why don't japan try to convert their taller blockers to oh/op? shion hirayama isn't gigantic for an mb but like someone else mentioned she should take nagaoka's place as op
because that would require thinking outside the box. You are tall you should be a blocker, meanwhile the rest of the world shifts to having a super tall opposite.
It’s not like Japan has many tall women and hence finding the few tall girls in junior/high school, they try to turn them into passing outside hitters, like Saori Kimura or middle blockers.
Why is Imoco so tough, because their opposite is really tall and good at spiking, and they have some more than capable players at the other positions. Egonu frees up others, but she is also able to carry the load if needed.