1. Overview
Hitomi Nakamichi, also known as Michi, born on September 18, 1985, in Joyo, Kyoto, Japan, is a former Japanese volleyball player and coach. Throughout her playing career, she primarily served as a setter for Toray Arrows in Japan's V.Premier League, where she later took on the role of team captain starting in 2013. Nakamichi was also a significant member of the Japan women's national volleyball team, contributing to their bronze medal victories at the 2010 World Championship, the 2012 London Olympics, and the 2013 World Grand Champions Cup. She initially retired from professional play in 2015 but made a temporary return in 2017 before transitioning into a coaching role.
2. Life and Early Career
Hitomi Nakamichi's formative years in volleyball laid the groundwork for her successful professional career, marked by early exposure to the sport and a pivotal transition to the setter position.
2.1. Birth and Childhood
Hitomi Nakamichi was born on September 18, 1985, in Joyo, Kyoto, Japan. Standing 63 in (159 cm) tall and weighing 117 lb (53 kg), with a standing reach of 81 in (205 cm), she grew up as the youngest of three sisters in a sports-oriented family; her mother was a softball player. Nakamichi began playing volleyball in the second grade of elementary school after being invited by friends. By the fifth grade, she transitioned to playing as a setter, a position she would hold for the remainder of her career. In the sixth grade, she contributed to her team's third-place finish at the Lion Cup, the All Japan Elementary School Volleyball Tournament.
2.2. School Volleyball Career
Her school career saw her develop significantly as a player. During a visit to Kyoto Tachibana High School, she was impressed by the high quality of volleyball played there. She expressed her desire to join the team to coach Yoshinori Miwa, who advised her to achieve good results during her junior high school years. Although she initially enrolled in her local junior high, she sought out a more competitive environment and transferred to Kooryou Junior High School for better opportunities. In her third year of junior high, she participated in the Aquarius Cup (now the National Prefectural Middle School Volleyball Tournament) and achieved a high ranking in the Kinki regional tournament.
After fulfilling her ambition, she advanced to Kyoto Tachibana High School. During her time there, the team reached the semifinals of the 2003 Spring High School Volleyball Tournament and won the championship at the 58th National Sports Festival (Wakafuji National Sports Festival). Nakamichi credits Coach Miwa for teaching her game management and effective setting techniques during her high school years, stating her deep gratitude for his guidance.
2.3. Joining Toray Arrows and Early Performance
Nakamichi joined Toray Arrows, a prominent Japanese club, in 2004. Her teammates during this period included Kanari Hamaguchi and Miki Oyama. By 2007, she had established herself as the team's regular setter. Her contributions were instrumental in Toray Arrows winning two titles in 2008: the Empress's Cup and their first V.Premier League championship in the 2007-08 season, for which she also earned a Best6 award.
Nakamichi continued to lead the team as its primary setter, securing a second consecutive V.Premier League championship in the 2008-09 season. She received another Best6 award for her performance in that season and at the 58th Kurowashiki All Japan Men's and Women's Selected Tournament. Her leadership extended to the 2009-10 V.Premier League season, where she guided Toray Arrows to an unprecedented third consecutive league title for a women's team. This period also saw the team claim the 2010 Japan-Korea Top Match and the 59th All Japan Men's and Women's Selected Tournament, completing a treble.
3. Professional Playing Career
Nakamichi's professional career was marked by significant achievements at both the club and national team levels, demonstrating her skill as a setter and her resilience. Her spike height was 104 in (264 cm).
3.1. Club Career and Domestic Achievements
Throughout her tenure with Toray Arrows, Nakamichi played a pivotal role in the team's dominance in domestic competitions. She was instrumental in securing multiple V.Premier League championships, including back-to-back titles in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, an unprecedented third consecutive title in 2009-10, and another championship in 2011-12. Under her setting, Toray Arrows also won the 2007-08 Empress's Cup. In the Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament, the team secured championships in 2009 and 2010.
Beyond championships, Nakamichi also led the team to runner-up finishes in the 2008 Domestic Sports Festival, the 2010-11 V.Premier League, and the 2012-13 V.Premier League. Her consistent performance earned her multiple individual accolades, including Best6 selections in the V.Premier League across several seasons. From 2013, she also served as the captain of the Toray Arrows team.
3.2. National Team Career and International Achievements
Hitomi Nakamichi was added to the Japan women's national team roster in 2010, marking her entry into international play. In October and November of that year, she participated in the 2010 World Championship and contributed to Japan's bronze medal win, a significant achievement for the national team.
In 2011, she showcased her talent at the Montreux Volley Masters, where the Japanese team, primarily composed of younger players, achieved their first-ever victory in the tournament. Nakamichi was recognized as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the event for her outstanding performance. In November of the same year, she competed in the World Cup in Japan, often being substituted into matches in the latter half of sets, particularly during two-player substitutions.
In June 2012, Nakamichi was selected as a member of the Japanese squad for the London Olympics. In a highly contested quarterfinal match against China at the London Olympics in August, Nakamichi entered the game as a relief server and scored a crucial service ace. This point contributed significantly to Japan's victory in a full-set thriller, allowing them to advance to the semifinals for the first time in 24 years. Japan ultimately secured a bronze medal at the tournament.
Following the London Olympics, Nakamichi contended with Achilles tendon pain in both feet but underwent rehabilitation. She rejoined the national team in late September after the World Championship Asian qualifiers, ahead of the 2013 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup. At this tournament, she continued to demonstrate her skill and was awarded the Best Setter award, helping Japan to another bronze medal. She also earned a silver medal at the 2011 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship.
