The Japan women’s volleyball national team held its kickoff press conference in Tokyo on May 11. The squad is aiming to secure the fastest possible ticket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics by winning the Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship in China this August. Head coach Ferhat Akbaş declared his ambition to “raise the national flag to the highest place” and emphasized that players who can withstand pressure will be a key criterion in the selection process. “We need athletes who don’t buckle under pressure,” Akbaş said. The coaching staff is now focused on assembling a roster capable of not only dominating the Asian stage but also competing at the highest global level. With the Asian Championship serving as a direct qualifying route to the Olympics, Japan is determined to claim the continental title and book their spot early. The team will begin intensive training camps and tune-up matches in preparation for the tournament, aiming to build on their recent progress and establish a winning mentality.
