TheJapan women's national volleyball team (Hinotori Nippon, 火の鳥NIPPON), orAll-Japan women's volleyball team, is currently ranked 7th[4] in the world byFIVB. Thehead coach isFerhat Akbaş.
One of their greatest successes was at the1964 Summer Olympics inTokyo, when they defeated the heavily favoredSoviet Union on the way to the gold medal.
Japan was qualified for the2004 Summer Olympics by winning theWomen's Olympic Qualifier that was held from 8 May to 16 May inTokyo, Japan. InAthens, Greece the team took fifth place in the overall-rankings.
Finally after almost three decades of medal drought in the Olympics, Japan took home the bronze medal by defeating South Korea in the2012 Summer Olympics.[6]
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Nations League | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| World Championship | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| World Grand Prix | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| World Cup | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| World Grand Champions Cup | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Asian Games | 5 | 4 | 4 | 13 |
| Asian Championship | 5 | 7 | 7 | 19 |
| Asian Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Eastern Asian Championship | 6 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Universiade | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| Montreux Volley Masters | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Asian Cup | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Universiade | 2 | 5 | 4 | 11 |
| Total | 20 | 27 | 23 | 70 |
Japan qualified for the2012 Summer Olympics as the best Asian team in the2012 FIVB Women's World Olympic Qualification Tournament. In the 2012 Olympics, Japan had been placed on Group A withRussian Federation,Italy,Dominican Republic, the hostGreat Britain andAlgeria. Japan finished third in the Group. In the quarter-finals, Japan faced their old Asian rival China.Saori Kimura andYukiko Ebata each scored 33 points in this thrilling game in whichChina were beaten by 3–2.[7] It was their first win over China in 11 years as far as FIVB games are concerned. On 9 August 2012, the Japanese were outplayed by the defending championsBrazil in the semi-finals.[8] On 11 August 2012, Japan beatSouth Korea 3–0 in the bronze medal match. It is the first Olympics' volleyball medal for the Japanese since the1984 Summer Olympics.[9] On August 13, 2012, Japan Women's Team was ranked 3rd in the world behindUnited States women's national volleyball team andBrazil women's national volleyball team.
Japan was the host nation for the2020 Summer Olympics. The other teams in their group in Tokyo wereKenya, Serbia, Brazil, Korea and the Dominican Republic.[10] Japan's opening match was on 25 July 2021 in Tokyo against Kenya.[11] They beat Kenya in their first match in straight sets[12] and lost against Serbia, Brazil, Korea and the Dominican Republic which caused them to miss the qualification for the quarterfinals.[13]
| Year | Games | Host | Runner-up | 2nd Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 # | 4th World Championship | USSR |  USSR |  Poland |
| 1964 # | Tokyo Olympic Games | Japan | USSR | Poland |
| 1967 # | 5th World Championship | Japan |  USA |  South Korea |
| 1974 & | 7th World Championship | Mexico | USSR | South Korea |
| 1976 & | Montreal Olympic Games | Canada | USSR | South Korea |
| 1977 & | 2nd World Cup | Japan |  Cuba | South Korea |
#, & – Twice 3 Straight Major titles in 1960s and 1970s
(World Women's Volleyball Championship, World Cup, Olympic Games)
Gold Silver Bronze Fourth place
| Olympic Games record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | GP | MW | ML | SW | SL | |
