Fukuoka Opens the Race for the 2028 Olympic Berth: Japan and the Equation Called 'Pressure'

Fukuoka, a late summer evening, I stood among thousands of fans in blue samurai jerseys, hearing cheers echo across the sky. The 2026 Men's Volleyball Asian Championship hasn't officially started, but the atmosphere is hotter than a final. I suddenly remembered Lạch Tray years ago, when our 17-year-old girl scored a brace against Thailand. That feeling, the feeling of being part of history, is repeating itself here, in Japan. A 60-year-old fan can still run 100 meters after a goal, that's just me. This tournament is not just another Asian Championship. It marks the starting point of the race for a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. From the group stage, Japan – the number one team in Asia according to the FIVB rankings (6th in the world) – has shown they are the heaviest favorite. They are the defending champions, the most decorated team in tournament history with 10 titles, 4 silver medals, and 4 bronze medals. They are also the only AVC team to have ever won Olympic gold (Munich 2026). In the three most recent editions, they have always finished in the top 3. Earlier this season, they finished 4th in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL). But I'm not here to praise Japan. I'm here to find the answer to a question I've always pondered: Is the dominance of one team inadvertently stifling the development of an entire region? In Pool A, Japan is grouped with Bahrain, Oman, and Australia. Australia once won the title in 2026, but they haven't maintained their peak form. Bahrain and Oman are still in the group of developing teams. The gap in class is too obvious. I remember once, after a match of the Vietnamese women's team, I told a Brazilian colleague: "Beer with Brazilian colleagues, the next morning I ask the juniors for the recording back." It's the same here; the overwhelming support for the home team can create an invisible pressure, not only on opponents but also on the Japanese players themselves. Looking at the data, Japan has almost no weaknesses. They have squad depth, home-court advantage, and fan support. But volleyball is not a sport of numbers on paper. It's a sport of moments. A bad pass, a wrong referee decision, an unexpected injury – all can change the situation. I've witnessed too many times underdogs making history. More than 5,000 viewers watched the livestream of three former national team players, I am no longer alone. And I believe Bahrain or Australia are also nurturing similar dreams. Interestingly, this tournament also serves as a World Cup qualifier. This means teams are not just playing for national pride but also for a ticket to another world stage. The pressure will double. In that context, Japan's experience and composure will be maximized. But I still want to look at another angle: will Japan's superiority make the matches in Pool A boring? Will smaller teams dare to play bold volleyball, or will they choose a negative defensive style to minimize losses? I remember SEA Games 2026, three former national team players sat at home recounting the final, everyone felt they were there. Volleyball is like that; it connects people through stories. And the story of this tournament isn't just about Japan. It's about Australia – the 2026 champions trying to find their glory again. It's about Bahrain and Oman – teams working hard every day to close the gap. And it's also about the development of Asian men's volleyball as a whole. All matches will be streamed live on VBTV. This is a positive signal for the development of the sport. Live broadcasting not only helps fans follow matches but also generates advertising revenue and attracts sponsors. This will boost the development of Asian volleyball in general. But I still wonder: will media attention truly reach the smaller teams, or will it only focus on giants like Japan? At 60, I still think I'm that girl jumping in the stands at Lạch Tray. And I still believe Asian men's volleyball is at a crucial crossroads. This tournament will show us the full picture. Will Japan continue to dominate, or will a new force emerge? Will smaller teams dare to dream big, or will they forever accept the role of underdogs? The answer will come in the coming days. And I'll be there, with my note-taking phone and a passionate heart, to tell this story. The Russia World Cup taught me this: sometimes forgetting your duty is the longest way to remember your profession. And in Fukuoka, I'm ready to forget everything to live fully with the historic moments of Asian volleyball.