Naonobu Fujii

1.1. Birth and Childhood

Naonobu Fujii was born on January 5, 1992, in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, specifically in Ogatsu-cho. He developed an interest in volleyball during his junior high school years, joining the school's volleyball club, which was the only sports club available at the time.

1.2. Education

Fujii continued his volleyball development at Miyagi Prefectural Furukawa Industrial High School, a school renowned for its strong volleyball program. Following high school, he enrolled in Juntendo University, where he further honed his skills as a setter.

1.3. Impact of 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

During his first year at Juntendo University, Fujii's family was severely affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Their family home in Ogatsu-cho was swept away by the tsunami, forcing them to move between temporary housing. The disaster also led to his father's unemployment, creating significant financial hardship that nearly compelled Fujii to abandon his dream of playing volleyball. However, Juntendo University implemented a relief measure, providing tuition fee exemptions for students affected by the disaster, which allowed Fujii to continue his studies and pursue his volleyball career.

2.1. Professional Debut and Club Career

In November 2013, while still in university, Fujii was designated as an intern player for the Toray Arrows of the V.Premier League. He officially joined the team after graduating from Juntendo University, where he wore the number 21. In the 2016-17 V.Premier League season, Fujii's consistent setting, which frequently utilized quick attacks, played a crucial role in leading the Toray Arrows to their first championship in eight years. His performance earned him a spot in the season's Best 6. He remained with the Toray Arrows until his passing in 2023.

2.2. National Team Career

Fujii received his first call-up to the Japan men's national volleyball team in March 2017, where he wore the number 3. He made his senior international tournament debut at the Volleyball World League Poprad tournament. He participated in the 2017 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup. In 2021, he was selected as a member of the Japanese men's national team roster for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. At the Olympics, he helped the team achieve a 7th-place finish, which was Japan's best result in 29 years. His Olympic debut came on July 24, 2021, in a match against Venezuela, where he came on as a substitute and delivered a decisive quick attack to teammate Li Bo to secure the victory.

2.3. Major Tournament Participation and Achievements

Fujii's contributions to the national team extended to several major international competitions:

• 2017 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship: He played a key role in Japan's gold medal victory and was individually recognized with the Best Setter award.
• 2019 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship: Japan secured a bronze medal in this tournament.
• 2021 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship: The team earned a silver medal.

2.4. Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Naonobu Fujii received several individual and team accolades:

• 2016/17 V.Premier League: Best 6
• 2017 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship: Best Setter
• 2023 V.League: Special Award (posthumous)

3.1. Role and Characteristics as a Setter

As a setter, Fujii was known for his aggressive and attacking approach, even in high school. He was a pioneer in Japanese volleyball for his frequent and effective use of quick attacks, particularly involving middle blockers. This style marked a shift from the traditional focus on side attacks, making quick and pipe attacks standard in the V.League. He also focused on improving the first-tempo accuracy of his tosses to both sides of the court, especially to the left, even studying the play of outside hitter Yuki Ishikawa in preparation for the Olympics. Fujii's height was 72 in ^{(183 cm)}, his weight was 172 lb ^{(78 kg)}, his spike reach was 126 in ^{(320 cm)}, and his block reach was 117 in ^{(297 cm)}. His finger height was 91 in ^{(232 cm)}.

3.2. Impact on Japanese Volleyball

Fujii's innovative setting style profoundly influenced Japanese volleyball tactics. His ability to effectively utilize middle blockers and quick attacks transformed the offensive strategies of teams. A notable aspect of his career was his highly effective partnership with middle blocker Li Bo on the Toray Arrows. Their seamless coordination in quick attacks contributed significantly to the team's success, including a league championship. This duo was so well-regarded that they were consistently voted "Best Combo No. 1" by players in the V.League for two consecutive seasons (2020/21 and 2021/22). Their combination was affectionately known by fans as "Fujii-Lee" and was referred to as the "Toray Line" within the national team. Fujii himself famously stated that Li Bo was his "weapon."

4.1. Marriage

On September 26, 2021, Fujii announced his marriage to fellow volleyball player Miya Sato, who was also a setter for the Japan women's national volleyball team and the Hitachi Rivale club.

4.2. Illness and Death

On February 27, 2022, Fujii publicly announced on his Instagram account that he had been diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer, which had already metastasized to his brain. Despite his diagnosis, he expressed a strong will to continue his role as captain of the Toray Arrows. Following his announcement, his teammates initiated a fundraising effort via social media to help cover his medical expenses. However, this effort was quickly halted due to a lack of proper coordination among the organizers. Naonobu Fujii passed away from stomach cancer on March 10, 2023, at the age of 31. The Japan Volleyball Association and the broader Japanese volleyball community expressed their deep condolences following his death.

5.1. V.League Special Award

On April 23, 2023, during the awards ceremony held before the final match of the 2022-23 V.LEAGUE DIVISION1 MEN season, Naonobu Fujii was posthumously conferred the V.League Special Award. His wife, Miya Sato, attended the ceremony to accept the trophy on his behalf. In her acceptance speech, she expressed profound gratitude and pride for the recognition of her husband's achievements, stating, "I am truly grateful and proud that my husband's achievements have been praised in this way."