"Applied lipstick before the match against Korea," Japanese fans erupt in anger... Japan's women's volleyball team, aiming for its first gold medal in 48 years, faces another setback

*This content was translated by AI.

The Japanese Yeo Ja-bae-gu (CEO) team, which had challenged for the Asian Games gold medal after 48 years, failed once again to overcome China on home soil. Japanese volleyball fans also poured out criticism, pointing not only at the team's performance but also at extracurricular aspects such as the players' makeup, hairstyles, and accessories.

On the 22nd, the Japanese Yeo Ja-bae-gu (CEO) team lost to China with a set score of 0-3 (19-25, 20-25, 23-25) in the women's volleyball final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at the Sports Park Comprehensive Gymnasium in Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Ranked sixth globally, Japan aimed to win its first gold medal since the 1978 Bangkok Games by leveraging the advantage of being the host nation against seventh-ranked China. However, it fell short of that goal. Having lost 0-3 to China in the previous Hangzhou Asian Games final, Japan settled for silver medals in two consecutive tournaments.

The final set was particularly painful. Japan took an early lead of 10-2 and held a 19-13 advantage late in the set. However, China scored consecutively to tie the game at 19-19.

Ultimately, China turned the match around with a score of 22-21 and secured the set 25-23, clinching the championship.

China won all its matches through the final round, achieving three consecutive Asian Games titles in women's volleyball and claiming its 10th gold medal overall.

Failing to win on home soil, disappointed reactions continued across Japanese online platforms.

China's Sina.com reported, "The Japanese Yeo Ja-bae-gu (CEO) team, which has repeatedly fallen short at the threshold of victory in major international tournaments, is facing considerable public pressure within its own country."

It further explained, "After the final match ended, criticism against the Yeo Ja-bae-gu (CEO) team quickly poured out on Japanese online platforms."

Notably, a significant portion of the criticism went beyond performance and targeted the players' makeup, hairstyles, and accessories.

According to reports, some Japanese fans commented, "Do earrings or partial hair coloring really matter during a match?" "The court is not a place to show off fashion," "The external glamour is excessive," and "Volleyball doesn't need idols."

In particular, one Japanese fan pointed out, "Is applying lipstick during breaks really that important?"

In fact, a scene of a Japanese player applying lipstick during the match against South Korea in the semifinals became a topic of discussion.

At that time, Japan had defeated South Korea, so there was no major issue. However, after ultimately failing to win the championship, the incident resurfaced under scrutiny.

Sina.com reported, "A fan captured and posted a screenshot from the broadcast showing a Japanese player applying something to her lips just before the start of the semifinal against South Korea."

Some Japanese fans criticized this, saying, "With only 30 seconds left before the match against South Korea, is applying lipstick really that important?"

Criticism extended even to the players' conduct after the match.

Some Japanese fans commented, "Even though they lost, they are smiling while wearing Haifa Eve. It doesn't seem like the time to smile," and "I'm not sure if there was any feeling that they fought with their lives."

Sina.com stated, "As Japan suffered a complete defeat against China, the voices of criticism from local fans continue to grow louder."

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*This content was translated by AI.