3.3. Retirement and Comeback
On May 29, 2015, Hitomi Nakamichi announced her retirement from professional volleyball. However, her absence from the sport was not permanent. On January 19, 2017, due to a shortage of setters on the Toray Arrows team caused by injuries, Nakamichi was re-registered as an active player, making a temporary comeback to help her former club. In May 2017, she officially left Toray Arrows to focus on corporate work outside of volleyball.
4. Coaching Career
After her second departure from professional play, Hitomi Nakamichi transitioned into a coaching role, continuing her involvement in volleyball. In the 2020-21 season, she returned to Toray Arrows as a coach. She remained with the team until the end of the 2022-23 season, at which point her departure from Toray Arrows was announced. In 2024, she made another return to the club, resuming her coaching duties for Toray Arrows Shiga.
5. Awards and Honors
Hitomi Nakamichi accumulated numerous individual and team awards throughout her distinguished playing career, both in domestic leagues and on the international stage.
5.1. Individual Awards
- 2007-08 V.Premier League - Best6
- 2008-09 V.Premier League - Best6
- 2009 58th Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament - Best6
- 2009 51st Kinki Comprehensive Championship - MVP
- 2011 Montreux Volley Masters - MVP
- 2011-12 V.Premier League - Best6
- 2013 62nd Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament - Best6
- 2013 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup - Best Setter
5.2. Team Awards
- 2007 Domestic Sports Festival (Volleyball) -
Champion, with Toray Arrows
- 2007-2008 Empress's Cup -
Champion, with Toray Arrows
- 2007-2008 V.Premier League -
Champion, with Toray Arrows
- 2008 Domestic Sports Festival -
Runner-Up, with Toray Arrows
- 2008-2009 V.Premier League -
Champion, with Toray Arrows
- 2009 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament -
Champion, with Toray Arrows
- 2009-2010 V.Premier League -
Champion, with Toray Arrows
- 2010 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament -
Champion, with Toray Arrows
- 2010-2011 V.Premier League -
Runner-up, with Toray Arrows
- 2011-2012 V.Premier League -
Champion, with Toray Arrows
- 2012-2013 V.Premier League -
Runner-up, with Toray Arrows
5.3. National Team Awards
- 2010 World Championship -
Bronze Medal
- 2011 Montreux Volley Masters -
Champion
- 2011 World Cup in Japan - 4th place
- 2012 Olympic Games of London -
Bronze Medal
- 2013 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup -
Bronze Medal
- 2011 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship - Silver Medal
6. Career Statistics
The following table details Hitomi Nakamichi's personal performance records during the regular season of the V.Premier League.
| Season | Affiliation | Appearances | Attack | Block | Serve | Reception | Total Points | Notes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | Sets | Attempts | Points | Success Rate | Efficiency | Points | /set | Attempts | Aces | Point Rate | Efficiency | Receptions | Success Rate | ||||
| 2003/04 | Toray Arrows | 18 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | % | 0 | 0.00 | 39 | 1 | 2.56% | 6.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | |
| 2004/05 | 27 | 72 | 7 | 3 | 42.9% | % | 0 | 0.00 | 88 | 0 | 0.00% | 4.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | ||
| 2005/06 | 27 | 55 | 1 | 1 | 100.0% | % | 0 | 0.00 | 12 | 1 | 8.33% | 12.9% | 1 | 0.0% | 2 | ||
| 2006/07 | 27 | 95 | 21 | 5 | 23.8% | % | 4 | 0.04 | 209 | 4 | 1.91% | 9.4% | 3 | 0.0% | 13 | ||
| 2007/08 | 27 | 97 | 35 | 17 | 48.6% | % | 2 | 0.02 | 490 | 16 | 3.33% | 10.6% | 5 | 60.0% | 35 | ||
| 2008/09 | 27 | 106 | 33 | 18 | 54.5% | % | 5 | 0.05 | 447 | 18 | 4.03% | 11.2% | 5 | 20.0% | 41 | ||
| 2009/10 | 26 | 89 | 26 | 14 | 53.8% | % | 7 | 0.08 | 328 | 15 | 4.57% | 11.7% | 1 | 0.0% | 36 | ||
| 2010/11 | 26 | 92 | 20 | 9 | 45.0% | % | 4 | 0.04 | 314 | 6 | 1.91% | 7.6% | 2 | 0.0% | 19 | ||
| 2011/12 | 21 | 81 | 21 | 16 | 76.2% | % | 4 | 0.05 | 332 | 12 | 3.61% | 11.9% | 1 | 0.00% | 32 | ||
| 2012/13 | 26 | 101 | 18 | 9 | 50.0% | % | 5 | 0.05 | 321 | 6 | 1.87% | 9.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 20 | ||
| 2013/14 | 28 | 108 | 22 | 8 | 36.4% | % | 2 | 0.02 | 304 | 8 | 2.63% | 10.9% | 3 | 0.0% | 18 | ||
| 2014/15 | 19 | 63 | 13 | 5 | 38.5% | % | 1 | 0.02 | 171 | 1 | 0.58% | 5.6% | 2 | 0.0% | 7 | ||
| 2016/17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | % | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | % | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | ||
7. Teams
Hitomi Nakamichi was associated with several volleyball teams throughout her career, both as a player and later as a coach.
7.1. As a Player
- Joyo Municipal Fukaya Elementary School (Joyo Junior Club)
- Joyo Municipal Joyo Junior High School
- Kooryou Town Kooryou Junior High School
- Kyoto Tachibana High School
- Toray Arrows (2004-2015, 2016-2017)
7.2. As a Coach
- Toray Arrows Shiga (2020-2023, 2024-)