matchday programMatchday Program

Hello everyone. I am analyst Kyogo Iwasawa. This week, we are playing against the Hiroshima Thunders (hereinafter: Hiroshima TH).

Hiroshima TH is currently in 5th place (11 wins, 13 losses) and has high scoring ability in blocking, with 2.3 blocks per set, ranking 2nd in the league. On the other hand, their serve reception success rate is 35.2%, the lowest in the league, so it is important to disrupt them with serves and prevent them from establishing an offensive rhythm.

Players to watch are #4 Taisho Miwa, #7 Yudai Arai, and #19 Felipe Moreira Roque.

Miwa is a 192cm middle blocker who excels at gap attacks while moving in the air, capable of hitting attacks with a wide range of angles while avoiding blocks, with a very high attack success rate of 58.0%.
Also, his lateral movement during blocking is fast, and he uses read blocking to react after carefully watching where the toss goes, ranking 5th in the league with 0.54 blocks per set.

Arai is a 188cm outside hitter with great jumping ability and a maximum reach of 350cm. As an offensive player, he contributes significantly to the team's scoring, ranking 13th in attack success rate (49.0%) and 15th in serve efficiency (10.7%). In attacks, he utilizes his high hitting point during high balls to perform both powerful hits and pushes over the block.

Roque is a 212cm left-handed opposite who is strong in blocking and serving. He has a high awareness of participating in blocks and actively jumps to block quicks and pipes. Utilizing his height, he ranks 14th in blocks per set with 0.46. In serving, he makes few mistakes and delivers powerful serves to the edge of the line, ranking 5th in serve efficiency at 13.9%. In attacks, he excels at sharp inner-course shots.

This round is "BLUTEON FASHION WEEK –SWEET–". Please enjoy the events as well as the matches. Hiroshima Thunders also have the very popular former OSAKA BLUTEON player Eiro, who is known for his sweet looks. We see right through Eiro's true nature behind the mask and his toss work. It will be a bittersweet Valentine's Day for Eiro.

• Click here for home game information for the 2026 Regular Round Round 14 GAME 1 on Saturday, February 14, 2026
• Click here for home game information for the 2026 Regular Round Round 14 GAME 2 on Sunday, February 15, 2026

We are currently playing the second half of the regular round with a record of 22 wins and 4 losses.
How is the team's current situation and condition?

First of all, I am only focused on this weekend's match and am not thinking about anything else.
As I mentioned before, we have been analyzing our past matches, and by adding further analysis next week, I think it will become clear what our current situation and condition are.
Overall, I think our physical condition is in good shape.

Right now, the team has a great sense of stability, and I feel that not only our serves, but especially the precision of our blocking and defense, have been polished.

Regarding blocking, I think we can still do much better. In terms of technique, our goal for this weekend is to reduce the number of points we give up through block-outs compared to last week's match.
Defense is one of the team's strengths, so I would like to continue working on it.
If we consider block and defense as a single skill, I want to reduce the aforementioned "block-outs".
The Hiroshima Thunders, who we are playing this week, are a team with very good serves, so I think it will be important to see how well we can handle our reception during side-outs.
Their block and defense are also very organized and excellent, so I think it will be a tough match.

We played against the Hiroshima Thunders once in November this season. With both teams having analyzed each other, how do you want to approach this match?

I want to analyze what happened in the previous match thoroughly before we take them on.
I think it was a close match, and because they made adjustments against us mid-game, there were parts where we struggled.
They recently defeated Tokyo GB as well, so I think the match against a better Hiroshima Thunders than last time will be even more difficult.

This weekend's match falls on Valentine's Day, and the BLUTEON FASHION WEEK –SWEET– event will also be held. Please share your enthusiasm for the match.

Personally, I think it is truly wonderful that so many people are coming to SV League venues every week. Many fans came to our away game last week, and I expect them to come this weekend as well. I am very honored to be the head coach of Bluteon while various events are being held.
I want to deliver matches that make all the fans feel like it was a wonderful event!

You are currently in 2nd place with a record of 22 wins and 4 losses. Now that the second half of the season has begun, could you tell us about the current state of the team and your personal condition?

We played against Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers in the previous round, and while I wouldn't say the team has visibly solidified yet, I think we are shaping up well.
The number of blocks has increased, but since our defense is functioning as a team, our attack success rate during rallies has also risen, and I think our 'Bluteon style' is starting to take shape.
Personally, I don't know exactly what defines completion, but I am performing well in serving, blocking, and attacking, so I want to continue working hard to grow even further.

You have been increasing your playing time and maintaining a high success rate in your attacks. How are you feeling about this season so far?

Rather than feeling like my own abilities have improved, I have a strong sense that Brizard is helping me develop my skills, and I feel that is a major factor regarding my attack success rate.
As for serving and blocking, there are matches where I have a good feel for them, so I want to make them my own.

This weekend, you will be playing against the Hiroshima Thunders. What was your impression of them last time, and how do you plan to approach this match?

I have the impression that Hiroshima TH has a lineup of players with high hitting points, including Roque, and they also have wonderful middle blockers like Miwa and Nishimoto, so I think this will be an all-out battle, and I hope we can play our own game without being swayed by their dynamic play.

Valentine's Day is also coming up this weekend; do you have any thoughts on that?

I hope to deliver the gift of a victory to everyone.
I will try a little harder than usual!

Please give a message to the fans for a victory in the home game.

Thank you for your continued support.
The league is entering its final stages, and we appreciate your ongoing support.

• #19 Player Keitaro Nishikawa Profile