Japan Women's NT 2022

    Kawakita is not about to let Momii outshine Matsui. This is the first time Denso dominates the wide roster at least 2 of them has to make it to the WCh

    Top 8 finish for Japan seems likely in my mind. Just have to finish in the top 4 in the second round Pool E.


    In First round, Brazil and China will be their toughest opponents. If they can take one of the two, that will help them in the second round. 3-2 (1-2 carry into second round) or 4-1 (2-1 carry into the second round)


    The Second round will see them face Italy, Netherlands, and then two weaker teams in Belgium, Puerto Rico, Cameroon or Kenya.

    If Japan is 1-2 entering the second round, they will need three wins probably to advance as they will not beat Italy. At 2-1 entering the second round, two wins would likely get them in the quarterfinals, but three would easily put them in the quarterfinals.

    A little throwback


    Before Manabe rounded up the London squad Yanagimoto already introduced "Japan's Miracles" who unfortunately flopped in 2008. The London squad was very much Yanagimoto's star squad, there was already a foundation. Manabe added Sakoda, Shinnabe and a nobody called Ebata.


    This was not the strongest team (in terms of offense) since Kurihara did not deliver as expected but they were a stable team and also the tallest in history

    Quote from Hassan Kadem

    I didn't know she has a sister that also played volleyball=O

    Hahaa, you'll be even more in awe to know Miyuki's husband lol.


    Quote from Karl

    Before Manabe rounded up the London squad Yanagimoto already introduced "Japan's Miracles" who unfortunately flopped in 2008. The London squad was very much Yanagimoto's star squad, there was already a foundation. Manabe added Sakoda, Shinnabe and a nobody called Ebata.

    Beijing squad's flop was mainly because of Shin who was kinda low and not well enough to perform as expected. Losing valuable starters like Kana Oyama and Ai Otomo while both Saori and Princess Meg remained unstable as ever also did not help at all. Yanagimoto was so lost before the Olympics that he decided to bring in the mediocre Miyuki Kano along with 4 MBs inlcuding 2 veterans Tajimi and Omura. It was a time when there's no decent OHs/OPs around while plenty of good MBs playing in the local league. The situation was so lame that Saori was switched between positions all the times depending on the availability of MBs/OPs/OHs.


    However, the Yanagimoto's JPN miracles you referred to were actually chosen specifically by JVA for intensive grooming since late 2002 after 2 consecutive disappointment in OG 2000 and WCH 2002. The team included Megkana duo, Saori and Kano. Only Saori survived safe and sound while the rest were stuck in injuries. Yet, Kurihara and Kano's injuries and the comeback of Ai Yamamoto gave Manabe opportunities to try different tactics and new talents got added. If both Kurihara and Kano played, he'd defly stick with his 2009 Euro high ball style.

    Saori really started to develop after Beijing, domestically and it wasn't until the 2010 World Grand Prix did she really blossom in the superstar for this team.


    I am a big fan of Takeshita because she took a ton of the arrows for the teams not qualifying for Sydney. She basically retired from the sport for a brief time, to then take both bronze in 2010 World Champs and 2012 Olympics. I'm too damn short, "F--- You, I did this shit and no one has done it in 32 and 28 years, and they haven't done it since." She got the most out of her body to take them to heights they hadn't seen in so long, to prove them all wrong in the future, girl go live your life, haters to the side.

    Quote from Nghiphong

    Hahaa, you'll be even more in awe to know Miyuki's husband lol.


    Beijing squad's flop was mainly because of Shin who was kinda low and not well enough to perform as expected. Losing valuable starters like Kana Oyama and Ai Otomo while both Saori and Princess Meg remained unstable as ever also did not help at all. Yanagimoto was so lost before the Olympics that he decided to bring in the mediocre Miyuki Kano along with 4 MBs inlcuding 2 veterans Tajimi and Omura. It was a time when there's no decent OHs/OPs around while plenty of good MBs playing in the local league. The situation was so lame that Saori was switched between positions all the times depending on the availability of MBs/OPs/OHs.


    However, the Yanagimoto's JPN miracles you referred to were actually chosen specifically by JVA for intensive grooming since late 2002 after 2 consecutive disappointment in OG 2000 and WCH 2002. The team included Megkana duo, Saori and Kano. Only Saori survived safe and sound while the rest were stuck in injuries. Yet, Kurihara and Kano's injuries and the comeback of Ai Yamamoto gave Manabe opportunities to try different tactics and new talents got added. If both Kurihara and Kano played, he'd defly stick with his 2009 Euro high ball style.

    Manabe took in Maiko Kano who is far more mediocre than her sister. I don't know what it is about these sisters I really don't know how they got so far. Maiko somehow made it past Nakada and Nakada being the ultimate powerhouse coach at the time took her into the golden era of Hisamitsu Springs thanks to having a sister from Yanagimoto's squad.


    Megumi Kurihara on the other hand has always, A-L-W-A-Y-S been mediocre. Yanagimoto's insistence on having her in the team and making her core was an absolute disaster. He said she displayed qualities of European players when her only redeeming quality was her height which made her a candidate as one of the "Miracles" but she was slow as hell, unsuitable for Japanese style, did not help with blocking, had attitude issues etc. He relied on her heavily for firepower all because of her displaying "European qualities"