1 Video View·Dec 27, 2025
The Japan women's national volleyball team (Hinotori Nippon, 火の鳥NIPPON), or All-Japan women's volleyball team, is currently ranked 6th[4] in the world by FIVB. The current head coach is Kumi Nakada.
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.
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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.
Regular colored shirt to help out the Dutch.
Too easy. Japan get the ball. They're controlled.
Let's go again here. Siegfried. It's blocked easily.
Rally continues. Set up again by Bonga. In she comes.
Oh, what a wall. Still. Knip sets it up.
The longest rally of this match so far.
Legs will be burning now. Oh, incredible stuff lay there.
And that really hurts. The middle blockers especially.
You have to run in and jump every time. That's really tough.
The libero for the Netherlands. Knip was hanging on to her teammates
in the huddle as the point finished. Good blocking at the net by Turkey.
And the solid blocking continues. Good dig out by Shinobi.
Akars, the Turkish libero, starts the response.
What a response by Kabata in the backcourt. Deep spike pushed over by Japan.
Terrific rally this one. Back and forth action.
What a block at the net by Ackman. Japan with a delicately placed dink.
Terrific scrambling by Karakurt. What a diving save by Shinobi.
And it's out of bounds and the point goes to Japan.
The conclusion of a terrific point.
Point at the net. We'll now try and win one from the service line.
Picked up by Shinobi. Let's pick up there.
Makris. Down the line doesn't work this time.
It's Kabata picking that one up. The block's in place.
Just to take the sting out of that Makris with options.
Nothing doing for Natalia. Now where's this going?
A little battle of the nets. Anna Beatrice winning that one.
The pipe attack comes in. Oh my goodness.
They've kept that alive. Natalia though just has to push it over again.
Sato sends it back. Incredible work from Mara back there.
What a rally this is. And it's Japan that get it.
As Anna Paula of all people misfires.
15-20 the score. What a save from Lenkader.
Climbing high is Stigroth. Hustling after it is Ishii.
She gets a second contact. Kurogo puts it over on contact number three.
Lenkader with the reception. The set for Stigroth.
Cannons Ishii to the court. She's slow to get back to her feet.
But still it is Japan who prevail in that point.
Kurogo with the point winning kill.
Squares things up at 21. Cleverly dinked over by Carrillo.
But a terrific response by Ishii. That one sent up high.
So Russia with time to set. Japan with time to recover.
Sato with the bump. There's the set.
The spike put down and producing a point winning play for Sato.
A lengthy rally to back monster blocks from Karakurt.
Sees Turkey take their first lead.
There's Meloglu dealing with that spike from Ishii.
Karakurt. Terrific save by Kabata.
Ishii climbs high to put it over.
Karakurt with the dig. Now in position for the spike.
Deflected at the net. Japan get it over.
Desperate defending from Kurogo. Ishii bumps it over on contact number three.
Blocked at the net. Quick reflexes by Japan.
Must go over on this contact. Ishii finding the space where none seem to exist.
You feel that Japan are going to have their chance in just a moment.
Here it is. The dig's been made against Martinez.
But it's a great scoop as well from Hernandez.
Second time. No joy for Martinez.
De La Cruz playing backcourt. It's so tight.
The setting is tight as well.
Riviera does so well to work off the hands.
But Japan again. No.
This is an unbelievable rally at the tightest of times.
Riviera dug as well.
Japan don't know when to give in.
And then off head in hand stuff.
Challenges. Humongous rallies.
Pivotal point in this match.
Lazovic will serve.
Good one.
The blocking.
Get the attack hit.
Lazovic blocked.
Just took the sting out of it.
There's a far side.
Kogo blocked.
Great blocking both sides.
Kogo goes again.
Dunks it over.
Lazovic picks it up.
Lozo goes for a cross court winner.
Car finding.
Kobata there again.
Brilliant this time from Popovich.
Both Liberos earning their money here.
Lozo denied.
Wonderful dig.
And the backcourt attack from Nabea is repelled.
And there's a whistle there.
That goes against the Serbs.
Japan take an emotional roller coaster of a third.
There's no tension in that technique.
It's all smooth and relaxed.
And the arm comes through.
Chance for payback.
Kobata just gets another dig.
Just gets her arms on the ball and keeps it alive.
Ishii works away from the body in difficult areas.
Kobata again making another worldy bit of defense.
And then doing bits from the back line.
Ishii again.
No way.
Now pressing in.
Getting two in the block on the middle because it's a front court setter.
What a rally this one is with Ishii.
Gets Chippy over the top once again.
Trying to get Smarshek out of the offense by making her play some defense.
Japan are just playing so well here.
But Poland are with them every step of the way.
Roll reversal.
It's a mega rally.
Japan gets a block on Smarshek.
What a play.
A monster block indeed.
So Japan with the improvisation.
They get it over on his third time.
And that high speed spike puts Nasha Dimitrova under pressure.
As then Kitipova was placed under heavy pressure by the follow-up spike.
While Bulgaria being stretched here.
And ultimately their defense is breached.
Passing way out of the system.
Two blockers surely from Japan.
Good blocking as well.
Kim just sticks a hand out and gets rewarded.
Kim again doing all the covering.
Sweeping up.
Width off the hands.
Another opportunity.
Throwing the ball around is Li Beiyang.
But it's another just battle in what's going to be a war here this afternoon.
Mega rally from both teams.
Great entertainment.
Kim staying still in cover.
Making the reaction.
Finally Kim gets on the scoreboard.
Set up Seki on the serve.
Back to four points.
Japan now hanging on into this one.
Igaru setting it up.
It's a good defensive play by the Japanese.
Oh wonderful.
The rally continues.
Mega rally developing here.
Berzetti.
Great dig from Seki.
And Magishi just plays it over.
It's a free ball.
Fireworks coming.
Oh what a hit.
Brilliant.
And our first mega rally of this game.
Mega rally indeed.
Igaru had to take a couple of sporting bites at the cherry.
To win the point for Italy.
Oh it was a beautiful tip by Igaru.
But kept in by Japan.
The rally continues.
They're going to set up again.
Kicks up by Italy.
Good swing.
Great pick up by Di Gennaro.
Japan can go again.
Koga.
Turns it past the block.
Pietrini.
Easy dig.
Igaru.
It's over.
And how many times are we going to say that?
Free ball Italy.
Pick up from the Bayer.
No setter on court remember for Japan.
Oh brilliant.
And this crowd so desperately wanted that ball to come back.
