The Rising Star Returning from Italy with Dreams of Becoming the Ohtani of Volleyball

The momentum from the Paris Olympics continues unabated!

2024-11-26

On the 4th, he came off the bench for the first time this season for medical reasons. Cheered and picked up the ball during the game, cheerfully supporting the team.

Economic impact of over 100 million yen per year salary

Ra–kun–kun!”

The Ariake Arena was filled with yellow cheers. Fans and towels were everywhere in the auditorium, as if it were an idol show. Most of them had “Ai Takahashi” written on them.

On November 3, 11,599 spectators filled the venue for the volleyball SV League match between Tokyo GB and Suntory. This was the largest attendance among the professional volleyball leagues since 2006, for which records are still kept.

Takahashi (23, Suntory), who was the favorite of the large crowd, scored 18 points on the day, the second most on the team, including a powerful back attack. Kentaro Asahi, a former member of the Japanese national volleyball and beach volleyball teams, explains the appeal of Takahashi.

He said, “Takahashi has a skillful serve-receive, good defense, and a great attack that makes use of her excellent leaping ability. She is a valuable player with excellent offensive and defensive skills. On the day of the match, she attacked and provided thorough support, and played a big role in the match.

Takahashi was selected for the Japan team for the Tokyo Olympics at the age of 19, the youngest player on the team, but he is acutely aware of his own lack of ability. He followed the footsteps of respected ace Yuki Ishikawa (28) and went to Italy’s Serie A, the world’s most prestigious league, to train as an apprentice.

In his second season from 2010 to 2011, he won his first MVP award with 17 points, but in July of this year, he made a surprise move to Suntory. In July of this year, he made a surprise move to Suntory, surprising fans.

Suntory really wanted Takahashi to be a key player in the newly established SV League. The salary he was offered was an unprecedented 100 million yen. Since tickets are selling like hotcakes with his addition, even a salary of 100 million yen per year is a bargain.

Shohei Otani, 30, is said to have an economic impact of over 100 billion yen. The “Prince” returning from Italy will change the history of Japanese volleyball as the “Otani of the volleyball world.