Take on On-the-Court 3! Ten Japanese players to watch as the men’s season opens

738 points: the face of the league takes center stage on court

With Ran Takahashi moving overseas this season, Yuji Nishida stands at the center of the league’s key visual. As a player who embodies the appeal of the SV League, he carries considerable expectations.

Last season he scored 738 points in 168 sets across 49 matches: 603 attack points, 64 blocks and 71 service aces. He has three ways to score, with a 50.3% attack kill rate and 14.3% serve effectiveness. He can finish after his team receives serve and produce points from his own serve too.

Even with more world-class hitters in the league, anticipation will rise whenever Nishida walks to the service zone. One thunderous strike can move both the match and the entire arena.

From eight sets to 65: a 45-year-old legend remains a contributor

To appreciate Yoshihiko Matsumoto’s last season, look at his playing time alongside his age. After eight sets for Sakai in 2024-25, he played 65 following his move home to Nagano. He produced 61 attack points, 20 blocks and four aces for 85 points in total.

He begins this season at 45, with the team renamed Shinshu Matsumoto Tridents and 41-year-old David Smith joining the squad. Two middle blockers who have spent years at the top in Japan and the United States will now share a team.

Having increased his court time after returning to his native Nagano, which opponents will Matsumoto stand up to this season? This legend’s present is still on the court.

How far has he come since his 191 points as a university student?

Keihan Takahashi already has a statistical record at JTEKT. While studying at Hosei University, he scored 191 points in 61 sets across 22 matches in 2023-24. He converted 178 of 390 attack attempts, a 45.6% kill rate.

His back-row attack stands out: 76 kills from 155 attempts, a 49.0% rate. Around 43% of his attack points came from the back row, showing that his scoring contribution already extended beyond the front court.

Back from France, will he compete with Boyer and others for playing time at opposite, or take on the challenge of changing positions? His previous domestic marks of 45.6% and 191 points offer a reference for watching his return. Fans who remember his earlier JTEKT stint have another reason to follow his progress.

630 receptions in Nagano; now into a title race

Suntory welcomes Kazuma Sonae back to Japan. With Tomohiro Ogawa moving overseas, a libero with an established domestic record begins a new challenge.

At VC Nagano in 2022-23, Sonae handled 496 serve receptions with a 72.2% success rate. The following season he received 456 serves at 69.3%. In 2024-25, before leaving Japan, he played 160 sets in 44 matches and received 630 serves at 52.6%. He consistently carried reception duties across all three seasons.

Now he joins title contender Suntory, linking with a strong block and turning defensive touches into chances for a formidable attack. How will the defensive skills he has built translate into victories with his new team?

Receptions more than doubled; a world-class rival awaits

Kenta Ichikawa expanded his defensive role at Nagoya last season. His serve receptions rose from 225 in 2024-25 to 550, more than doubling, while his success rate improved from 40.2% to 46.5%. His set appearances increased from 154 to 185.

Now Jenia Grebennikov arrives. Ichikawa will compete for court time with one of the world’s leading liberos: an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo and Paris, and Best Libero in Tokyo.

A major contest comes just as Ichikawa has been entrusted with more work. Few Japanese players may feel the changes brought by On-the-Court 3 more directly. Who takes the court, and in which situations, will be a storyline in itself.

48 block points at 187 cm: challenging big hitters at the net

Rikuto Goto scored 459 points last season: 393 attacks, 48 blocks and 18 aces. He also contributed from the back row, converting 49 of 97 attempts for a 50.5% kill rate.

Look especially at the blocks accumulated by this 187 cm outside hitter. After 47 in 2024-25, he recorded 48 last season. He has scored at the net for two consecutive seasons and also made an impact at the Asian Games with Japan’s B team.

With more foreign attackers to face this season, he will seek to stop more hard-driven balls as well as finish his own attacks. Goto takes on On-the-Court 3 through both hitting and blocking.

175 cm, with a 64.1% back-row attack kill rate

Kota Yamada’s appeal lies in the scoring power he generates from a 175 cm frame. In last season’s V League he scored 327 points in 87 sets across 30 matches, converting 272 of 516 attack attempts for a 52.7% kill rate.

His back-row attack was particularly effective: 59 kills from 92 attempts, or 64.1%. He also delivered 37 aces with 10.6% serve effectiveness, while handling 437 serve receptions at a 60.8% success rate. These numbers were achieved while contributing to passing as well as attacking.

SV’s tall blocks and powerful serves now await. How well can Yamada receive, get back into his approach and score from the back row at this level? His points can help lead the new entrant’s challenge.

531 points and 508 receptions: supporting his hometown’s challenge on both sides

Hiroshi Sakoda scored 531 points in 108 sets across 28 matches for Kagoshima last season. He made 472 kills from 967 attempts, a 48.8% rate. His back-row figures were 141 kills from 248 attempts, or 56.9%.

He also handled 508 serve receptions with a 62.8% success rate. Alongside a large attacking workload, he supported his team through passing.

He now takes on SV with his hometown club. Even if more attacks go to foreign hitters, Sakoda’s own scoring can keep the opposing defense from focusing on them. He brings experience in both passing and hitting to this new stage.

Building on 62 attack points to realize his 210 cm potential

Hiroaki Maki already experienced SV last season. In 70 sets he converted 62 of 173 attack attempts, a 35.8% kill rate. He also scored 13 times from 36 back-row attempts.

There is considerable excitement about his 210 cm height. Can he turn that reach into points on quick sets and balls away from the net too? With last season’s figures as a starting point, it will be interesting to follow his conversion rate and attacking workload as his opportunities grow.

Maki switched from opposite to outside hitter at university and also handled 113 serve receptions last season. The new season cannot come soon enough for this 210 cm player who combines passing ability with a skillful pipe attack.

Competition with foreign players, and Yudai Arai alongside him

Hayato Yamamoto is a 190 cm outside hitter and a rookie who captained Nippon Sport Science University. He enters a contest for playing time at Hiroshima, now also joined by two internationals from Asian powerhouse Iran.

With the special Asian quota, which also applies to the Iranian internationals, available alongside On-the-Court 3, Japanese attackers must show what they can offer to earn a place on court. Close at hand is Yudai Arai, who also captained Japan’s B team.

Last season Arai produced 421 attack points, 30 blocks and 26 aces for 477 points, while handling 785 serve receptions. A senior teammate who carries both scoring and reception duties offers Yamamoto an excellent example.

Following that example, his first aim is to earn an opportunity. It will be fascinating to see what kind of season Yamamoto’s own accumulating numbers will describe.