'186cm, nine-tenths body ratio' Japanese beauty center, "Model or volleyball player?" — Team backlash sparks "Stop speculating" outburst... "Not everything you see is all there is" [Aichi Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

After failing to win the gold medal at the Asian Games, the Japanese women's volleyball team faced intense criticism. Nichika Yamada (26, NEC) expressed her bitter feelings over unfounded speculation.

The Japanese Yeo Ja-bae-gu (CEO)team suffered a decisive 0-3 defeat against China in the women's volleyball final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at home on the 22nd, settling for the silver medal.

After missing out on the championship, local Japanese fans sharply criticized not only the team's performance but also external aspects such as the players' makeup and hairstyles. In particular, public opinion worsened after images surfaced of a player applying lipstick just 30 seconds before the semi-final match against South Korea and another player smiling while performing the Haifa Eve dance following the final loss.

Online in Japan, harsh comments poured in: "Volleyball doesn't need idols," "The court is not a place to show off fashion," and "I wonder if they fought with their lives."

Yamada, who hails from Aichi Prefecture where the tournament was held and had earned high expectations from hometown fans, also spoke out directly against the excessive criticism alongside her sense of regret. On the 25th, Japan's 'Daily Sports' reported that Yamada had shared her honest thoughts on the public opinion surrounding the national team via her Instagram account the previous day.

Yamada, who recorded a quarterfinal finish in this year's Nations League, a bronze medal at the Asian Championships, and a silver medal at the Asian Games, reflected on the season: "There were many aspects where neither the team nor individual performances went as planned, and we ourselves feel most acutely the results and challenges that came from them." She added, "We felt the difficulty in the fact that individual efforts do not always directly translate into team synergy and results."

Continuing, she seemed to address the criticism directed at them: "Honestly, I felt bitter about speculating and making definitive judgments about what lies beneath based only on some information exposed to the public." She appealed, "We don't expect everyone to know everything, but we hope you remember that not everything you see is all there is."

Before Yamada, another national team player, Yoshino Sato, had also complained about malicious comments after the Asian Games, stating she received messages that caused more harm than necessary.

Despite the fierce criticism, Yamada did not forget to express gratitude to her teammates and fans. She is now shifting her focus to the Japanese SV League, which opens next month, aiming for a turnaround in atmosphere. The 186cm middle blocker Yamada will share the same position with Lee Da-hyun (25), a former South Korean national team player who joined NEC on loan this season.

Yamada pledged, "In the newly starting SV League, I will cherish every point and play in each match and turn them into my own growth."

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*This content was translated by AI.