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Japan men's volleyball drop Kai, Eiro for Asian Championship

Japan's men's national team announced a 14-man squad for the 2026 Asian Championship, which starts Friday. Outside hitter Yuto Kai and setter Motoki Eiro were left out, with only two setters named.

What it means

• Kai, a regular since the 2024 Paris Olympics, misses out among four outside hitters.
• Eiro, who featured through the Nations League, is dropped; setters are Hideomi Fukatsu and Yuta Kato.
• Japan open against Oman on Friday; the winner earns a spot at the 2028 LA Olympics.

Model read

Japan are slightly weakened for the tournament opener, losing a key outside hitter and a setter, though the squad still features stars like Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi.

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