·
With
an average age of 25.9 years and an average body height of 176 cm JPN was the
oldest and the smallest team of the WGP 2005 final round.
·
Only
4 players left from Olympic team 2004; only one out of 4 new players (born in
1982 or later) in the regular formation (player No. 14).
·
Although JPN was missing young tall
players (rehabilitation
after injury), JPN was very competitive in many
phases of the game.
·
The
problem of missing tall outside hitters has to be solved in order to keep up
with the world’s top in future and/or to compete there (at least one of the
tall, young players having played in the last couple of years at international
level will join the team and be playing for the team at the World Championship next year).
·
5th
place is just right at current level of performance. If the desired
reinforcement will be realised, then JPN - at the WC with home advantage and
the known committed and varied play with much movement intensity - will be able
to rank among the six best teams.
·
Excellent
play in defence and in quick combination attack. Testing a new line-up seemed
to work well.
·
JPN
is a defensive team with physical constitutional disadvantage, which they are
trying to offset with mentally tough teamwork/team spirit (working hard with
lots of spirit). However some of players are not really strong under pressure.
Extremely fast offence with variety of offensive combinations
(fast offence from
good passing, fast transition from good digging) no one
else can.
·
Good
technique on passing. 3-player formation against jump power; against float
service, passing mostly with 2-player formation (in special circumstances
3-player formation).
·
Large range of action of libero when passing floats with
2-player formation; normal incorporation into the 3-player formation against jump serves (takes over
reception at interfaces).
·
JPN’s
starting setter (player No. 3) is absolutely one of best setters in the world,
is just very small.
·
Very
quick and very dynamic setting style; spatial orientation is good.
·
The
Japanese setter – comparable with the Italian setter – has excellent ball
control with great movement
·
Fast
outside attack with good line shot after precise reception; block players
very active with first tempo attacks in
front of and behind setter; integration of back court attacks through P1/6.
·
Great
wrist shots, block-out, wipe-off.
·
Player
No. 5 had a great tournament with regards to her offensive performance, (best
scorer with 90 points in attack), but is in the end not able to compensate for
her physical-constitutional limits in the offensive play.
·
Good
jump top spin; good float serve (distance or from backline from different
positions) as well.
·
Good
attempts with aggressive jump serves (WC 2003) have not been developed by the
current team.
·
Blocking
has improved (players No. 7, 9, 12 among the top-10 in individual ranking), but
still a weakness of the Japanese team.
·
Special
solutions of tactical adaptation such as switch block, drop block etc. to
compensate their height, similar solutions as ITA: switch block - setter blocks
at left front or middle; drop block - setter does not block against their high
ball attack. Selective use of triple block.
·
Very
good individual skills, including good defensive technique and tactical
adaptation (effective performances and effective transition)
·
Libero
and the whole team - with lots of energy and fighting spirit
·
Defensive play with 6 back as basic principle; altogether
very variable tactical adaptation (e.g. short distance covering by P1/P5 and/or
without direct covering; normal position defence / reinforcement of main
hitting direction, special integration
of the setter, quite often into triple block P3 - 3 player defence formation
moves far forward).
·
Effective
digging actions on the basis of speed, flexibility and reactions of the
Japanese players.
·
CHN
& JPN, both Asian teams are better than anybody else.
·
If
possible very quick transition attack.
·
Lots of spikes at outside position 4 (after precise defence
distribution of sets to P4 and P2 (medium to fast tempo); variation of attack positions when set to
P4 (outside / inside).
· Lower chances and/or much effort to score points after long rallies caused by physical and constitutional handicaps.