Top 8 Most Talented Female Volleyball Players from Japan

Risa Shinnabe is a Japanese volleyball player who competes for Hisamitsu Springs. Born in Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture, her passion for the sport began early, influenced by her parents who also played volleyball. She started playing at the age of six. While attending Kanoya Chuo High School, she led her team to win the 2006 High School Inter-School Championship and the 2007 Spring High School Volleyball Tournament. In November 2008, she became a rising star for Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Springs.

Shinnabe also played for the Japan Women's National Volleyball Team, where she became one of the most reliable players with her steady passing and exceptional serving. Her contributions helped Japan return to the Olympic podium in 2012 after 28 years, winning a bronze medal at the London Games, following their 1984 Olympic success in Los Angeles. Though she was absent from the Rio 2016 Olympics, she made a return to the national team in 2017. That year, Shinnabe led Japan to end a decade-long gold medal drought by guiding them to a comeback victory over Thailand in the final of the Women's Asian Volleyball Championship. She was also named the Most Valuable Player. In her first year with the national team, she earned a gold medal at the 2011 Montreux Volley Masters and secured two silver medals in the Continental Championships in 2011 and 2013. Her final appearance with the national team came at the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship. In 2020, during the Tokyo Olympic year, she was selected as a representative of the team.

Yukiko Ebata is a retired Japanese volleyball player currently affiliated with Sports Biz. Born in Akita City, Akita Prefecture, her volleyball journey began in elementary school when her parents influenced her to take up the sport. During her time at Seirei Women's Junior College, she played an active role as the captain of Harutaka Volleyball and Inter-High. In 2008, she joined Hitachi Sawa Rivale (now Hitachi Rivale) and quickly became a key scorer starting from the 2009/10 season.

In April 2010, Yukiko Ebata officially became a member of the Japan National Volleyball Team, making her the youngest player on the team that year. She participated in the World Grand Prix in August of the same year and contributed significantly to the team’s success. At the World Championship held between October and November 2010, during the second-round match against Turkey on November 7 (her birthday), she scored 24 points, leading her team to a bronze medal finish and playing a crucial role in the team’s achievement.

In 2012, Yukiko Ebata took part in the London Olympic qualifiers and finals as a member of the Japanese national team. In the quarterfinals against China, she scored an impressive 33 points, helping Japan win its first women’s volleyball Olympic medal in 28 years. Ebata primarily played as an outside hitter and became well-known for her powerful spike shots and ability to handle difficult ball situations, including defense against block touches and spinning balls. She was also noted for her excellent double-ball sets in challenging circumstances.

Arisa Sato was born in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. She started playing volleyball at the age of 8, influenced by her mother and older sister, who played in the middle blocker position at the time. In her third year of elementary school, she won the National Youth Club Exchange Tournament with her team, "TEAM." After enrolling in Furukawa Gakuen High School, she gained experience with Harutaka Volleyball and Inter-High as a lightweight athlete. Recognizing her athletic potential, Coach Ichiko Sato guided her to join Tohoku Fukushi University, where she became a member of the university’s volleyball club.

In January 2012, Arisa Sato became an unofficial member of Hitachi Rivale. By March 2013, she had won the Serve Receive Award at the 2012/13 V Challenge League. Her performance was instrumental in the team’s promotion to the Premier League during the V Challenge Match. In April 2013, she was officially selected to the Japan National Women’s Volleyball Team and participated in the World Grand Prix, representing Japan in her first international competition.

In August 2013, Arisa Sato joined the national team for the WGP qualifiers and made her debut at home in Sendai. At the 2013 World Grand Champions Cup, she earned the Best Libero award and played a key role in Japan’s bronze medal finish. During the 2013/14 season, she was promoted to the V Premier League, and by the 2015/16 season, she had become the team captain of Rivale.

Sarina Koga, born in 1996, is a Japanese volleyball player who won a bronze medal at the 2013 U23 World Championship with the Japan U23 National Team. She also competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics in women’s volleyball. Currently, she serves as the senior captain of the national team. Koga played for Kumamoto Shinai Women’s High School, leading the team to win the 2011 National Junior High School Championship and receiving the Best Player award.

Sarina Koga made her senior national team debut at the Alassio Cup in May 2013. That same year, she helped Japan’s junior team win the gold medal at the 2012 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, where she also earned the titles of Best Player and Top Scorer. In October 2013, she competed at the FIVB Women’s U23 World Championship, where her team secured a bronze medal. Known as one of the top outside hitters, Koga was signed by the NEC Red Rockets on January 23, 2015.

In 2015, Sarina Koga was selected for the Japan Women’s National Volleyball Team. Known for her sweet smile and sharp attacking style, she quickly became recognized by the media as the “Second Saori Kimura,” viewed as the successor to Japan’s volleyball idol Saori Kimura. Koga was the youngest of the 21 players representing Japan at the 2016 World Grand Prix. In July 2022, Koga was again selected to the national team for the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League Finals.