 1964 | Round robin | Gold | 5 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 1 | |
 1968 | Round robin | Silver | 7 | 6 | 1 | 19 | 3 | |
 1972 | Final | Silver | 5 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 3 | |
 1976 | Final | Gold | 5 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 1980 | Did not participate | |||||||
| 1984 | Semifinals | Bronze | 5 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 5 | |
| 1988 | Semifinals | Fourth place | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 12 | |
 1992 | Quarterfinals | 5th place | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 9 | |
| 1996 | Group stage | 9th place | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 12 | |
 2000 | Did not qualify | |||||||
 2004 | Quarterfinals | 5th place | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | |
 2008 | Quarterfinals | 5th place | 6 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 14 | |
 2012 | Semifinals | Bronze | 8 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 11 | |
 2016 | Quarterfinals | 5th place | 6 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | |
| 2020 | Group stage | 10th place | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 12 | |
 2024 | Group stage | 9th place | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | |
| Total | 2 titles | 14/16 | 76 | 43 | 33 | 145 | 113 | |
Champions Runners up Third place Fourth place
| World Championship record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | GP | MW | ML | SW | SL |
 1952 | Did not compete | ||||||
| 1956 | |||||||
 1960 | Final places | Runners-up | 7 | 6 | 1 | 19 | 5 |
| 1962 | Final places | Champions | 9 | 9 | 0 | 27 | 1 |
| 1967 | Round robin | Champions | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
 1970 | Final places | Runners-up | 9 | 8 | 1 | 25 | 5 |
| 1974 | Final places | Champions | 11 | 11 | 0 | 33 | 2 |
| 1978 | Final | Runners-up | 9 | 7 | 2 | 21 | 12 |
 1982 | Semifinals | Fourth place | 9 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 9 |
 1986 | 5th–8th places | 7th place | 8 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 14 |
| 1990 | 5th–8th places | 8th place | 7 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 13 |
| 1994 | 5th–8th places | 7th place | 7 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 11 |
| 1998 | 5th–8th places | 8th place | 8 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 12 |
| 2002 | First round | 13th place | 5 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 |
| 2006 | 5th–8th places | 6th place | 11 | 7 | 4 | 23 | 18 |
| 2010 | Semifinals | Third place | 11 | 8 | 3 | 28 | 17 |
 2014 | Second round | 7th place | 9 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 17 |
| 2018 | Third round | 6th place | 12 | 7 | 5 | 28 | 18 |
 2022 | Quarterfinals | 5th place | 10 | 7 | 3 | 24 | 11 |
 2025 | Semifinals | Fourth place | 7 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 11 |
| 2027 | To be determined | ||||||
 2029 | |||||||
| Total | 3 titles | 18/22 | 152 | 106 | 46 | 356 | 186 |
Silver Medal
Gold MedalSilver Medal
Bronze MedalBronze MedalSilver MedalSilver Medal
Bronze MedalBronze Medal
Gold Medal
Silver MedalSilver Medal
Gold MedalGold MedalGold MedalGold MedalGold Medal
Silver MedalSilver Medal
Bronze MedalBronze MedalBronze MedalBronze MedalSilver MedalSilver Medal
Gold Medal
Silver MedalGold MedalSilver Medal
Bronze MedalSilver MedalSilver MedalBronze MedalBronze MedalBronze MedalSilver MedalBronze MedalGold MedalBronze MedalSilver MedalSilver MedalGold MedalGold MedalBronze MedalSilver MedalGold MedalThis page shows Japan women's national volleyball team's Head-to-head record at theVolleyball at the Summer Olympics,FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League.
