Following a disappointing early exit from the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship, the Japan Volleyball Association has confirmed that Laurent Tillie will continue as head coach of the men’s national team.
At an online press conference held in Tokyo on September 19, High-Performance Group senior director Shoji Nanbu reviewed the team’s season. He noted that Japan reached the quarterfinals of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), where they faced world No.1 Poland, but fell short of the podium. In the world championship, Japan suffered straight-set defeats to Turkey and Canada before returning home, later securing a victory against Libya to close their campaign.
Tillie described 2025 as a “year of transformation.” With roster changes and a new system introduced, he explained that the team was still adjusting after the Olympic cycle. “This was a season of learning,” Tillie said. “The VNL showed positive signs, even though the world championship results were disappointing. The defeats hurt, but they provide important lessons for the future.”
Looking ahead, Tillie confirmed that Japan will maintain its dual-team structure (A and B squads), while refining its long-term development strategy. The main objective, he emphasized, is steady progress toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
“Although this was a painful experience, we will treat it as an opportunity to improve,” Tillie concluded.
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