Ai Ōtomo

1.1. Birthplace and Early Development

Ai Otomo was born on March 24, 1982, in what was then Izumi City, Miyagi Prefecture, now part of Izumi Ward, Sendai. She began playing volleyball in junior high school, where her talent was quickly recognized by her coaches. Although her junior high and high school teams did not compete in national tournaments, Otomo was selected as an "Olympic promising player" while representing Miyagi Prefecture at the National Prefectural Middle School Volleyball Tournament. During her third year of high school at Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School, she achieved significant international success, winning the World Youth Championship and finishing as runner-up in the Asian Youth Championship.

1.2. Entry into Professional Volleyball

In 2000, Otomo joined the NEC Red Rockets, a prominent team in Japan's V.League. She quickly established herself, earning a regular starting position in her rookie year. Her immediate impact and strong performance marked her as a promising young player in the league.

1.3. National Team Debut

Otomo's impressive club performance led to her first selection for the Japanese national team in 2001. She swiftly became a regular middle blocker for the national squad, with her powerful 'broad attack' becoming a defining feature of her play. In 2003, under new coach Shoichi Yanagimoto, she temporarily left the national team, feeling her role was diminished. However, a period of personal reflection following the deaths of her mother and grandfather spurred her to rejoin the team in 2004, contributing to Japan's qualification for the Athens Olympics.

2.1. Olympic Games

Otomo made her Olympic debut at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, wearing jersey number 13. The Japanese women's national team finished in fifth place. During these games, she notably executed the world's first "back broad attack," a testament to her innovative playing style. Her second Olympic appearance came at the 2012 London Olympics, where she was a key member of the Japanese team that secured the bronze medal in indoor women's volleyball. This achievement was particularly significant as it marked Japan's first Olympic medal in the sport in 28 years, since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

2.2. World Championships and Other Tournaments

Otomo's international career included multiple appearances in major tournaments. She was part of the Japanese junior team that won the World Youth Championship in 2000. With the senior national team, she earned a bronze medal at the 2001 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup. She also competed in the 2002 FIVB Women's World Championship, where Japan finished 13th.

In the 2005 FIVB World Grand Prix, Otomo was converted from a middle blocker to a right-side hitter and played a crucial role as an ace attacker in the absence of other key players. During this period, she was given the nickname "Wonder Girl who calls for victory." As the final round of the tournament was held in her hometown of Sendai, she became known locally as one of "Sendai's 3 Aichans," alongside fellow athletes Ai Fukuhara (table tennis) and Ai Miyazato (golf).

She played a pivotal role in securing a bronze medal at the 2010 FIVB Women's World Championship. In 2011, she helped Japan win the Montreux Volley Masters. However, in September 2011, she suffered a severe right knee injury, damaging both her anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament during the 2011 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship. This injury forced her to withdraw from the national team and subsequently miss the 2011 FIVB Women's World Cup and the 2011-12 V.Premier League season. Despite the injury, she made a remarkable recovery to be selected for the 2012 London Olympic team.

3.1. NEC Red Rockets

From 2000 to 2006, Otomo played for the NEC Red Rockets. During her tenure, the team achieved significant success, including winning the Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship in 2001 and securing V.League championships in 2003 and 2004. They were also V.League runner-up in 2002. Otomo's consistent performance was a key factor in these team achievements.

3.2. Hisamitsu Springs

After a two-year break from professional volleyball, Otomo announced her return to active duty in April 2008, joining Hisamitsu Springs. She played for the team during the 2008-09 season, helping them achieve a runner-up finish in the V.Premier League and the 2009 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament.

3.3. JT Marvelous

In July 2009, Otomo transferred to JT Marvelous. She played for the team until her retirement in 2013. During her time with JT Marvelous, the team was a runner-up in the 2009-10 V.Premier League and the 2010 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament. The team went on to win the 2010-11 V.Premier League championship and the 2011 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament. Otomo announced her retirement on April 22, 2013. Her final match as a professional player was in the semifinals of the 62nd Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament against her former team, NEC Red Rockets, where JT Marvelous was defeated.

4.1. Key Attributes

Among Japanese middle blockers, Ai Otomo was known for her exceptional speed and powerful attacks. She consistently maintained a starting position in all club tournaments (excluding her time away from the national team in 2003) and was a regular member of the national team. Her physical attributes included a height of 72 in ^{(184 cm)}, a weight of 150 lb ^{(68 kg)}, a spike reach of 123 in ^{(312 cm)}, and a block reach of 120 in ^{(305 cm)}. She was right-handed, and her finger-tip reach was 96 in ^{(243 cm)}.

