Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2023: The volleyball world has been united in grief over the passing of Japan’s national team setter, Naonobu Fujii, at the age of 31.
Fujii, popularly known as Nakkun, died on March 10 from stomach cancer, his club Toray Arrows revealed. He was a member of Japan’s men’s volleyball team at the Tokyo Olympic Games in the summer of 2021 when Japan lost 3-0 to Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Fujii joined Toray in 2014 and was a member of the national team from 2017 to 2021. He won Asian Championship gold in 2017, silver in 2021 and bronze in 2019, and was named best setter in 2017.
The President of the Japan Volleyball Association, Shunichi Kawai, said he was shocked by the news and talked about Fujii’s impressive skills. He ended his words by saying: “Please rest in peace. I pray from the bottom of my heart that he may rest in peace.”
Volleyball World posted: “Heaven has gained another angel. Nakkun, we will never forget how excited you were to make that special video when Japan made it to the 2022 Volleyball Nations League Finals. You replied right away and sent the video the next day.
“RIP Naonobu Fujii - forever a Ryujin Nippon (member of the men’s national team).”
Despite fighting his disease, Fujii sent a message of support and motivation to the national team competing in the Volleyball Nations League via video on July 21, 2022.