| Opponent | GP | MW | ML |
|---|---|---|---|
 Algeria | 1 | 1 | 0 |
 Argentina | 2 | 2 | 0 |
 Belgium | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Brazil | 14 | 1 | 13 |
| Bulgaria | 4 | 4 | 0 |
 Cameroon | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Canada | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| China | 13 | 5 | 8 |
 Croatia | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Cuba | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Czechoslovakia | 2 | 2 | 0 |
 Dominican Republic | 8 | 6 | 2 |
 East Germany | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| France | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Germany | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Great Britain | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Greece | 1 | 1 | 0 |
 Hungary | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Italy | 7 | 2 | 5 |
 Kenya | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Mexico | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 7 | 2 | 5 |
 North Korea | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Peru | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Poland | 9 | 5 | 4 |
 Romania | 1 | 1 | 0 |
 Russia | 5 | 2 | 3 |
 Serbia | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| South Korea | 17 | 12 | 5 |
| Soviet Union | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Thailand | 5 | 5 | 0 |
 Turkey | 7 | 4 | 3 |
 Ukraine | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| United States | 13 | 5 | 8 |
 Venezuela | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 164 | 94 | 70 |
The following is the Japan roster in the2025 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League[14]
Ferhat Akbaş| No. | Name | Date of birth | Position | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ayaka Araki | (2001-09-02)September 2, 2001 (age 24) | MB | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) |
| 3 | Haruyo Shimamura | (1992-03-04)March 4, 1992 (age 33) | MB | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) |
| 4 | Mayu Ishikawa (c) | (2000-05-14)May 14, 2000 (age 25) | OH | 174 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| 6 | Nanami Seki | (1999-06-12)June 12, 1999 (age 26) | S | 171 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
| 8 | Manami Kojima | (1994-11-07)November 7, 1994 (age 31) | L | 158 cm (5 ft 2 in) |
| 11 | Nichika Yamada | (2000-02-24)February 24, 2000 (age 25) | MB | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) |
| 12 | Satomi Fukudome | (1997-11-23)November 23, 1997 (age 28) | L | 162 cm (5 ft 4 in) |
| 13 | Yukiko Wada | (2002-01-02)January 2, 2002 (age 24) | OH | 174 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| 15 | Airi Miyabe | (1998-07-29)July 29, 1998 (age 27) | MB | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| 19 | Miiku Iwasawa | (1999-10-13)October 13, 1999 (age 26) | OH | 162 cm (5 ft 4 in) |
| 22 | Tsukasa Nakagawa | (2000-08-13)August 13, 2000 (age 25) | S | 159 cm (5 ft 3 in) |
| 26 | Yoshino Sato | (2001-11-12)November 12, 2001 (age 24) | OH | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) |
| 30 | Ayane Kitamado | (2004-07-06)July 6, 2004 (age 21) | OH | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) |
| 33 | Miku Akimoto | (2006-08-18)August 18, 2006 (age 19) | OH | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) |
Head coach:Tadayoshi Yokota
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Height | 1994 club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motoko Obayashi | 15.06.67 | 182 cm (5 ft11+1⁄2 in) | Hitachi |
| 2 | Aki Nagatomi | 17.07.69 | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | Hitachi |
| 3 | Chie Natori | 09.08.69 | 176 cm (5 ft9+1⁄2 in) | Daiei |
| 4 | Mika Yamauchi | 07.10.69 | 182 cm (5 ft11+1⁄2 in) | Daiei |
| 6 | Tomoko Yoshihara | 04.02.70 | 179 cm (5 ft10+1⁄2 in) | Hitachi |
| 7 | Kiyoko Fukuda | 04.08.70 | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | Hitachi |
| 8 | Miho Murata | 03.09.70 | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | Hitachi |
| 9 | Asako Tajimi | 26.02.72 | 179 cm (5 ft10+1⁄2 in) | Hitachi |
| 12 | Yumi Natta | 12.07.69 | 161 cm (5 ft3+1⁄2 in) | Daiei |
| 13 | Naomi Eto | 12.07.72 | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) | Hitachi |
| 16 | Maki Fujiyoshi | 24.05.74 | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | Hitachi |
| 17 | Miyuki Shimasaki | 13.10.74 | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | Hitachi |
| 5 | Kazuyo Matsukawa | 07.01.70 | 181 cm (5 ft11+1⁄2 in) | Daiei |
| 10 | Kumiko Sakamoto | 13.12.72 | 177 cm (5 ft9+1⁄2 in) | Daiei |
| 14 | Minako Onuki | 15.10.72 | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | NEC |
| 15 | Miho Ota | 27.10.73 | 179 cm (5 ft10+1⁄2 in) | Hitachi |
| 18 | Eiko Yasui | 08.05.71 | 164 cm (5 ft4+1⁄2 in) | Kanagawa |
Tadayoshi YokotaKuniaki YoshidaNobushika KuzuwaMasahiro YoshikawaShoichi Yanagimoto (2003–2008)Masayoshi Manabe (2008–2016; 2021–2024)Kumi Nakada (2016–2021)[15][16]Ferhat Akbaş (2025–present)
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