Rivalry of Japan’s Volleyball Aces Koga and Ishikawa Sparks “The Paris Joy”
Celebrating the decision to participate in the Olympics! A team full of talents will make it to the podium for the first time in three tournaments since the London Olympics.
The Japanese women’s volleyball team has taken the first step towards the podium since London. During the ‘Nations League 2024’ (May 14 to June 23), where the top 16 countries compete, they secured their spot for the Paris Olympics.
“The announcement of their qualification for the Paris Olympics came on June 14. This marks the women’s team’s sixth consecutive Olympic appearance since Athens 2004. Captain Sarina Koga (28) is undoubtedly a key player, often regarded as the rightful successor to Saori Kimura (37) and the absolute ace of the Japanese team.” (shared a journalist covering the event)
As the face of women’s volleyball, Sarina Koga has gained significant media exposure through commercials like “Hotto Motto.”Despite concerns about her gentle demeanor affecting her captaincy, sports writer Yūko Tanaka, who has interviewed Koga extensively, dismisses these worries.
“You can’t see it on screen, but her court instructions are very precise. Traditionally, women’s volleyball was seen as winning through spirit and perseverance, but Koga is the opposite. She quickly notices gaps between opponents’ attacks and our blocks, and during games, she calmly leads the team by making specific requests to the setter like ‘I want a higher toss for this attack’. The current Japan team wouldn’t function without Koga.”
