Fukuoka opens the race for the 2028 Olympic berth: Japan and the puzzle named 'champion's mettle'

Fukuoka, a late summer afternoon. The lights in the main arena begin to turn on for the teams' familiarization practice sessions. In the stands, a few technical staff are doing final checks on the information system. The atmosphere is not yet truly heated, but the pulse of a major tournament has begun to spread. Because in just a few hours, the 2026 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship will officially begin, opening the race for a berth at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. And at the center of attention, unsurprisingly, is the Japanese national team – the defending champions, the highest-ranked team in Asia, and also the host nation of this year's tournament. I have followed Asian volleyball for more than three decades, from the time when Japanese volleyball was struggling to regain its position after the golden era, until they returned as a true force. Looking at their group in this year's tournament, I am reminded of a principle I often tell my young colleagues: the ball rolls first, the story follows. And the story of this tournament, perhaps, will not simply be about whether Japan wins the title or not. The 2026 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship is not just a continental title. It is also a qualifier for the World Volleyball Championship, and more importantly, it is the starting point for the journey to secure a ticket to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. For Asian national teams, this is the most direct and clearest opportunity to earn the right to participate in the world's biggest sporting event. For Japan, the tournament on home soil carries a special meaning: it is a statement of their number-one status in Asian men's volleyball, a perfect preparation for the bigger challenges ahead. Looking at Group A, where Japan is grouped with Bahrain, Oman, and Australia, the gap in class is evident. Bahrain and Oman are developing teams, with certain progress but still not enough to cause an upset against a team with the squad depth and competitive mettle like Japan. Australia, the 2026 champions, is an interesting wildcard. They have good physicality and a modern style of play, but consistency and experience at the highest level are still what the Aussies lack to compete evenly with the hosts. Japan's superiority is reflected in the numbers. They are ranked sixth in the FIVB world rankings, the highest position among teams from the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC). They are the most decorated team in the history of the tournament with 10 golds, 4 silvers, and 4 bronzes. They have medaled at the three most recent editions of the continental championship. And this season, they finished fourth at the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) – a tournament that brings together the strongest teams in the world. That is an impressive resume, with little room for criticism. But volleyball is not just about statistics. It is a story of human movement on the court, of balls falling at decisive moments, of competitive psychology under immense pressure. And in this aspect, this year's tournament poses a more difficult puzzle for Japan than just getting through the group stage: the puzzle of the champion's mettle. When the media runs faster than the ball, the storyteller must know when to stop. I am not rushing to make predictions about specific match results. Instead, I want to look at the bigger picture, at what this tournament truly reveals about the development of Asian men's volleyball, and about Japan's position within that picture. Japan's dominance is undeniable. But this very dominance creates an interesting paradox. Does being too superior to the rest of the continent cause Japan to fall into complacency, lacking truly intense competitive matches to prepare for stronger opponents on the world stage? This is a question that the Japanese national team coaching staff has certainly considered. They understand that the ultimate goal is not the Asian championship trophy, but building a squad capable of competing for medals at Los Angeles 2028. From a tactical perspective, this tournament is an opportunity for Japan to test new options, give opportunities to young players, and refine tactical plays. They can experiment with new formations, different tactical systems, without facing too much pressure on results in the group stage. This allows them to have the best preparation for bigger tournaments, where every small detail can make a difference. However, this very gap in class is also an invisible challenge. When you are too strong for your regional opponents, it becomes difficult to have truly intense matches to train your competitive spirit. You get used to winning easily, and when you enter matches against opponents of similar caliber, you might be unfamiliar with the pressure and discomfort they create. This is a problem that many strong Asian teams, not just Japan, are facing. For the other teams, this tournament is a golden opportunity to learn, to gain experience, and to assert themselves. Australia, with their physical advantages and modern style, will certainly want to cause a shock against the hosts. Bahrain and Oman, despite being rated lower, in volleyball, nothing is impossible. A good match, a day of inspired play, can create an unexpected result. And that is the beauty of sports, the thing that makes us never take our eyes off the court. I remember the story at the 2026 World Cup, when I had the opportunity to work in Russia. In Russia 2026, I corrected a name and touched an entire culture. The care with every small detail, every name, every number, is the respect for this sport and for the people dedicating themselves to it. And for this year's tournament, I will apply the same principle: only talk about what has happened on the court, based on verified facts, and let the story speak for itself. This event is also a positive signal for the development of Asian volleyball in general. The fact that all matches will be streamed live on the VBTV platform is a major step forward in promoting the image of this sport to a global audience. This not only increases the appeal of the tournament but also opens opportunities to attract sponsors and media partners, thereby creating resources to invest in the development of volleyball in Asian countries. Looking at the overall picture, the 2026 Asian Championship is not just a tournament to find a champion. It is an important link in the Olympic cycle, where teams test their strength, experiment with tactics, and build their squads for bigger goals. For Japan, this is an opportunity to assert their number-one status in Asia and prepare for their ambition to conquer the world stage. For other teams, this is an opportunity to learn, to develop, and to nurture their Olympic dreams. I don't remember the scores of all the matches I've watched, but I remember the stadium lights and the sighs from the stands. I remember the moments of suffocating tension, the decisive plays that changed the course of matches, and the tears of joy and sorrow on the court. This year's tournament in Fukuoka promises to deliver such emotions. And whatever the final results, the stories written on the court will be what lingers in the hearts of fans. Volleyball, like many other sports, is a miniature universe with its own rules. Each match is a story, each team is a collective with its own character, and each player is finding their own path to glory. At 52, I realize every court is a universe and every player is finding their way home. And this tournament in Fukuoka is one of the important turning points on the journey home for Asian teams. The start of a tournament always brings a special feeling. It is excitement, hope, and also worry. But above all, it is reverence for this sport. Because, as I said, the ball rolls first, the story follows. And the story of the 2026 Asian Championship will certainly be a story worth waiting for and following. The Binh Duong stands had no television signal, but the fans knew every step by heart. And in Fukuoka today, even without those familiar stands, I can still feel the expectation of Asian volleyball fans for this tournament. They are waiting for top-class performances, thrilling matches, and historic moments to be created. And I, as a storyteller, will be there to record it all, to tell the story through facts, through numbers, and through the most honest emotions from the court. This tournament is also a reminder of the harshness of elite sports. Only one team will be crowned champion, and the rest will have to accept defeat. But defeat is not the end, but a valuable lesson for growth. For young teams like Bahrain or Oman, being able to compete in such a major tournament is an important step in their development. They will learn how to face pressure, how to adapt to opponents' styles, and how to overcome their own limits. And then, when the tournament ends, when the medals are awarded, when the emotions have settled, what remains will be the lessons, the experiences, and the memories. That is the true value of sports, something no statistic can measure. And that is also why I continue to pursue this work, even at 52, even after witnessing countless matches and ups and downs of Asian volleyball. Because, every tournament is a new story, every match is a new page, and every moment on the court can become an unforgettable memory. And I, as a storyteller, will always be there, ready to record those stories, so they are not forgotten over time. The 2026 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship in Fukuoka is such a story. And I believe it will be a story worth following together.