Japanese NT 2016

  • Strong roster! But, Ebata... ;( I still think she would come back to the Rio 2016! I also don't understand why Manabe chose Shimamura instead of Otake. But, finally Japanese team is without Uchiseto - however, there is Zayasu in the roster... :thumbdown:

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    - Prediction Game - Women's - Olympic Games 2012

    がんばれ 日本!

  • Strong roster! But, Ebata... ;( I still think she would come back to the Rio 2016! I also don't understand why Manabe chose Shimamura instead of Otake. But, finally Japanese team is without Uchiseto - however, there is Zayasu in the roster... :thumbdown:


    On friendly match vs China, Otake's performance was very poor and Shimamura was better at that time.


    Yes, Ebata would come back to Rio :kiss:


    I was also surprised Manabe chose 3 liberos 8|
    Probably, Sato for reception, Maruyama for digging, and Zayasu for receiver instead of Koga or Ishii.

  • Maybe Ebata has not reached her fittest level yet and the qualification tournament is not that demanding for them to have so many attackers in the roster.
    One of the Liberos or two of them will not be in Rio's ultimate roster, so Ebata will have a high chance to come back.
    Shimamura is a better slider compare to oh take, also she blocks better.
    My guess on starters against stronger teams in this tournament:
    Saori-Araki-Sakoda-Koga-Shimamura-miyashita-any libero

  • if anyone has problems with recognizing players :D


    S: Haruka Miyashita (2), Kanami Tashiro (20)
    OP: Miyu Nagaoka (1), Saori Sakoda (16)
    OH: Saori Kimura (3), Yuki ishii (12), Sarina Koga (8 ), Yurie Nabeya (6), Kotoki Zayasu (18 )*
    MB: Erika Araki (11), Mai Yamaguchi (7), Haruyo Shimamura (9)
    L: Arisa Sato (5), Aki Maruyama (10)


    *Zayasu is not listed as libero, so she'll be probably a back row/defense specialist :wavy: maybe because Shinnabe is not here and someone has to secure passing is something goes wrong ?(
    at least we don't have Mami Uchiseto here :D


    another players who're out: Yukiko Ebata (OP), Arisa Inoue (OH), Riho Otake (MB)

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  • Shinnabe could have been a great addition. Such a loss

  • Ebata's absence is not a real problem for me tbh. Back in OGQ 2012, Nana Iwasaka and Kanako Horai were presented instead of Ai Otomo and Kaori Inoue. Yet the latter made it into London. So Ebata will defly go to Rio, and probably Uchisato as well tho we don't like her at all lol. About Risa, i read somewhere that she refuses to participate in national team for the time being so it's very unlikely for us to see her again in Rio.


    The MB line up for Japan this year seems to be fixed already with Araki, Yamaguchi and Shimmamura.


    Tashiro as the second setter is still a questionable choice tho.

  • Kimura, Araki, Nagaoka, Koga, Ohtake, Miyashita and Sato as the Libero. Sakoda is behind Nagaoka on the bench.


    Zayasu has to be OH hitter because teams are limited to 2 liberos by FIVB rules. If Ebata was on the team, you would have 3 opposites.


    Manabe is focused on defensive digging to keep Japan alive on points.

  • Final roster for Rio.


    S : Miyashita, Tashiro
    OPP : Nagaoka, Sakoda
    OH : Kimura, Ishii, Nabeya, Zayasu(defense specialist)
    MB : Araki, Shimamura, Yamaguchi
    L : Sato


    Koga, Ohtake, Ebata, Maruyama and Tanaka are out.

  • NOOOOOOO!!! EBATA!!. Not surprised with Koga being out, she was bad during the WOQT and WGP. But Ebata over Nabeya and Zayasu?!??! Though the chance is probably 0.01%, I was hoping Manabe will take Shinnabe back. :(
    Well... as a prediction for the Olympics, Japan will not make it to Top 4.

  • Ebata was still coming back from injury (she's recovered, but did not have much playing time in the 2nd division this year). Manabe wanted to see where she was at, she's getting closer to normal but he couldn't take three opposite players.


    Koga was not a surprise this year, she had a bad league season and did not do well in the Qualifiers.


    Ohtake in my mind would be better than Yamaguchi, but Manabe has a reason, I don't know what it is, but Ohtake will be in the Tokyo Games.


    Nabeya is a spark plug for this team off the bench.


    Starting lineup in my mind
    Kimura, Araki, Miyashita, Ishii, Shimamura, Nagaoka, Sato (L)

  • Ebata choice did not surprise me, she did not look strong as she used to be. Sakoda can be inconsistent but she is far too explosive. I'm really happy with Nabeya choice.
    I'm surprised with Ohtake though, she looked really efficient recently.



    My starting six is: Miyashita-Nagaoka, Kimura-Nabeya, Shimamura-Yamaguchi, Sato.

  • Saori Kimura's finger which was hurt in the World Olympic Qualifiers is still causing issues.


    Part of the reason for Saori not playing in the World Grand Prix was to rest her for Rio, but also the pain in her finger.


    They are feeling that it is slow in healing and she has taped it during practice, which she has been playing in (as is needed).


    It is possible that she could miss the South Korea match (first match) on August 6th if it does not get better by then.


    Picture of Saori and finger

  • I read somewhere that she might miss 'the first' match in Rio, I simply could not understand why they said that. Everyone knew she was injured but how could they be sure that if her condition is not allowing her to play the first match in Rio, she will eventually play for the rest of the tournament? She played the game of her life against Italy during WOQT just after she was injured. For me, it's indirectly implying South Korea is not worth for Saori to play and take risk, but the other matches do worth the pain.