Takuma Kawano remembers the first time he was stopped cold at the net. In Japan, he had rarely faced opponents who could shut him down from above. A two-month internship with Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza in Italy gave him his first real taste of that challenge, lessons he has carried into the FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship.

• Watch the FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship on VBTV

“Until then, I had only played against Japanese players, so I didn’t know the frustration of being blocked from above or how to score against tall blocks,” Kawano said. “In Italy, I learned different ways to deal with tall blockers and found where my own skills could be effective. That gave me confidence, and it’s helped me a lot in this tournament.”

At 19 years old and standing 1.97 meters, Kawano is the youngest outside hitter on Japan’s roster, a player stepping into a leading role at the Men’s U21 World Championship. A graduate of Sundai Gakuen High School and now enrolled at Waseda University, he has shown that his rise from school volleyball to the world stage is already well underway.

“For me, it wasn’t so much about competing in Italy as it was about having a place to grow,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll go again, but I want to keep improving my skills so I can become a player capable of competing against top-level opponents.”

His focus on growth has continued in China. Ahead of the World Championship, Japan played in friendlies against Italy, Poland and the host nation. The results were mostly straight-set defeats, but Kawano said even those matches served as valuable preparation.

“We lost 3–0 or 3–1, but we learned a lot about how to use blocking and defense,” he said. “By the last two matches, our defense was much better, and that experience was really valuable for us.”

That education was tested again in pool play, when Japan battled Bulgaria through five sets in a match that demanded adjustments against the power of a strong European side. “That match showed us where we need to improve,” Kawano said.

He has also drawn motivation from the rise of Japanese players abroad, including Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi. “It feels special,” he said. “I’m still very young, and in this tournament I’m one of the youngest members of the team. Being part of that same movement is really motivating for me.”

Already called into Japan’s senior pool, Kawano sees the U21 stage as the next step in his rise. “I want to use everything I’ve gained here to keep moving forward,” he said. “My goal is to take what I’ve learned and succeed at that level too.”

In Jiangmen, Kawano has been Japan’s top scorer at the Men’s U21 World Championship, underlining his breakthrough as the youngest outside hitter on the roster and strengthening his case for a place in Japan’s senior squad.

2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship: full schedule

Quick links:
FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship
VBTV
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Youtube