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TEAM COMPOSITION
JPN / Japan - Team Composition
Team manager
ARAKIDA, Yuko (Mrs.)
Head coach
MANABE, Masayoshi
Assistant coach
KAWAKITA, Gen / OKUBO Shigekazu
Doctor
OBARA, Kazuhiro (1st and 2nd Week)
Therapist / trainer
WAKAMIYA, Keiji
Journalist
TETSUYA, Yoshitomo (1st Week)
No.
Name
Lastname
Shirt Name
Birthdate
Height
Weight
Spike
Block
1
Megumi
Kurihara
Kurihara
31.07.1984
187
69
308
295
2
Hitomi
Nakamichi
Nakamichi
18.09.1985
159
53
270
256
3
Yoshie
Takeshita
Takeshita
18.03.1978
159
53
280
270
4
Kaori
Inoue
Inoue
21.10.1982
182
59
306
300
5
Ai
Otomo
Ai
24.03.1982
184
68
312
305
6
Yuko
Sano
Sano
26.07.1979
159
54
260
250
7
Mai
Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi
03.07.1983
176
62
304
292
8
Kotoki
Zayasu
Zayasu
11.01.1990
159
57
270
255
9
Mizuho
Ishida
Ishida
22.01.1988
174
65
301
286
10
Nana
Iwasaka
IWASAKA
03.07.1990
187
76
298
293
C
11
Erika
Shinomiya
ARAKI
03.08.1984
186
78
305
297
12
Saori
Kimura
Saori
19.08.1986
185
65
304
293
13
Risa
Shinnabe
SHINNABE
11.07.1990
175
64
293
285
14
Yukiko
Ebata
Ebata
07.11.1989
176
67
305
298
15
Maiko
Kano
Kano
15.07.1988
184
68
303
285
16
Saori
Sakoda
Sakoda
18.12.1987
175
63
305
279
17
Kanako
Hirai
Hirai
15.04.1984
183
69
309
290
18
Riho
Otake
Ohtake
23.12.1993
182
68
306
296
19
Kanari
Hamaguchi
Hamaguchi
29.08.1985
167
60
283
269
20
Haruka
Miyashita
MIYASHITA
01.09.1994
177
61
298
272
21
Ayumi
Nakamura
Nakamura
29.08.1990
176
70
294
278
22
Mai
Okumura
OKUMURA
31.10.1990
177
66
297
285
23
Yuki
Ishii
ISHII
08.05.1991
180
67
305
287
24
Miyu
Nagaoka
NAGAOKA
25.07.1991
179
64
308
303
25
Rika
Nomoto
Nomoto
21.09.1991
180
72
308
291
C=Captain L=Libero
Team profile
After Japan’s participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the Japan Volleyball Association made quick steps to build a new squad aiming for the London 2012 Games. Masayoshi Manabe of national championship-winning team Hisamitsu Springs was appointed coach, taking over from Shoichi Yanagimoto, who had been with the team for five years.
Manabe started by casting his eye over 30 players, including Yoshie Takeshita, one of the world's top setters and the team's former captain, spectacular libero Yuko Sano and attacking stars Saori Kimura and Erika Araki. He has kept with the tried and trusted whilst introducing some new blood and giving the captaincy to Araki, which has sparked an improvement in form, so much so that Japan’s quick-fire attacking game is in top gear and the side is seen as genuine contenders in women's volleyball again, challenging for titles.
Full evidence of this turnaround is the 2010 FIVB World Championship where Japan won their first FIVB medal for 32 years in front of their home fans before following up with a fifth place finish in last year's World Grand Prix and fourth place finish at last year's World Cup, narrowly missing out on an Olympic berth.
Coach profile
Masayoshi Manabe took over from Shoichi Yanagimoto in April 2009 and one of his goals was to qualify for the 2012 Olympics. He was a setter for Japan and took part in the 1988 Olympics. He started coaching in 1993 with Nippon Steel Blazers and under his leadership the team were V-League champions in 1996 and in 1997. From 1999 to 2005, he focused on his career as a player, retiring in 2005. In 2006-07, he led Hisamitsu Springs to the V-Premier League title. Manabe’s tactical awareness helped Japan win the 2010 Montreux Volley Masters and the bronze at the World Championship in 2010, their first FIVB medal in 32 years.
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