Japan - V.League V1 (Division 1, Women) 2021-2022

    Takaso the blocking machine :)

    Koga's not playing and looks a little under the weather

    Takaso's not ready to step aside for all these 'good' players PFU picked up :flower:

    That was fun. PFU's B-Team, ie., last year's A-Team more or less with added Sanae and Kagamihara did better than the new kids on the block


    Painful to watch all these NEC pins swinging for naught


    SPARKLES were a disappointment

    I wonder what's up with Sarina Koga. She was distant and disconnected from the team at that PFU thing

    Quote from sean1

    Not feeling NEC's rebranding, they feel like an appliance store now. JT and Toray are awfully quiet:sleeping: I loved their goofy content


    Why is there a number 35 in PFU wtf who goes beyond 20

    in Japan, usually higher numbers imply that they are new to the team. Veteran players take the lower numbers. As veterans retire or leave, the lower numbers become available. Some players may just take a high number and live with it Karakurt….

    As for the NEC branding, I will go in the opposite direction. Many Japanese teams in the past had logos that were very cartoon like, meaning children’s cartoons and not very modern. The Red Rockets (and the rugby team Green Rockets, plus the old Blue Rockets too) had that type of look. As sports have become more “professional” in how they are run and also how they look, having a cartoon look for the mascot is fine, but not as the logo or brand design.

    NEC is retiring the mascots and going with a new look as well and gave both mascots a going away video.
    https://youtu.be/khxxFSbuQj0

    Quote from Playmaker

    i dont even wanna know what you're talking about.....

    Speaking of chonky U-Squads of yesteryear and "where are they today?" ... 2017.05.21 AVC U23 Championship Final JPN v THA ... full set match


    Some of our favorite young Thai players , Ajcharaporn, Pimpichaya, Chatchu-On, etc. take on:


    • (S) Miki Sakurai (Himeji's current setter)
    • (OP) Misaki Yamauchi (NEC Captain three years running) #freeMisakiYamauchi
    • (OH) Hikari Kato (Keeping the SAGA bench warm)
    • (OH) Nanaka Sakamoto (Played abroad, retired from Denso)
    • (MB) Ayaka Sugi (Friendliest face in volleyball, retired from Toyota this summer)
    • (MB) Nozomi Itoh (Shoelace for a headband, retired from Toray)
    • (L) Moeri Hanai (Himeji's current libero)


    This is the tournament that made me love Ayaka Sugi, but I digress ...


    Phoenix this is all you need for Hikari Kato (and probably all you'll want)


    Sakurai started the first two sets as setter with Kato and Sakamoto on the wings.


    These three take over in set 3 and things change dramatically

    • (S) Misaki Shirai (Current backup Toray setter)
    • (OH) Rei Kudo (Denso)
    • (OH) Miwako Osanai (Hitachi) :thumbup:


    Kaori Mabashi dub sub sighting in set 1


    Quote from brahmin

    NEC is retiring the mascots and going with a new look as well and gave both mascots a going away video.

    That cliffhanger ending :!: I'm pretty sure William Shatner is the new mascot

    whats the deal with arisa sato? one of her recent articles promoting a baseball team (rakuten eagles) said she co-owns ligare, tres? whatever that is and a mixed-gender volleyball training camp under her name. I don't get why she also plays with the team but is also their director, that's literally doing everything.

    She asked to be let go from her team and the team previously in Sendai went out of business. She is known due to her time with the national team and for her she is trying to kept professional volleyball alive in Sendai with this team. The baseball team, Rakuten is known and because she is also from Sendai, she is supporting the teams, but with the name recognition of looking for potential sponsors, she needs to be out there.
    She is trying to build a base and Sendai when Japan would host FIVB was often a destination in the rotation of cities. Plus try in some Haikyu also based in Miyagi prefecture (when Sendai is) and it may be a better chance for her to succeed. Plus Japan is not known for taking chances, but she wanted to.

    Sadly I don't think Kato is able to grow because of how limited her court time is which is baffling. Sakai must be aware of what she's capable of. Did she get to play a lot during Summer League?