10.69 Daiei6 Tomoko Yoshihara 04.02.70 Hitachi7 Kiyoko Fukuda 04.08.70 Hitachi8 Miho Murata 03.09.70 Hitachi9 Asako Tajimi 26.02.72 Hitachi12 Yumi Natta 12.07.69 Daiei13 Naomi Eto 12.07.72 Hitachi16 Maki Fujiyoshi 24.05.74 Hitachi17 Miyuki Shimasaki 13.10.74 Hitachi5 Kazuyo Matsukawa 07.01.70 Daiei10 Kumiko Sakamoto 13.12.72 Daiei14 Minako Onuki 15.10.72 NEC15 Miho Ota 27.10.73 Hitachi18 Eiko Yasui 08.05.71 Kanagawa

1996 Olympic Games — 9th place (tied) Kaiyo Hoshini, Aki Nagatomi, Kazumi Nakamura, Chieko Nakanishi, Motoko Obayashi, Ikumi Ogake, Mika Saiki, Kiyomi Sakamoto, Asako Tajimi, Chiho Torii, Mika Yamauchi, and Tomoko Yoshihara. Head coach: Kuniaki Yoshida. 1999 FIVB World Cup — 6th place Naomi Eto, Megumi Itabashi, Chikako Kumamae, Hitomi Mitsunaga, Junko Moriyama, Ikumi Ogake, Minako Onuki, Yuka Sakurai, Miki Sasaki, Hiromi Suzuki, Asako Tajimi, and Hiroko Tsukumo. Head coach: Nobushika Kuzuwa. 2002 World Championship — 14th place Makiko Horai, Sachiko Kodama, Chikako Kumamae, Hisako Mukai, Kanako Naito, Minako Onuki, Ai Otomo, Kana Oyama, Yuko Sano, Sachiko Sugiyama, Miyuki Takahashi, and Shinako Tanaka. Head coach: Masahiro Yoshikawa. 2003 FIVB World Cup — 5th place Tomoko Yoshihara, Chie Tsuji, Miki Sasaki, Kanako Omura, Yoshie Takeshita, Miyuki Takahashi, Makiko Horai, Yuko Sano, Sachiko Sugiyama, Saori Kimura, Kana Oyama, and Megumi Kurihara. Head coach: Shoichi Yanagimoto. 2004 Olympic Qualification Tournament — 1st place (qualified) Tomoko Yoshihara, Chie Tsuji, Ikumi Narita, Miki Sasaki, Kanako Omura, Yoshie Takeshita, Miyuki Takahashi, Sachiko Sugiyama, Ai Otomo, Kana Oyama, Megumi Kurihara, and Saori Kimura. Head coach: Shoichi Yanagimoto. 2004 Olympic Games — 5th place (tied) Tomoko Yoshihara, Chie Tsuji, Ikumi Narita, Miki Sasaki, Kanako Omura, Yoshie Takeshita, Miyuki Takahashi, Sachiko Sugiyama, Ai Otomo, Kana Oyama, Megumi Kurihara, and Saori Kimura. Head coach: Shoichi Yanagimoto. 2005 FIVB World Grand Prix — 5th place Erika Araki, Makiko Horai, Megumi Itabashi, Ayako Onuma, Ai Otomo, Yuka Sakurai, Miki Shimada, Kaoru Sugayama, Sachiko Sugiyama, Yoshie Takeshita, Miyuki Takahashi, and Chie Yoshizawa. Head coach: Shoichi Yanagimoto. 2008 Olympic Qualification Tournament — 3rd place (qualified) Erika Araki, Miyuki Kano, Yuki Kawai, Saori Kimura, Megumi Kurihara, Kanako Omura, Yuka Sakurai, Yuko Sano, Miyuki Takahashi, Sachiko Sugiyama, Yoshie Takeshita, and Asako Tajimi. Head coach: Shoichi Yanagimoto. 2008 Olympic Games — 5th place (tied) Erika Araki, Miyuki Kano, Yuki Kawai, Saori Kimura, Megumi Kurihara, Kanako Omura, Yuka Sakurai, Yuko Sano, Miyuki Takahashi, Sachiko Sugiyama, Yoshie Takeshita, and Asako Tajimi. Head coach: Shoichi Yanagimoto. 2010 World Championship — 3rd place