The Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 starts with surprises from Japan. The roster for the first week of the tournament, announced by bloggerJakub Balcerzak,includes both young prospects and less-utilized players from the expanded squad.

📋 Here are the volleyball players included:

➤

• Oya (Masaki Oya) - Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers

• Eiro (Motoki Eiro) - Hiroshima Thunders

• Shimokawa (Ryo Shimokawa) - Suntory Sunbirds Osaka
  

➤ Opposites:

• Miyaura (Kento Miyaura) - Wolfdogs Nagoya

• Nishiyama (Hiroto Nishiyama) - Osaka Bluteon

➤ Middle blockers:

• Evbade-Dan (Larry Evbade-Dan) - Osaka Bluteon

• Murayama (Go Murayama) - Tokyo Great Bears

• Sato (Shunichiro Sato) - Wolfdogs Nagoya

• Nishimoto (Keigo Nishimoto) - Hiroshima Thunders

➤ Outside Hitters / Opposites:

• Masato Kai (Masato Kai) - Osaka Bluteon

• Otsuka (Tatsunori Otsuka) - Allianz Milano

• Tomita (Shoma Tomita) - Osaka Bluteon - captain

• Yamazaki (Akito Yamazaki) - Wolfdogs Nagoya
  
  In the absence of Yuki Ishikawa, Osaka Bluteon's outside hitter Shoma Tomita will captain the Japanese team!
  

  
  

➤ Libero:

• Ogawa (Tomohiro Ogawa) - Suntory Sunbirds Osaka

• Fujinaka (Soshi Fujinaka) - Suntory Sunbirds Osaka

❌ Which stars were NOT included

Although Japan has impressive stars in its squad, none of them made it into the group for the first week. Here is a complete list of those missing:

🌟 NOT included in the list:

• Ran Takahashi – outside hitter

• Yuji Nishida – opposite

• Yuki Ishikawa – captain, outside hitter

• Taishi Onodera – middle blocker

• Tomohiro Yamamoto – libero

✅ The only included among the stars

Masato Kai

✅
Masato Kai is the only experienced player on the list who participated in the Paris Olympics and found a place among the chosen ones. He is among the players who will likely be used in reception and attack rotation.

Conclusion

Japan's squad for the first week of VNL 2025 is completely rejuvenated and composed of less experienced but promising players. Key stars like Ran Takahashi, Yuji Nishida, and Yuki Ishikawa are absent, probably to get some rest or be preserved for the next weeks and more important matches.

The expectation is that they will join in the second and especially the third week, when Japan will host the tournament.

photos: JVA