Japanese National Volleyball Team Middle Blocker Arrested for Drug Possession

Japan's men's national volleyball team has removed middle blocker Shunichiro Sato from the Nations League squad after the athlete was arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of marijuana possession.

Shunichiro Sato, a prominent figure in the Japanese national volleyball team, was arrested in Tokyo for drug possession, sending shockwaves through the sport in the country. The 26-year-old athlete was caught with cannabis while the national team was preparing for the Nations League.

According to Asahi News, the arrest took place on the morning of May 28, carried out by the Tokyo Criminal Police Department for violating the Narcotics Control Act. Investigation sources revealed that Sato was found in possession of the illicit substance the previous night, May 27, at a pachinko parlor in the Itabashi district.

Four other players were reportedly at the same gaming parlor, and although their names were not disclosed, urine tests conducted to detect prohibited substances came back negative. Shunichiro Sato, however, allegedly had several doses of marijuana.

The incident comes at a particularly sensitive time, as the national team was in a training camp in Tokyo's Kita district, preparing for their participation in the FIVB Nations League (VNL), scheduled to begin in June in China.

This case represents a significant blow to Japanese sports, where athletes are subjected to intense pressure regarding their conduct. While the full extent of Sato's actions is not yet clear, speculation suggests the incident could spell the end of the player's career, which was at its peak.

Shunichiro Sato, standing at 2.04 meters, is one of the sport's stars in Japan and plays for the Wolfdogs Nagoya club.

The Japan Volleyball Association (JVA) reacted immediately to the news of the arrest, issuing an official statement announcing the player's exclusion from the Nations League (VNL) squad.

The governing body expressed its deep regret over the incident, emphasizing that it takes it "very seriously." "Today, May 28 (Thursday), Shunichiro Sato, a member of the 2026 Japanese men's national volleyball team, was arrested on suspicion of drug possession. The police are investigating the facts of the case," the statement read, adding: "The Japan Volleyball Association (JVA) takes this incident very seriously and deeply apologizes for betraying the trust of all involved who supported us and our fans."

The JVA unequivocally confirmed its decision: "The JVA has removed Shunichiro Sato from the roster of the 2026 Japanese men's national volleyball team as of today." The association also reiterated its commitment to "promoting integrity in the world of volleyball" and again apologized "for the great inconvenience and concern caused."

The Japanese team is in Group 3 of the Nations League, with their first matches scheduled between June 10 and 14 in Linyi, China. Their opponents will be Ukraine, Poland, host China, and Slovenia.