# Kurashiki Ablaze

The Kurashiki Ablaze (倉敷アブレイズ, Kurashiki Abureizu) is a Japanese professional women's volleyball team from Kurashiki, Okayama which plays in the V.League, the second-tier volleyball league in Japan.

## History

It is a volleyball club from Kurashiki City, Okayama, Japan founded in 2019. Kurashiki Ablaze is operated by Ablaze Co., Ltd. that is located in Minamiune, Kurashiki, Okayama.
Kurashiki won bronze medal in 13th National 6-Person Final League & Grand Champion Match Awards in Japan.
They debuted at the V.League for the 2023–24 season after being given an S3 license in October 2022.
They would join the Premier Volleyball League in the Philippines as one of the two foreign guest teams for the 2023 Invitational Conference. They also beat the undefeated 6 year semi finals no loss place of Creamline Cool Smashers. Kurashiki won their first title in the PVL against the Creamline Cool Smashers in five-set match. After the awards ceremony, Kurashiki helped to clean the PhilSports Arena that caught the attention of the Creamline Cool Smashers team manager Alan Acero. They would return in 2024 to defend their PVL Invitation Conference crown. They however would finish third place.
They are also set to play in the 2024–25 season of the V.League, which saw its division two and three merged.

## Team image

The meaning of ABLAZE to the team refers to "passion", "excitement", and "burning".

## Current roster

These are the players for the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference.
Kurashiki Ablaze :
| No. | Player | Position | Height | Birth date | School |
| 1 | Wako Omura | Setter | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) | (2001-06-15) 15 June 2001 (age 23) | Okayama Minami High School |
| 2 | Saya Taniguchi (C) | Opposite Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (2000-08-12) 12 August 2000 (age 24) | Kyoto Tachibana University |
| 3 | Kyoka Ohshima | Setter | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | (1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 (age 26) | Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education |
| 4 | Sayaka Tanida | Outside Hitter | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 23) | Seishin Girl's High School |
| 7 | Ayane Wanatabe | Libero | 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) | (2002-11-03) 3 November 2002 (age 21) | Seiei High School |
| 9 | Kaoru Takahashi | Libero | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 26) | Chūgoku Gakuen University |
| 10 | Yukino Yano | Outside Hitter | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | (2000-03-01) 1 March 2000 (age 24) | Nagasaki International University |
| 12 | Asaka Tamaru | Opposite Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | (1998-08-04) 4 August 1998 (age 26) | Kyoto Sangyo University |
| 13 | Miho Kawamura | Middle Blocker | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | (1999-09-13) 13 September 1999 (age 25) | Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences |
| 14 | Reina Fujiwara | Opposite Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | (1997-10-25) 25 October 1997 (age 26) | International Pacific University |
| 15 | Low Mei Cing | Middle Blocker | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | (1996-01-17) 17 January 1996 (age 28) | National Taiwan Normal University |
| 16 | Saki Tanabe | Opposite Hitter | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) | (1999-03-30) 30 March 1999 (age 25) | National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya |
| 17 | Kokoro Takio | Opposite Hitte | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (2001-11-19) 19 November 2001 (age 22) | Mukogawa Women's University |
| 18 | Nana Fujimura | Libero | 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) | (2004-12-14) 14 December 2004 (age 19) | Okayama Minami High School |
| 22 | Honoka Doi | Opposite Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (2005-05-15) 15 May 2005 (age 19) | Seiei High School |
| 23 | Mami Gondo | Middle Blocker | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | (2001-06-15) 15 June 2001 (age 23) | Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences |
Coaching staff
* Head coach: Hideo Suzuki
* Assistant coach: Tamaru Shoichiro