Erika Araki grew up in a family passionate about sports, with a father who was a former rugby player at Waseda University and a mother who was a physical education teacher. From a young age, she participated in swimming, athletics, and excelled in gymnastics. She began playing volleyball when she was in grade 5, standing at 174 cm at the time. During middle school, she was selected for the Aquarius Cup team and was recognized as a promising Olympic athlete in the national high school volleyball competition.

In 2003, Erika Araki joined Toray Arrows. In her first year with the team, she ranked second in attack efficiency and earned the title of Best 6. That same year, she was selected for the All Japan national team. She joined an expedition to Europe in 2004 but was not chosen for the Athens Olympics. In 2005, she rejoined the national team, primarily serving as a blocker. In 2006, she made her debut in the World Grand Prix against Cuba, delivering a stellar performance with a 90% attack success rate, and became a regular member of the team.

That year, Erika Araki competed in the World Championship. In 2007, she played a key role in securing Japan's first Asian Championship victory in 24 years. In the 2017/18 V Premier League season, she won the Block Award for the sixth consecutive year and helped Toyota Auto Body finish third in the highest level of the Premier League. On June 30, 2021, she was selected as one of the 12 players for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The renowned Japanese volleyball player Saori Kimura is considered one of Japan's volleyball legends and an All-Star player. Here are a few facts about Saori, who retired in 2017. She is recognized as one of the most famous international volleyball players and is known for her versatility, excelling in multiple positions at the elite level. A four-time Olympic champion (2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016), Saori also captained the Japanese National Volleyball Team, born in 1986.

Over twenty years, Saori Kimura showcased her incredible energy and perfect technique while representing Japan in major international events, leading her team to countless victories, including the Bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is most famous for her sharp cross-court attack from Zone 4 to Zone 4 on the opponent's side.

Saori Kimura was also known for her remarkable ability to reach high with her attacking arm while behind the ball, allowing her to spot blocks and gaps on the opponent’s side. She was famous for her deadly serves, often able to find the gaps in the opposing court and place the ball accurately there.

One of Saori Kimura's most memorable performances came during the Rio 2016 Olympic quarterfinals, where she led Japan to a dramatic 3-2 victory over one of their biggest rivals, China. Her efforts helped Japan secure a place on the podium. She also played for one of Turkey's top professional volleyball teams, Vakifbank. Saori Kimura inspired countless women in Japan and around the world.

Miyu Nagaoka, born in 1991, is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for Hisamitsu Springs. She is known for her powerful vertical jump and exceptional leaping speed as a left-handed opposite hitter. Miyu has been a member of the Japan Women's National Volleyball Team since 2013, making an impressive debut at the 2013 Montreux Masters, where she was named "Best Scorer" and also finished as the top scorer at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Miyu's volleyball career began in local school tournaments, where she played for Japan's youth national teams. In 2007, she helped her team win the U17 Asian and Oceanian Championships, earning the MVP award. She followed this success with a victory at the U18 Asian and Oceanian Championships in 2008. Two years later, in 2010, she made her debut for the senior national team at the Asian Cup.

In the 2010-11 season, Miyu Nagaoka started her professional career with Hisamitsu Springs, where her team finished third. The following year, she reached the finals but was defeated by Toray Arrows. During the 2012-13 season, she led the team to both the Empress Cup and Scudetto titles, earned the MVP of the championship, and was selected for the Best Six team. She capped off the season by winning the V.League and Kurowashiki tournaments.

With the national team, Miyu Nagaoka won a silver medal at the 2013 Asian and Oceanian Championships and a bronze medal at the 2013 Grand Champions Cup. Unfortunately, she missed the 2020 Summer Olympics due to a knee injury. With support from her family and teammates, she made a successful comeback in 2020.

Haruka Miyashita, born in 1994, is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for the Okayama Seagulls. Haruka is also a member of Japan’s national women's volleyball team. Initially a wing spiker, she transitioned to a setter under the guidance of Akiyoshi Kawamoto, a coach from Ōwada International Junior High School, and the head coach of Okayama Seagulls.

In September 2009, while still attending Ōwada Junior High, Miyashita joined the Okayama Seagulls. On November 28, 2009, at just 15 years and 2 months old, she made her debut in the V.Premier League, setting a record as the youngest debutant. During the match, she collided with a teammate and lost two front teeth. In September 2010, Miyashita was selected for the Japan Women's National Volleyball Team and made her debut at the 2010 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship in Taicang.

In August 2013, Miyashita competed in the FIVB World Grand Prix as a member of the senior national team, and in 2016, she participated in the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics. Haruka Miyashita has received several awards, including the 2010 Kuroyashiki All-Japan Volleyball Tournament New Face Award, the 2013-2014 Best Player Award, and the 2016 Olympic Qualifier "Best Scorer" award.