Japan Women's NT 2022

    Mayu strutted her stuff today, barely any indecision at all, especially that last match point. It was just her going "I'M GOING TO HIT THIS SHIT INTO THE BLOCK" and it went out lmfao


    Fantastic game today Japan :super::super:

    Quote from Hassan Kadem

    Is it safe to say that this team connects better with Mayu than with Koga? When Koga is around they have to let her do everything vs when Mayu is around she's there with them. Idk if yall get me

    I don't know that it's connecting with Mayu, but as I posted earlier I felt a liberated vibe from the girls without the mother hen around, Something was there (and Brazil was out of sync)

    It was cringe awkward when the announcer had to double ask his question about how important it was to win it for the Captain :aww:

    When you think about it Koga's injury is kind of a blessing in disguise for this team. Manabe would've never let Mayu enter and just keep relying on Koga.

    Quote from kravmaga

    When you think about it Koga's injury is kind of a blessing in disguise for this team. Manabe would've never let Mayu enter and just keep relying on Koga.

    I wonder if the feeling that some of us are getting of "Having to give it all to Koga" is Manabe's instruction, or just the dynamic of the group when Koga is inside? No where am I insinuating anything about Koga, just wondering since the vibe definitely feels more light and free

    Quote from sciew

    I wonder if the feeling that some of us are getting of "Having to give it all to Koga" is Manabe's instruction, or just the dynamic of the group when Koga is inside? No where am I insinuating anything about Koga, just wondering since the vibe definitely feels more light and free

    I think we can insinuate something about Koga. There was clearly a different vibe in this match --- but it's only one match (and Brazil was pretty way off). But I don't think it's Manabe giving instruction of any kind, and I don't think it's been Koga-ball. I've been happy with Seki's distribution


    Let's see where this goes. Japan's game isn't about "ace". It's about team

    Quote from sciew

    I wonder if the feeling that some of us are getting of "Having to give it all to Koga" is Manabe's instruction, or just the dynamic of the group when Koga is inside? No where am I insinuating anything about Koga, just wondering since the vibe definitely feels more light and free

    Manabe hardwired this team to let Koga decide during the most critical moments so I believe Seki has to make that count for Koga instead of distributing it to Hayashi, Mayu, Inoue. I said this in the WCh thread, Inoue is not really the long set type of attacker. If it wasn't for Brazil being out of shape in this match, she definitely wouldn't have lasted any longer.

    I think this Japan team must center around Inoue, with Koga and Ishikawa playing in rotation ALA 2012 with Sakoda and Ebata. Koga is very inconsistent defensively and offensively. The CHN game is pretty much on her faltering defensively and offensively. On the other hand, Ishikawa could not play second fiddle but plays tremendously if starting. Also, she plays better in the defensive department in the scant times she played. Inoue had been doing it all, including reception too, which is shocking given that she sometimes get non-receiving duties in her home team. Inoue is much stronger too for a JPN player, consistently reaching high 80s for an OOS spikes. Even with her set 3 CHN meltdown and the latter VNL games, I think she pushes hard and does not pull back when put on the spot. Lastly, Hayashi is very stable AND is much important than one might think. She really fit well like how Shinnabe had played for Japan. A very consistent scorer with a very consistent defense. The MBs are ok. Its really difficult to gauge them since they are not really much of a presence in the JPN gameplan. They have great games here and there but does not hold the consistent output required for JAP pins.

    Setting wise, Seki is ok. She may get into some rut with some awful sets here and there but she always comes back setting well. She also rotates to the middle which was missing in the post-Takeshita era setters. Libero-wise, I think the VNL libero is much better than both in the line-up. Also, She is an active personality in court, something that is missing with most of the JPN team.

    PS: I wish that Manabe find some playtime for some of the bench players. The Miyabe sisters and that college girl are good prospect given their height. The ARG, CZE and COL matches would have been great times to give them entry and have experience. But Alas, they have to settle into service or blocking specialist roles.

    PPS: I wish the OPP of Hisamitsu can join the National team in the future. She is an interesting prospect.

    Wishing them well this semis.

    Koga has been playing nonstop even during all those friendly matches pre-WC and unlike Egonu for example she never gets subbed until she was injured so it's understandable that there were times where the limits of her physical ability shows. Inoue is already the focus of offense as you've probably noticed nothing has changed in her role otherwise we would have seen Airi take over for her.


    To me I think the worst change is their libero. Uchiseto has good reception but she lacks alertness that the past NT liberos have. She's not cut out for fast paced floor coverage.

    According to some guy on the internet, Mayu said "... the advice to change her hairstyle was effective, and that the defense was good today, and that the other players worked hard because there was no captain, and that invisible power worked" :drink:

    Quote from sitenoise

    I think we can insinuate something about Koga. There was clearly a different vibe in this match --- but it's only one match (and Brazil was pretty way off). But I don't think it's Manabe giving instruction of any kind, and I don't think it's been Koga-ball. I've been happy with Seki's distribution


    Let's see where this goes. Japan's game isn't about "ace". It's about team

    Is it just me? Sometimes, I notice Koga passes the ball to the middle of the court or makes the play out of system on purpose so that the ball will be set to her.

    I also like Mayu’s new look, refreshing and more fierce. Yesterday’s game showed how important serve receive is in Japan’s game and Mayu played a huge part of the improvement. I can’t help but think is it still possible to switch the 2 liberos for someone else lol. Such a pain to see countless consecutive errors from them 😩.


    brahmin could you please help specify Japan’s chance for quarterfinal or even semifinal:dance6:!