Thread by @vbnippon_ENG

[ENG - rough trans]

Comments from the 12 players on the Japan Volleyball Men's National Team, Ryujin NIPPON, who have been selected to participate in the 32nd Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020)
; thread

🔗 jva.or.jp/index.php/topi…

##龍神NIPPON

⚠ NOTICE ⚠

If you have any issues with me translating JP men's vb articles who only have basic Nihonggo knowledge, uses (reliable) online translating tools & thorough research, do not proceed on reading my translations. You know where the exit button is.

• Yuki Ishikawa
I am very honored to be selected as a member of the Japanese National Team for the Tokyo Olympics, and I am very happy to be able to play on such a big stage. We will seek results and give our best performance in this competition. (+)

(+) I will also do my best to make this a stage to show my gratitude and return the favor to the people who have supported me so far.
First of all, I think it is important to be able to show what we have been practicing and experiencing in games. I want to be mindful of (+)

(+) creating that environment and atmosphere in any situation.
In this context, I want to lead the team so that I can support the team both in terms of play and mentally when the pressure is on, such as in difficult situations. Having competed in Italy, (+)

(+) the world's top league, I have learned a lot of things, such as expressing my emotions, the importance of scoring, and the importance of playing the same way as in practice when under pressure.
The younger members of the team have not had the opportunity to play against (+)

(+) strong overseas teams before, so the Nations League has been a great experience for the team as they have been able to play this kind of game before the Olympics, and they have been able to get to know and visualize overseas teams. (+)

(+) The issue is that we have not yet established the relationship between reception and losing points when a strong serve comes and how to score in transition. Reception is one of the strengths of the Japanese team, so I want to fight to prevent it from collapsing. (+)

(+) In transition, our defense is good, so we want to improve our decision-making ability to connect the ball to score.
Personally, as an ace, I want to make sure that I get the points when we are in trouble or when we need to score a point, and as a captain, I want to (+)

(+) contribute to the team by being a person who can be relied on mentally to support the team in difficult times.

• Kunihiro Shimizu
It's a great honor to be on this stage once again. I would like to put all of my feelings into this stage for the Beijing generation. (+)

(+) Looking back, I don't think I could have gotten there on my own. I have been able to come this far with the help of many people around me. Especially because of Fukuzawa, I think I was able to climb back up again. I think it is because I have been building up my skills (+)

(+) day by day, and not giving up.
Since I am the oldest and have Olympic experience, I want to teach everyone what I can about how we can bring out our best under this pressure. When I come out, I want to play as a veteran so that I can stabilize and influence the team.

• Taishi Onodera
I am very happy to have been chosen as a participant on the stage that all athletes aim for. I will do my best to meet the expectations of many people by carrying the Japanese flag on my back.
First of all, I want to play while making the most of my (+)

(+) strengths, as I am expected to play consistently in the match with spikes, blocks, and serves. I would also like to show my leadership among middle blockers.
Many people are supporting me and expecting a lot from me, so I want to give courage and inspiration to (+)

(+) my hometown, Miyagi Prefecture, and to the people who were affected by the disaster and are still living in shelters. I believe that sports have the power to encourage and inspire people, and we would like to prove this to everyone through our play and results.

• Naonobu Fujii
Since the first time I was selected for the Japanese national team, I've been determined to participate in the Tokyo Olympics, so I'm honestly happy. I want to fight with all my might so that I have no regrets for myself. (+)

(+) I am also keenly aware of the weight of the past year and the fellow athletes I have fought with, and I will do my best to feel the thoughts of those who lost their dream of becoming an Olympian.
I would like to contribute to the team by playing fast volleyball based on (+)

(+) the center, such as quick and pipe, and by acting in a way that can boost and inspire the team atmosphere. Immediately after the disaster, there was a time when I gave up on continuing to play volleyball. I can't thank my family and everyone at the university enough for (+)

(+) their support during this time. I wouldn't be where I am today without the support I received back then. And the people from my hometown who are always so warm and welcoming. Every time I went back home, I was approached by many people, and each time I was approached, (+)

(+) it became a source of energy for me.
Thanks to the support of many people, I am now able to fight with the Japanese flag on my back. I will do my best to give those people a little strength through volleyball.

• Akihiro Yamauchi
I'm happy to have been selected as a member of the Japanese national team, but I'm also nervous that it's finally time to start. I will be prepared to perform to the best of my ability. As for my play, I would like to contribute to the team with my quick (+)

(+) and blocking skills. I want to express my strengths to the fullest.

• Yuji Nishida
I will do my best to carry many thoughts and feelings on my shoulders.
I was not able to join the team until halfway through the Nations League, which was very frustrating, but the view (+)

(+) from off the court was completely different from the view on the court, so I learned a lot.
My role is to change the flow. I would also like to give energy to the players who are playing and to the people who are watching the game.

• Masahiro Sekita
I am very happy that my dream and goal of participating in the Olympics will be realized. At the same time, I would like to thank many people, because, without their support, this would not have been possible. I am proud to represent Japan, and I will (+)

(+) prepare to give my best performance.
In the Nations League, I felt the importance of scoring a point in a crucial situation. I think defense is going to be very important for Japan. The serve needs to be improved. I think what is expected of me is how efficient I can be (+)

(+) on the sideout and on the break, as well as my defense.
I believe that the flow of the game can be changed by the combination of small chances and plays in any situation, so I would like to always think and play without giving up at any time.

• Haku Lee
I am very honored to be selected as a member of the Tokyo Olympics. I will fight with more responsibility and determination to get results.
I will do my best to fulfill my assigned role and prepare to give 100% at all times. I think they will be expecting me to (+)

(+) make fine plays such as serving, spiking, and following up on blocks, as well as plays that can change the flow of the team if I am playing in the middle of the game, so I would like to express myself with that in mind.

• Kenta Takanashi
I feel the joy of being able to play volleyball in a place where everyone wants to be, and I also feel that I need to do more.
In the Nations League, I felt that improving my skills in reception (serve receive) and digging (spike receive) was an issue. (+)

(+) In the Olympics, I want to give it all I've got.

• Tatsunori Otsuka
With only 12 members, I would like to think about what I can contribute to this team and what my role is and do my best to help the team win. If I had to pick a characteristic of my play, I would say (+)

(+) that it's the offensive side, such as hitting a course with a spike or using a spike against a block, so instead of doing more than usual, I would like to contribute to the team by giving it all I've got.
The Nations League was my first international tournament, and (+)

(+) I felt that everything I did was for my benefit, not only the time I was on the court but also the time I was not. In addition, I was able to experience firsthand what works against international opponents, and I realized that I need to improve the quality of my play one (+)

(+) by one from now on.

• Tomohiro Yamamoto
As a representative of the host country, I will fight with awareness and responsibility.
In terms of play, I want to keep the relationship close with the receptionist (serve-receive) and be thorough in my block-follow. (+)

(+) I think that I am expected to be a leader in defense, so I would like to contribute to the team through reception, digging (spike receiving), and inspiring calls.

• Ran Takahashi
I am happy and grateful to have been selected as a representative for the Tokyo Olympics. (+)

(+) However, I would like to remember that there are players who did not make the selection, and I would like to do my best for them, and I would like to win by putting Japanese volleyball on full display.
As the youngest player on the team, it is important for me to (+)

(+) contribute to the team's victory by fully expressing myself, and I believe that this will lead to a better team atmosphere and score points.
In the Nations League, I found that the success rate of my spikes and serve-receive, which had been fixed at the beginning, (+)

(+) decreased as the matches went on, so I would like to pursue being able to play my game consistently even in consecutive matches. I think that will be important for me to be active in the Olympics.

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