The 19-year-old who has sharpened her skills abroad is set to evolve into a key player for Japan. At the women’s national volleyball team’s kickoff press conference held on the 11th at Ajinomoto National Training Center in Tokyo, 28 participating squad members were present. Attacker Miku Akimoto, who will compete in Germany’s first division from the 2025-26 season, expressed her determination to showcase more than last year with confidence, signaling her awareness of becoming a core player.
This season is a crucial year, with qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at stake. If Japan wins the Asian Championships held in China at the end of August, they will secure a spot two years before the main event. Since the previous Paris Olympics saw the team securing its ticket only at the last minute, head coach Ferhat Akbas, in his second season, has designated this as a major goal. Regarding player selection, he publicly stated, “We will do our best and choose players who can withstand pressure to achieve our target.” Akimoto, a prospective ace who debuted with the senior national team last season and has already experienced the World Championships, revealed her strong mentality, saying, “I want to make plays that leave an impression, not just appear.”
With her club team, she started 11 out of 20 matches. Although her playing time was limited in the latter half due to injuries and other factors, she made a strong impact in the first half as a scoring contributor, helping the team finish fourth in the league. “There were matches where I felt I was the best on the team,” said the 185-cm cannon, brimming with confidence. She is ready to dominate for the national team as well.
