The Japanese Volleyball Association announced this Tuesday the list of 14 players who will defend the men’s team in the first week of the preliminary round of the 2026 Nations League. The team travels to China, where it debuts this Wednesday (June 10, Japanese time).
Captain Yuki Ishikawa, 30, who plays for Zirat Bank Ankara, in Turkey, and pointer Ran Takahashi, 24, from Bogdanka Luv Lublin, in Poland, are confirmed among the main names. Yuji Nishida, 26-year-old opposite from Osaka Brutheon, returns to the national team after two years away from national activities.
Masahiro Sekita, 32, from Suntory Sunbirds Osaka, who was the starting point guard at the Paris Olympics, is not part of the list for this stage. The call-up prioritizes a balance between experience and young options.
In addition to the 14 starters, the federation can register up to four substitutes among the 29 pre-listed athletes. Striker Shoma Tomita, 28 years old, from Osaka Brutheon, and center Keigo Nishimoto, 27 years old, from Hiroshima Thunders, will accompany the delegation in this capacity.
Cast by position
- Lifters: Hideomi Fukatsu (36 years old, Wolfdogs Nagoya) and Motoki Nagaro (30 years old, Hiroshima Thunders).
- Opposites: Yuji Nishida (26 years old, Osaka Brutheon) and Kento Miyaura (27 years old, Wolfdogs Nagoya).
- Pointers: Tatsunori Otsuka (25 years old, Power Volley Milano/Italy), Ran Takahashi (24 years old, Bogdanka Luv Lublin/Poland), Yuki Ishikawa (30 years old, Zirat Bank Ankara/Turkey) and Yuto Kai (22 years old, Osaka Brutheon).
- Centrals: Taishi Onodera (30 years old, Suntory Sunbirds Osaka), Akihiro Yamauchi (32 years old, Osaka Brutheon), Kentaro Takahashi (31 years old, JTEKT STINGS Aichi) and Larry Evbade-Dan (25 years old, Osaka Brutheon).
- Liberos: Tomohiro Ogawa (29 years old, Bogdanka Luv Lublin/Poland) and Tomohiro Yamamoto (31 years old, Osaka Brutheon).
The Nations League is one of the three biggest volleyball tournaments in the world, alongside the Olympic Games and the World Championship. Eighteen teams play 12 matches each over three weeks. The seven best placed teams plus the host country advance to the final stage.
Japan, currently seventh in the world rankings, faces tough opponents right away. The team faces Ukraine (18th) on the 10th, Poland (1st place and current champion) on the 12th, China (28th) on the 13th and Slovenia (6th) on the 14th, all in Linyi, China.
Nishida’s return boosts expectations
The return of Yuji Nishida, known for his attacking power, represents a significant reinforcement. He had taken a break after the Paris Olympics for physical recovery. With their return, Japan seeks to maintain its recent good performance and fight for a place in the final phase of the VNL, a competition that serves as important preparation for the next cycles.
