Sarina Koga, Yuji Nishida, and Mayu Ishikawa Gather in Full Sportswear in Downtown Senbero Town
The aces switch on and off beautifully! Three key players of the Japanese volleyball team, which is expected to win medals for both men and women at the same time, were discovered and photographed!
“We are going to the Olympics to win medals, and we will bring them back.”
Currently ranked 2nd in the world, Yuki Ishikawa (28), captain of the men’s volleyball team, which is expected to win a medal for the first time in 52 years, confidently spoke at a send-off party. Sarina Koga (28), captain of the women’s team ranked 7th, announced on her social media that she will retire after the Paris Olympics.
“I will fight with everything I’ve got in my volleyball career,” she declared with unwavering determination.
As the once-every-four-years grand stage approaches, the tension continues to build, but there seems to be no worry about them being crushed by the pressure of the Olympics.
For example, when FRIDAY encountered Captain Ishikawa’s younger sister, Mayu (24), at the beginning of July, she was in extremely high spirits, as shown in the photo above.
“She was in full sportswear and looked just as beautiful as on TV, so I recognized her immediately. I never expected to see her in such a downtown ‘senbero town’ (laughs). She had a quick drink with a woman who seemed to be her friend at a seafood robatayaki restaurant and left around 9 PM,” said a customer who was there.
Mayu Ishikawa’s highest spike reach is 3 meters. The ace who holds the record for the most points scored by a Japanese player in a V-League season took a commemorative photo in front of the restaurant and then left by taxi.
So far, it’s a common story.
It was surprising to see even Koga, who forms a double ace with her in the national team, appear in “Senbero Town.” Moreover, right next to her was her husband, Yuji Nishida (24), the top scorer for the men’s national team!
“I saw them at a drugstore, and with both of them being 180 cm tall, they stood out just by standing in line at the register. They looked great together,” said a shopper.
Afterwards, feeling a bit hungry, the couple stopped by a taiyaki shop and bought one. After taking a bite, Koga handed the rest to Nishida and resumed their shopping. Along the way, they were approached by students doing a fundraising activity near the station, to which they responded with a cheerful “Thank you!” before finishing their shopping while it was still light out.
The couple headed home by taxi.
“Although Nishida has a bold image, he is more meticulous about volleyball than anyone else. The same goes for Koga. The two of them, who elevated each other, both won MVP at last year’s Emperor’s Cup and Empress’s Cup All Japan Volleyball Championship,” said sports writer Yamato Fujimoto.
The unexpected gathering of these three key players in “Senbero Town” showcases their ability to switch between on and off modes perfectly. With such skills, they seem well poised to meet the expectations of winning simultaneous medals for both men and women.
From the July 26/August 2, 2024 issue of FRIDAY
