Masahiro Yanagida

In this Japanese name, the surname is Yanagida.

Masahiro Yanagida
Personal information
NicknameMasa
Born (1992-07-06) 6 July 1992 (age 32)
Edogawa, Tokyo
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight80 kg (176 lb)
Spike335 cm (132 in)
Block305 cm (120 in)
College / UniversityKeio University
Volleyball information
PositionWing Spiker / Outside Hitter
Current clubTokyo Great Bears
Number8
Career
YearsTeams
2014–2017
2017–2018
2018–2019
2019–2020
2020–2022
2022–2023
2023–Present		Japan Suntory Sunbirds
Germany Volleyball Bisons Bühl
Poland Cuprum Lubin
Germany United Volleys Frankfurt
JapanSuntory Sunbirds
JapanJTEKT Stings
JapanTokyo Great Bears
National team
2014–2021, 2023 Japan
Medal record
Men's volleyball
Representing  Japan
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2014 Incheon Team
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Hangzhou Team
Asian Championship
Gold medal – first place 2015 Tehran Team
Gold medal – first place 2017 Gresik Team
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Tehran Team

Masahiro Yanagida (柳田 将洋, Yanagida Masahiro, born (1992-07-06)6 July 1992) is a Japanese male volleyball player. He is a member of the Japan men's national volleyball team, playing Outside Hitter. At the club level he plays for the Tokyo Great Bears.[1] Yanagida captained the senior national team from 2018 to 2021.

Career

Yanagida started playing volleyball at 7 years old under the influence of his parents. While attending Toyo High School [ja] in 2010, his school participated in the 41st Spring High Tournament.[2] He led his team to win the championships as the captain.

In 2011, he entered Keio University in the Faculty of Environment and Information studies.[3]

He was registered as a member of Japan men's national volleyball team in 2013. In October of the same year, it was announced he would debut in the V.League (Japanese Volleyball League) with Suntory Sunbirds.[4] He made his debut on 14 March 2015 by participating in the final 6 match against Panasonic Panthers.

On 24 April 2017 Suntory Sunbirds announced that Yanagida would leave the team at the Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament and transfer overseas as a professional contract player.[5]

On 21 June 2017 he announced that he would play overseas in Deutsche Volleyball-Bundesliga to Volleyball Bisons Buhl. He also signed a contract with Amuse Inc.[6] He also entered in a contract with Asics.[7]

On 10 April 2018 he became the captain of the Japan men's national volleyball team,[8] until 2020. He was left out as part of the roster for the Tokyo Olympics.

On 8 June 2018 he extended his contract with Asics up to 31 March 2021.

On 26 July 2018 he announced on his social media that he would be signing a one-year contract with Cuprum Lubin for his debut in the Polish volleyball league, PlusLiga.[9]

On 22 May 2019 a contract was signed with United Volleys Frankfurt, in the German league.[10]

On 2 March 2020 he became a special advisor to the total body care brand "Doctor Air".[11]

On 1 June 2020 he announced his comeback to the Japanese V.League through his old team, Suntory Sunbirds. On 7 June 2021 he announced that he renewed his contract with Suntory once again.

On 30 June, 2022, a contract was signed with JTEKT Stings for the 2022/23 season. Masahiro Yanagida contributed to the winning of the 2022 Emperor's Cup and was named MVP of the tournament.

In 2023, he returned to National team for the first time in two years.[12] He was named as captain of B team of Japan national team that will participate the 2022 Asian Games.[13][14]

Masahiro Yanagida signed with Tokyo Great Bears for 2023/24 season.[15]

Awards

Individual

Club

References

  1. ^ "Team Roster – Japanmen's volleyball team". fivb.org. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  2. ^ "柳田が驚異27得点で東洋初Ｖ／春高バレー - 第41回春の高校バレー". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  3. ^ "【バレーボール】２０１１開幕特集 柳田将洋". KEIO SPORTS PRESS (in Japanese). 13 May 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Notice of new players in 2014".
  5. ^ "勇退選手、退団選手、プロ選手のお知らせ サントリーサンバーズ". SUNBIRDS サントリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Announcement about contract signing with Amuse inc".
  7. ^ "バレーボール全日本男子代表 柳田将洋選手とアドバイザリースタッフ契約を締結". プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Announcement of Yanagida as the new captain".
  9. ^ "Cuprum zamyka skład asem…prosto z Japonii". KS CUPRUM LUBIN (in Polish). 6 July 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  10. ^ "プロバレーボール選手 柳田将洋ドイツ・United Volleysと契約締結！". プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  11. ^ "サポートアスリートのご紹介 | ドクターエア公式サイト". ドクターエア 【公式サイト】 | DOCTORAIR (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  12. ^ "男子日本代表に石川ら 柳田が２年ぶり復帰―バレーボール：時事ドットコム". 時事ドットコム (in Japanese). 7 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  13. ^ "アジア競技大会の男子日本代表12名が決定 柳田将洋が主将 | 月バレ.com【月刊バレーボール】". 月バレ.com【月刊バレーボール】 | 月刊バレーボールが運営するバレー情報サイト (in Japanese). 30 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  14. ^ "バレーボール、アジア大会の代表男女12人発表 主将は男子が柳田将洋、女子が岩崎こよみ". TBS NEWS DIG (in Japanese). 29 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  15. ^ "日本代表柳田将洋が東京グレートベアーズに入団「私自身の地元である東京でバレーボールができることを幸せに感じながら目標に向かう」V1男子". バレーボールマガジン (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  16. ^ "柳田将洋オフィシャルサイト".
  17. ^ a b "2020-21 V.LEAGUE DIVISION1 MEN V・ファイナルステージ ファイナル 試合結果のお知らせ" (in Japanese). vleague.jp. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  18. ^ "第70回黒鷲旗全日本男女選抜バレーボール大会特別表彰選手 （男 子）" (PDF). 5 May 2021.
  19. ^ "MUSERSKIY ENDS SUNTORY SUNBIRDS' 14-YEAR V.LEAGUE TITLE DROUGHT". volleyballworld.com. Retrieved 24 October 2021.