## Previous roster

2023–24 :
Kurashiki Ablaze :
| No. | Player | Position | Height | Birth date | School |
| 1 | Wako Omura | Setter | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) | (2001-06-15) 15 June 2001 (age 23) | Okayama Minami High School |
| 2 | Saya Taniguchi | Opposite Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (2000-08-12) 12 August 2000 (age 24) | Kyoto Tachibana University |
| 3 | Kyoka Ohshima(C) | Setter | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | (1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 (age 26) | Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education |
| 4 | Sayaka Tanida | Outside Hitter | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 23) | Seishin Girl's High School |
| 5 | Momoka Yashimiro | Libero | 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) | (1998-09-20) 20 September 1998 (age 26) | Chūgoku Gakuen University |
| 7 | Ayane Wanatabe | Libero | 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) | (2002-11-03) 3 November 2002 (age 21) | Seiei High School |
| 9 | Kaoru Takahashi | Libero | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 26) | Chūgoku Gakuen University |
| 10 | Yukino Yano | Outside Hitter | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | (2000-03-01) 1 March 2000 (age 24) | Nagasaki International University |
| 11 | Akane Hiraoka | Middle Blocker | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | (1999-11-04) 4 November 1999 (age 24) | Fukuyama Heisei University |
| 12 | Asaka Tamaru | Opposite Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | (1998-08-04) 4 August 1998 (age 26) | Kyoto Sangyo University |
| 13 | Miho Kawamura | Middle Blocker | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | (1999-09-13) 13 September 1999 (age 25) | Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences |
| 16 | Saki Tanabe | Opposite Hitter | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) | (1999-03-30) 30 March 1999 (age 25) | National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya |
| 17 | Mihaya Hata | Middle Blocker | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (2002-09-11) 11 September 2002 (age 22) | Eimei High School |
| 18 | Reina Fujiwara | Opposite Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | (1997-10-25) 25 October 1997 (age 26) | International Pacific University |
| 20 | Nana Fujimura | Libero | 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) | (2004-12-14) 14 December 2004 (age 19) | Okayama Minami High School |
| 23 | Honoka Okuda | Libero | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) | (2003-07-19) 19 July 2003 (age 21) | Okayama Minami High School |
2022–23 :
Kurashiki Ablaze :
| No. | Player | Position | Height | Birth date | School |
| 1 | Wako Omura | Setter | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) | (2001-06-15) 15 June 2001 (age 23) | Okayama Minami High School |
| 2 | Saya Taniguchi | Opposite Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (2000-08-12) 12 August 2000 (age 24) | Kyoto Tachibana University |
| 3 | Kyoka Ohshima(C) | Setter | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | (1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 (age 26) | Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education |
| 4 | Sayaka Tanida | Outside Hitter | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 23) | Seishin Girl's High School |
| 5 | Momoka Yashimiro | Libero | 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) | (1998-09-20) 20 September 1998 (age 26) | Chūgoku Gakuen University |
| 6 | Asuka Kuwabura | Libero | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | (1999-10-09) 9 October 1999 (age 24) | Nagano Bunka Gakuen High School |
| 7 | Hikari Niguma | Opposite Hitter | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | (1997-01-03) 3 January 1997 (age 27) | N/A |
| 9 | Kaoru Takahashi | Libero | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 26) | Chūgoku Gakuen University |
| 10 | Yukino Yano | Middle Blocker | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | (1999-11-04) 4 November 1999 (age 24) | Nagasaki International University |
| 11 | Akane Hiraoka | Outside Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | (2000-03-01) 1 March 2000 (age 24) | Fukuyama Heisei University |
| 13 | Miho Kawamura | Middle Blocker | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | (1999-09-13) 13 September 1999 (age 25) | Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences |
| 14 | Sachiyo Takahashi | Middle Blocker | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (1983-11-04) 4 November 1983 (age 40) | N/A |
| 15 | Asaka Tamaru | Opposite Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 26) | Kyoto Sangyo University |
| 16 | Kumiko Matsubara | Libero | 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) | (1987-05-08) 8 May 1987 (age 37) | N/A |
