“We don’t have a professional league here in Japan” – Yoshinori Shiota on Player Development & Japan’’s Waterpolo Future

In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, Yoshinori Shiota,
head coach of the Japanese men’s national water polo team, offers
rare and insightful perspectives on the unique challenges of
developing elite water polo players in a country without a
professional domestic league. Yoshinori begins by introducing his
background and international experience. Before becoming Japan’s
head coach after the Tokyo Olympic Games, he spent several years in
Germany, playing for Spandau and later Hannover between 2006 and
2011. Winning the Bundesliga title twice remains one of his
strongest memories from that time, alongside lifelong friendships
with former teammates such as Moritz Zurkowski and Tobias Preuss,
who even attended his wedding in Japan. The conversation quickly
turns to Yoshinori’s current role and the demanding international
calendar. Japan recently competed in the Water Polo World Cup
Division 1 in Croatia, facing top teams such as Croatia, Italy,
Hungary, the USA and France. Despite limited preparation time, the
tournament proved extremely valuable for gaining high-level match
experience. A central challenge, Yoshinori explains, is that Japan
does not have a professional water polo league. The domestic system
is largely based on high school and university teams, similar to
the structure in the United States. Once players graduate from
university, there are very limited opportunities to continue
playing at a high level inside Japan. As a result, ambitious
players must move abroad – mainly to Europe or Australia – to
continue their development. Yoshinori strongly emphasizes how
essential it is for Japanese national team players to compete
overseas. At the moment, several players are active in Europe and
Greece, while others play in Australia. Even if they are not part
of top Champions League teams, the daily training environment,
physicality and tactical exposure are crucial for bridging the gap
to the world’s best nations. These players, Yoshinori explains,
also serve as role models for younger athletes in Japan. Seeing
national team players succeed abroad creates motivation and belief
that an international career is possible, even without a domestic
professional league. The episode also explores the limited
popularity of water polo in Japan. With an estimated 4,000 to 5,000
active players nationwide, the sport remains small compared to
baseball and football, which dominate the sporting landscape.
Although swimming is part of the school curriculum, water polo is
not formally introduced at younger ages. Yoshinori believes that
accessibility is one of the biggest barriers. Traditional water
polo is too difficult for beginners, especially children who cannot
yet use the eggbeater kick. He suggests modifying rules at entry
level – such as allowing players to stand in shallow water – to
make the sport more fun and inclusive. Lowering the entry barrier,
he argues, is essential for long-term growth. Another key topic is
Olympic visibility. After failing to qualify for the Olympic Games
for 32 years, Japan’s participation in Tokyo 2021 was a major
milestone. Yoshinori firmly believes that continued Olympic
qualification – and eventually winning a medal – is the most
effective way to increase the sport’s popularity, attract young
athletes and secure broader public attention in Japan. Toward the
end of the episode, Yoshinori addresses Japan’s distinct playing
style, which many opponents describe as uncomfortable and difficult
to face. He credits former head coach Yoji Omoto for establishing a
fast, flexible and tactically unique system that allows Japan to
compete against physically stronger teams through movement, speed
and structure. This episode provides a fascinating international
perspective on how water polo can be developed outside traditional
strongholds – and why creativity, openness and global experience
are essential for success. More about the podcast:
https://www.schulzekopp.de