Tokyo, Japan, June 1, 2009 - Japan announced its Men's Senior National Team for the 2009 World League at a press conference in Tokyo today.

Attending the conference were Japan's head coach, Tatsuya Ueta, and 19 players. Daisuke Usami, a setter who played at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, was named new captain of the team.

"Our team has started preparing for the 2012 London Olympics," Ueta said. "First of all, I want my players to improve their communication skills. I want them to communicate with each other more deeply both on and off the court.

"At the World League, our team's key players will be Tatsuya Fukuzawa and Kunihiro Shimizu, who have improved physically and technically since last year. I also expect a lot of the jumping ability of our team's young newcomer Shiro Furuta. I want to strengthen the ability of our young players and enhance the skills of players who participated in the Beijing Olympics."

The team will be at a training camp until June 11 before participating in Week 1 of the World League Intercontinental Round against Russia on June 13, which will be Japan's first game of their season.

"We have a great group of players," said captain Usami. "We want to make sure we are moving in the same direction, harmonize as a team, and compete game by game. Through the games of the World League, we want to improve our individual skills and increase the level of the team."

At the World League, Japan will play against Russia (3rd in the World Rankings), Bulgaria (4th), and Cuba (18th).

"I am looking forward to competing against such highly ranked teams," Ueta said.

World League Entry Members: (last name, first name and age)

Setters:

ABE, Yuta (27 years old), TAKAHASHI, Kozo (27), USAMI, Daisuke (30), OTAKE, Takahisa (24)

Middle Blockers:

MATSUTA, Yusuke (26), MATSUMOTO, Yoshihiko (28), YAMAMURA, Kota (28), TOMIMATSU, Takaaki (24)

Wing Spikers:

KITAJIMA, Takeshi (26), MAEDA, Kazuki (25), OGAWA Akira (25), SHIMIZU, Kunihiro (22), FUKUZAWA, Tatsuya (22), ISHIJIMA, Yusuke (25), KOSHIKAWA, Yu (24), YONEYAMA Yuta (24), FURUTA, Shiro (21)

Liberos:

TANABE, Osamu (30), INOUE, Yusuke (25)