Naonobu Fujii

Naonobu Fujii
Personal information
Full nameNaonobu Fujii
NicknameNakkun
NationalityJapanese
Born(1992-01-05)January 5, 1992
Miyagi, Japan
DiedMarch 10, 2023(2023-03-10) (aged 31)
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight80 kg (176 lb)
Spike312 cm (123 in)
Block297 cm (117 in)
College / UniversityJuntendo University
Volleyball information
PositionSetter
NumberClub #21
National Team #3
Career
YearsTeams
2014–2022Toray Arrows
National team
2017–2021Japan Japan
Medal record
Men's volleyball
Representing  Japan
Japanese Championship
Gold medal – first place 2017 Gresik Team
Silver medal – second place 2021 Chiba/Funabashi Team
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Tehran Team

Naonobu Fujii (Japanese: 藤井 直伸, Hepburn: Fujii Naonobu, January 5, 1992 – March 10, 2023) was a Japanese volleyball player,[1] who was also a member of the Japan men's national volleyball team and of Toray Arrows.

Personal life

Naonobu Fujii grew up in Miyagi, Japan where he attended Furukawa Industrial High School, a school known for its volleyball team. Gaining an interest in the sport, he went on to play for Juntendo University.[2] He enjoyed outdoor activities such as cycling in his free time.

His family home was swept away by the tsunami caused by the Tohoku earthquake. Due to the disaster, his father became unemployed, and Fujii nearly gave up his dream of playing volleyball but continued with his family's encouragement.[3]

In September 2021, Fujii announced that he had married Miya Sato, who was a setter of the Japan women's national volleyball team and Hitachi Rivale club.[4]

On February 27, 2022, Fujii announced that he has been diagnosed with Stage IV Stomach Cancer, which had metastasized to his brain.[5]

Fujii died from stomach cancer on March 10, 2023, at the age of 31. JVA sent out their condolences to his family and the Japanese volleyball community mourned his loss.[6]

Career

After college Fujii went on to join the Torray Arrows team as a setter. Starting in the 2016–17 season, he was selected for the Japan men's national volleyball team where he played as number 3. In 2021, he was one of the Japanese men's national team roster, which competed in 2020 Summer Olympics, and the team finished in 7th place after 29 years.[7][8]

Awards

Individual

Club teams

References

  1. ^ "Men's Grand Champions Cup Power Rankings". VolleyMob. 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2018-06-23.
  2. ^ "#21 藤井 直伸 | 東レアローズ男子バレーボール部 | TORAY". www.toray-arrows.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-06-23.
  3. ^ 静岡新聞社. "五輪代表入りの東レセッター藤井、被災地の希望つなぐ 宮城・石巻出身 実家が被災｜あなたの静岡新聞". www.at-s.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  4. ^ "4月1日のプロポーズ「嘘じゃないよね？」藤井直伸＆佐藤美弥《バレー代表セッター同士の仲良し夫婦》が幸せを感じる意外な瞬間". number.bunshun.jp (in Japanese). number.bunshun. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  5. ^ "バレー男子日本代表・藤井直伸、胃がんステージ4告白 目の不調で検査入院し判明「脳の方にも転移」". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). スポーツニッポン新聞社. 2022-02-27. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  6. ^ "【訃報】元男子日本代表 藤井直伸さん（31歳）逝去". 公益財団法人日本バレーボール協会 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  7. ^ "第32回オリンピック競技大会（2020/東京） バレーボール男子日本代表チーム・龍神NIPPON 出場内定選手コメント" (in Japanese). jva.or.jp. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  8. ^ "バレー男子 日本が29年ぶり決勝T進出 イラン降し3勝2敗" (in Japanese). mainichi.jp. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  9. ^ "JAPAN DEMOLISH KAZAKHSTAN 3-1 IN FINAL SHOWDOWN TO CAPTURE BACK-TO-BACK ASIAN TITLE – Asian Volleyball Confederation – AVC". asianvolleyball.net. Retrieved 2018-06-23.
  10. ^ "Japan Edges Kazakhstan to Claim Second Straight Asian Men's Title". VolleyMob. 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2018-06-23.


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