| 17 | Mihaya Hata | Middle Blocker | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (2002-09-11) 11 September 2002 (age 22) | Eimei High School |
| 18 | Reina Fujiwara | Libero | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | (1997-10-25) 25 October 1997 (age 26) | International Pacific University |
| 19 | Ayane Watanabe | Libero | 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) | (2002-11-03) 3 November 2002 (age 21) | Seiei High School |
| 20 | Nana Fujimura | Libero | 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) | (2004-12-14) 14 December 2004 (age 19) | Okayama Minami High School |
| 21 | Carrie Ann Pronuevo | Outside Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (1997-12-06) 6 December 1997 (age 26) | Polytechnic University of the Philippines |
| 22 | Javen Sabas | Outside Hitter | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | (1999-01-31) 31 January 1999 (age 25) | Polytechnic University of the Philippines |
| 23 | Honoka Okuda | Libero | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) | (2003-07-19) 19 July 2003 (age 21) | Okayama Minami High School |
2021–22 :
Kurashiki Ablaze :
| No. | Player | Position | Height | Birth date | School |
| 1 | Wako Omura | Setter | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) | (2001-06-15) 15 June 2001 (age 23) | Okayama Minami High School |
| 2 | Ruka Matsushima | Setter | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | (1997-12-17) 17 December 1997 (age 26) | Kobe Shinwa Women's University |
| 3 | Kyoka Ohshima(C) | Setter | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | (1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 (age 26) | Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education |
| 4 | Sayaka Tanida | Outside Hitter | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 23) | Seishin Girl's High School |
| 5 | Momoka Yashimiro | Libero | 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) | (1998-09-20) 20 September 1998 (age 26) | Chūgoku Gakuen University |
| 6 | Asuka Kuwabura | Libero | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | (1999-10-09) 9 October 1999 (age 24) | Nagano Bunka Gakuen High School |
| 7 | Hikari Niguma | Opposite Hitter | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | (1997-01-03) 3 January 1997 (age 27) | N/A |
| 9 | Kaoru Takahashi | Libero | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 26) | Chūgoku Gakuen University |
| 11 | Akane Hiraoka | Outside Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | (2000-03-01) 1 March 2000 (age 24) | Fukuyama Heisei University |
| 13 | Miho Kawamura | Middle Blocker | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | (1999-09-13) 13 September 1999 (age 25) | Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences |
| 14 | Sachiyo Takahashi | Middle Blocker | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (1983-11-04) 4 November 1983 (age 40) | N/A |
| 15 | Asaka Tamaru | Opposite Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 26) | Kyoto Sangyo University |
| 16 | Kumiko Matsubara | Libero | 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) | (1987-05-08) 8 May 1987 (age 37) | N/A |
| 17 | Mihaya Hata | Middle Blocker | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (2002-09-11) 11 September 2002 (age 22) | Eimei High School |
| 18 | Reina Fujiwara | Libero | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | (1997-10-25) 25 October 1997 (age 26) | International Pacific University |
| 19 | Ayane Watanabe | Libero | 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) | (2002-11-03) 3 November 2002 (age 21) | Seiei High School |
| 20 | Rina Okabayashi | Libero | 1.48 m (4 ft 10 in) | N/A | N/A |
| 21 | Carrie Ann Pronuevo | Outside Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (1997-12-06) 6 December 1997 (age 26) | Polytechnic University of the Philippines |
| 22 | Javen Sabas | Outside Hitter | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | (1999-01-31) 31 January 1999 (age 25) | Polytechnic University of the Philippines |
| 23 | Honoka Okuda | Libero | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) | (2003-07-19) 19 July 2003 (age 21) | Okayama Minami High School |

## Honors
### Team

| Season | Conference | Title |
| 2023 | PVL Invitational Conference | Champions |
| 2024–25 | 2024 PVL Invitational Conference | 3rd place |
| 2024–25 | V.League (Japan) | |

### Individual

| Season | Conference | Award | Name | Source |
| 2023 | PVL Invitational Conference | Finals MVP | Kyoka Ohshima | [21] [22] |
| 2023 | PVL Invitational Conference | 1st Best Outside Spiker | Asaka Tamaru | [21] [22] |
| 2024 | PVL Invitational Conference | Best Opposite Spiker | Saya Taniguchi | |
| 2024 | PVL Invitational Conference | 2nd Best Middle Blocker | Low Mei Cing | |

## Foreign players

* Carrie Ann Pronuevo
* Javen Sabas
* Low Mei Cing – Malaysia national team player