The Japan women’s volleyball national team held its kickoff press conference in Tokyo, unveiling the 2026 roster. Of the registered members announced on April 15, 14 are first-time selections, including four high school students and three university players, bringing eight teenagers into the squad. Among them are two current University of Tsukuba students: Yuzuki Baba (first year) and Sae Omori (second year), who shared their candid thoughts.
During a small group interview after the press conference, Baba was seen waiting with Sato Ayaka, a fourth-year student from Tokyo Women’s College of Physical Education. Former national team player Motoko Obayashi, who served as the event host, approached them and squeezed in for a commemorative photo. The kind gesture from the legendary Olympian—who competed in three consecutive Games from Seoul 1988—helped ease the young athletes’ tension. Born in 2008, Baba was too young to have watched Obayashi play.
When asked which national team players she admired as a child, the 18-year-old first-time selection named London 2012 bronze medalists Saori Kimura and Risa Shinnabe. Upon being told that Kimura was actually present at the venue, Baba exclaimed, “Wait, are you serious?!” with sparkling eyes. “Oh my god, that’s incredible…” Her reaction revealed the fresh-faced innocence of a first-year university student.
Standing at 180 cm, Baba plays as a middle blocker, highlighting her serve, blocking, and receiving skills. Her goal is to become an all-rounder like her university senior Yoshino Sato, who she hopes to emulate in changing the flow of the game with powerful spikes and serves.
During high school, Baba struggled with injuries including lumbar spondylolysis and an abdominal muscle tear. She emphasized the importance of learning beyond volleyball, particularly in areas like diet and body conditioning. She expressed her determination to absorb as much knowledge as possible from the seniors she looks up to during national team activities.
For Baba, a reassuring presence comes from fellow graduates of Kinran High School, including her senior Sae Omori. “It gives me a sense of security, and hearing the Kansai dialect makes me feel at ease,” Baba said. Omori, now a second-year university student, also plays alongside another classmate from high school, Chisato Hanaoka, who currently belongs to Toray Arrows Shizuoka. “I’m really happy to be able to play volleyball with them again,” the 19-year-old Omori shared, delighted by the reunion.
Reflecting on the training camp that started on April 27, Omori admitted, “On the first day, seeing players I used to watch on TV nearby didn’t feel real. It was only then that I started to realize I’m in a truly special place.” She said the most nerve-wracking moment was speaking with captain Mayu Ishikawa, whom she has admired since childhood. “I always thought she was composed, captain-like, and amazing, but when I talked to her, she turned out to be very kind.” After practice, Ishikawa even gave her some advice.
Balancing national team activities with university life, Omori spends the first half of the week with the team and the second half attending classes. Some teammates she hasn’t even trained with yet. “I have to earn credits, so my attendance days are running short, which is tough,” she said with a wry smile. Her strengths include “fast approach and sharp spikes,” and she is eager to bring “dynamic play” with back attacks and more.
The squad also includes four high school students who were not present at the press conference. Omori noted, “They are very fresh and bring a lot of qualities we don’t have. Training with such highly talented young players was a great inspiration.” The healthy competition among younger players is expected to positively impact the entire team.
Head coach Ferhat Akbas expressed his expectations: “What I believe is that giving opportunities to young players is very important. Of course, it’s a courageous decision. Watching high school and university tournaments, I saw a lot of potential. They will be part of the future of Japanese volleyball.”