4.2. Signature Moves

Otomo's 'broad attack' was considered her most formidable weapon. She was also noted for executing the "back broad attack," a pioneering move in international volleyball, first demonstrated at the 2004 Athens Olympics. In 2010, as part of the national team's strategic adjustments, she changed her serve from a floater to a jump floater, further diversifying her offensive repertoire.

5.1. Individual Awards

• 1997: Olympic Promising Player (National Prefectural Middle School Volleyball Tournament)
• 1999: Asian Youth Championship - Best Server Award
• 2000: Asian Junior Championship - Server Award
• 2001: 2000-01 V.League - New Face Award
• 2002: 51st Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship - Best 6
• 2005: 54th Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship - Best 6
• 2009: 58th Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament - Best 6
• 2010: 2009-10 V.Premier League - Best 6
• 2010: 59th Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament - Best 6
• 2011: 2010-11 V.Premier League - Best 6
• 2011: 60th Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament - MVP (Kurowashiki Award), Best 6
• 2011 May: 4th Best Mother Award (Sports category)
• 2013: 62nd Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament - Best 6

5.2. Team and League Honors

• 2001: Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship - Champion (with NEC Red Rockets)
• 2002: 8th V.League - Runner-Up (with NEC Red Rockets)
• 2003: 9th V.League - Champion (with NEC Red Rockets)
• 2004: 10th V.League - Champion (with NEC Red Rockets)
• 2008-09: V.Premier League - Runner-Up (with Hisamitsu Springs)
• 2009: 58th Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament - Runner-Up (with Hisamitsu Springs)
• 2009-10: V.Premier League - Runner-Up (with JT Marvelous)
• 2010: 59th Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament - Runner-Up (with JT Marvelous)
• 2010-11: V.Premier League - Champion (with JT Marvelous)
• 2011: 60th Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament - Champion (with JT Marvelous)

5.3. National Team Distinctions

• 2000: World Youth Championship - Champion (Junior team)
• 2001: FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup - Bronze medal
• 2010: FIVB Women's World Championship - Bronze medal
• 2011: Montreux Volley Masters - Champion
• 2012: London Olympic Games - Bronze medal

6.1. Marriages and Family

On January 16, 2006, Ai Otomo married Tatsuo Yamamoto, a professional beach volleyball player. At the time of their marriage, she was two months pregnant. She gave birth to their daughter, Miku Akimoto, in August 2006, weighing 0.1 K oz ^{(3.30 K g)}. The couple divorced in March 2012.

On August 8, 2013, Otomo remarried Hiroyuki Akimoto, a judoka. As of 2021, she is a mother of four children, including her eldest daughter from her first marriage.

6.2. Name Changes

Following her first marriage to Tatsuo Yamamoto, Ai Otomo began using the name Ai Yamamoto. After her divorce in March 2012, she reverted to her maiden name, Ai Otomo. Upon her second marriage to Hiroyuki Akimoto in August 2013, her legal name became Ai Akimoto, which she currently uses.

7.1. Public Image and Anecdotes

Otomo was known for her resilient and somewhat free-spirited personality. After returning to the national team in 2004 for the Athens Olympics, she initially faced a challenge from senior player Tomoko Yoshihara, who refused to let her practice due to sufficient numbers. Otomo, however, persisted for two weeks by assisting with ball retrieval and other support tasks, eventually earning Yoshihara's respect, who later revealed she was testing Otomo's commitment.

In the 2005 World Grand Prix, Otomo experienced a notable moment when she missed a serve at match point against a strong Brazilian team, which contributed to Japan narrowly losing what could have been a major upset. She occasionally struggled with crucial serve misses throughout her career.

In autumn 2005, Otomo became the first active female national volleyball team player to release a photo album and DVD, generating significant public interest, including the publication of private photos in weekly magazines. She was once motivated by a magazine article that claimed she had "no weapon" as a national team player, which spurred her to develop her high-toss attack. Her close friend, Miyuki Takahashi, described her as a "free-spirited person" who lives "as she pleases."

7.2. Impact on Volleyball and Family Legacy

Ai Otomo made significant contributions to Japanese volleyball through her exceptional skills as a middle blocker and her role in the national team's successes, including the historic bronze medal at the London Olympics. Her legacy in the sport continues through her eldest daughter, Miku Akimoto, who also became a professional volleyball player. In 2023, at the age of 16, Miku Akimoto was selected as a registered member of the Japan women's national team, following in her mother's footsteps.

8.1. V.Premier League Individual Statistics

The following table details Ai Otomo's individual performance statistics during the regular rounds of the V.Premier League: