Team captain Yuki Ishikawa vowed that Japan would bounce back stronger after absorbing a stunning 19-25, 23-25, 19-25 defeat to Turkiye in its opening match at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship on Saturday afternoon at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Ishikawa finished with 10 points and two excellent digs, but the 29-year-old outside hitter admitted that leadership lapses contributed to Japan’s costly loss in a stacked Pool G that also features North American powerhouse Canada and emerging North African squad Libya.
“Me and the team have to change our mindset. Turkiye was playing well, so it was a tough match for us. But in the next game, we have to focus and improve,” Ishikawa told the press.
Japan struggled offensively in the absence of Yuji Nishida, star opposite of Osaka Bluteon, and with main setter Masaki Oya showing first-game jitters. That allowed Turkiye’s disciplined defense to dictate the pace.
Still, Ishikawa refused to offer excuses, instead urging his squad to regroup before a crucial clash against Canada — fresh from a four-set win over Libya — on Monday at the Big Dome.
“Especially with Number 9, Masaki, he was playing well, especially as a setter. We had to stay tight, but we took some risks. They were playing well and blocking our defense. We could have been better with our attacks, but the match ended like this. Next game, we have to change our mindset and be focused,” the 6-foot-2 skipper said.
“I think it’s not important to talk about that because we are 14 players here. We also had coaching changes, but we are training well. We can get better. Today’s match was like this — we lost — so we must prepare for the next one.”
Head coach Laurent Tille, who took over from compatriot Philippe Blain in November 2024, also stressed that such defeats are part of Japan’s climb back toward international contention.
After watching Japan play an uncharacteristic brand of volleyball, Tille expressed confidence that his players can find the solutions needed to improve on their 12th-place finish in the 2022 edition held in Poland and Slovenia.
“I think we were expecting a different match, but Turkiye played very well. They were physical, very strong, and they killed us on the blocks. It was difficult to breathe and find solutions. At some points, we didn’t negotiate well enough on defense, and that could have changed the match, but Turkiye was really strong,” Tille said.
“This is part of the competition. We’re in a tough group with Turkiye, Canada, and Libya. But we’re preparing to fight for Japan.”
#WATCH: Yuki Ishikawa vows Japan will come back stronger ahead of their crucial Pool G clash against Canada on Monday! 🇯🇵🏐
🎥 @ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times#MWCH2025 pic.twitter.com/uq0tGpJrYu
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 13, 2025
