The Japan women's national team achieved a historic success at the Volleyball World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand. After a 3:2 set victory over the Netherlands, the "Samurai girls" qualified for the top 4 of the world championship for the first time in 15 years.
The path to the quarter-finals
Japan finished first in Group H with three consecutive victories, and in the round of sixteen, eliminated the hosts from Thailand (second place in Group A). Thus, the team secured a place among the top eight, and the clash with the Netherlands turned into a real drama.
Match progression
1st set
The Netherlands started stronger and took the lead, with the Japanese struggling to find a rhythm in reception. Despite the efforts of Ishikawa and Wada, the Japanese made too many errors and lost the set 20:25.
2nd set
Japan stabilized its game. Excellent performances by Wada and Ishikawa, as well as eight consecutive points in the middle of the set, turned the score around. The "Samurai girls" took the set 25:20 and tied the match at 1:1.
3rd set
The Netherlands pressed with their serve and block, and Japan again experienced difficulties. Although Sato and Wada tried to reduce the deficit, the Japanese conceded 22:25 and found themselves trailing – 1:2.
4th set
Supported by the loud crowd, the Japanese showed character. Miyabe and Wada led the attack, and Ishikawa, with precise plays, turned the pressure around. Serves by Miyabe decided the set, which ended 25:22.
Tie-break
The deciding set was the epitome of fighting spirit. Japan was trailing 0:3 but gradually caught up. After a series of successful attacks by Ishikawa and Wada, the team turned the score to 12:11. Ishikawa herself brought the last point with a powerful cross-court hit for the final 15:12 and a 3:2 set victory.
| Team | 1st set | 2nd set | 3rd set | 4th set | 5th set | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 20 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| Netherlands | 25 | 20 | 25 | 22 | 12 | 2 |
The score sheet clearly shows how inconsistent the match was – both teams alternated strong and weak sets. The key was in the tie-break, where the Japanese demonstrated composure and determination.
Top scorers:
| Netherlands | Points | Japan | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dambrink | 19 | Wada | 27 |
| Timmerman | 18 | Ishikawa | 25 |
The Japanese had two prominent leaders in attack – Wada with an impressive 27 points and Ishikawa with 25. The tandem practically decided the match in favor of Japan. For the Netherlands, Dambrink (19) and Timmerman (18) offered strong resistance, but the difference in overall effectiveness proved crucial.
With this victory, Japan not only ended its 15-year absence from World Championship semifinals but also proved that the young squad, led by stars Ayaka Wada and Kumi Ishikawa, can compete with the world elite.
The next opponent for the Japanese will be determined by the other quarterfinal between USA and Turkey, but one thing is clear: Japan is once again among the greats in women's volleyball.
