Japan women’s volleyball team head coach Ferhat Akbash, who is entering his second season at the helm, held a kickoff press conference on April 11 at the Ajinomoto National Training Center in Tokyo. The 40-year-old Turkish-born coach unveiled the team’s motto for the upcoming season: “Connect. The limits are still ahead.”
This season is a critical one as it determines qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics. Japan can secure a direct ticket by winning the Asian Championships, scheduled for late August in China. The national team training camp kicked off at the end of last month. Akbash expressed his determination: “This year’s goal is extremely challenging, but we are working hard to achieve it. We will do our utmost to select players who can withstand pressure and reach our target.”
Japan currently holds the top spot in Asia at world No. 5, but China is close behind at No. 6. “China is strong, and since the tournament is held in China, it will be very tough. However, it’s crucial to deliver matches that can make the people happy,” the coach said. The team will hold intra-squad scrimmages on April 18 and 21, before heading to Canada in early June for the first week of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL).