Suntory Sunbirds

Suntory Sunbirds
Founded	1973; 53 years ago
Ground	Suntory Training Center ; Minoh City, Osaka, Japan ; Asue Arena Osaka ; Minato, Osaka City, Osaka, Japan; (Capacity: 10,000)
Chairman	Kurihara Keisuke
Team Manager; Head Coach	Nishida Hiroki; Olivier Lecat
Captain	Taishi Onodera
League	SV.League
2025–26	Runner-Up
Website	Club home page
Uniforms
Home	Away

Suntory Sunbirds (サントリー・サンバーズ, Santorī Sanbāzu) is a men's volleyball team based in Osaka City, Osaka, Japan. The club was founded in 1973 and plays in the SV.League. The owner of the club is Suntory.

History

In 2023, Suntory Sunbirds beat Indonesia's Bhayangkara in the final to become the first Japanese club to win the Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship title.^[1]

Honours

International

FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship

(×1): 2023

Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship

(×1): 2023

(×2): 2001, 2022

(×2): 2008, 2025

Domestic

Japan Volleyball League/V.League/V.Premier League/V.League Division 1

(×10): 1994–1995, 1999–2000, 2000–2001, 2001–2002, 2002–2003, 2003–2004, 2006–2007, 2020–2021, 2021–2022, 2023–2024

(×6): 1984–1985, 1990–1991, 2005–2006, 2010–2011, 2014–2015, 2022–2023

(×1): 2011–2012

SV.League

(×1): 2024–2025

(×1): 2025–2026

Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship

(×6): 1979, 1985, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2022

(×4): 1986, 1992, 1999, 2023

Emperor's Cup

(×2): 2010, 2024

Current Roster

The following is the team roster as of Season 2025–26.^[2]

No.	Name	Date of Birth	Height	Position	Years with Team	Previous Team	Notes
1	Taishi Onodera	(1996-02-27) February 27, 1996 (age 30)	2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)	Middle Blocker	2023–	JT Hiroshima
2	Kenji Sato	(1997-01-16) January 16, 1997 (age 29)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	Middle Blocker	2019–	Tokai University
5	Ryo Shimokawa	(2000-01-12) January 12, 2000 (age 26)	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)	Setter	2024–	VC Nagano Tridents
7	Alain de Armas	(2001-03-04) March 4, 2001 (age 25)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter	2020–	Miyakonojo Higashi High School
8	Masahiro Sekita	(1993-11-20) November 20, 1993 (age 32)	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)	Setter	2025–	JTEKT Stings	Transfer^[3]
10	Tomohiro Ogawa	(1996-07-04) July 4, 1996 (age 30)	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)	Libero	2025–	JTEKT Stings	Transfer^[3]
11	Soshi Fujinaka	(1999-12-02) December 2, 1999 (age 26)	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)	Libero	2022–	VC Nagano Tridents	Jersey number changed
12	Ran Takahashi (c)	(2001-09-02) September 2, 2001 (age 24)	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)	Outside Hitter	2020–	Vero Volley Monza
13	Dmitriy Muserskiy	(1988-10-29) October 29, 1988 (age 37)	2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)	Opposite Hitter	2018–	Belogorie Belgorod
14	Ren Oniki	(2000-08-28) August 28, 2000 (age 25)	2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)	Middle Blocker	2023–	Nippon Sport Science University
15	Yoshimitsu Kiire	(1995-05-13) May 13, 1995 (age 31)	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)	Libero	2018–	Waseda University	Vice Captain
17	Hirohito Kashimura	(1999-01-15) January 15, 1999 (age 27)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	Middle Blocker	2021–2022 2023–	Voreas Hokkaido
18	Egor Kliuka	(1995-06-15) June 15, 1995 (age 31)	2.09 m (6 ft 10 in)	Outside Hitter	2025–	Zenit Saint Petersburg	Transfer^[3]
19	Kotaro Kai	(2001-11-05) November 5, 2001 (age 24)	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)	Opposite Hitter	2024–	Senshu University
21	Rui Takahashi	(2000-01-14) January 14, 2000 (age 26)	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	Outside Hitter	2022–	Nihon University
22	Kenshin Kuwada	(1999-06-28) June 28, 1999 (age 27)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter	2022–2024 2025–	Voreas Hokkaido	Return
23	Tatsuki Kashiwada	(1997-11-09) November 9, 1997 (age 28)	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)	Middle Blocker	2022–	Voreas Hokkaido
Head Coach: Olivier Lecat
Sources: Team official announcements,^[2] team official website,^[4] V.League official website^[5] Updated: June 8, 2025

Position abbreviations: S = Setter, OH = Outside Hitter, OP = Opposite, MB = Middle Blocker, L = Libero

Former Roster

Team Roster – Season 2024–25
No.	Name	Date of Birth	Height	Position
1	Taishi Onodera	(1996-02-27) February 27, 1996 (age 30)	2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)	Middle Blocker
2	Kenji Sato	(1997-01-16) January 16, 1997 (age 29)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	Middle Blocker
4	Atomu Torikai	(1996-04-06) April 6, 1996 (age 30)	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	Opposite Hitter
5	Ryo Shimokawa	(2000-01-12) January 12, 2000 (age 26)	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)	Setter
7	Alain De Armas	(2001-03-04) March 4, 2001 (age 25)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
8	Soshi Fujinaka	(1999-12-02) December 2, 1999 (age 26)	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)	Libero
9	Masaki Oya	(1995-04-23) April 23, 1995 (age 31)	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)	Setter
10	Kenya Fujinaka (c)	(1993-07-25) July 25, 1993 (age 32)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
11	Aleksander Śliwka	(1995-05-24) May 24, 1995 (age 31)	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)	Outside Hitter
12	Ran Takahashi	(2001-09-02) September 2, 2001 (age 24)	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)	Outside Hitter
13	Dmitry Muserskiy	(1988-10-29) October 29, 1988 (age 37)	2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)	Opposite Hitter
14	Ren Oniki	(2000-08-28) August 28, 2000 (age 25)	2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)	Middle Blocker
15	Yoshimitsu Kiire	(1995-05-13) May 13, 1995 (age 31)	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)	Libero
17	Hirohito Kashimura	(1999-01-15) January 15, 1999 (age 27)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	Middle Blocker
18	Hikaru Someno	(2001-07-03) July 3, 2001 (age 25)	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)	Outside Hitter
19	Kotaro Kai	(2001-11-05) November 5, 2001 (age 24)	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)	Opposite Hitter
20	Hiroki Nishida	(1997-08-15) August 15, 1997 (age 28)	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)	Setter
21	Rui Takahashi	(2000-01-14) January 14, 2000 (age 26)	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	Outside Hitter
23	Tatsuki Kashiwada	(1997-11-09) November 9, 1997 (age 28)	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)	Middle Blocker
Head Coach: Olivier Lecat

Team Roster – Season 2023–24
No.	Name	Date of Birth	Height	Position
1	Taishi Onodera	(1996-02-27) February 27, 1996 (age 30)	2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)	Middle Blocker
2	Yuito Takahashi	(1997-05-23) May 23, 1997 (age 29)	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)	Libero
4	Atomu Torikai	(1996-04-06) April 6, 1996 (age 30)	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	Opposite Hitter
6	Yu Yuantai	(1997-12-03) December 3, 1997 (age 28)	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	Outside Hitter
7	Alain De Armas	(2001-03-04) March 4, 2001 (age 25)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
8	Soshi Fujinaka	(1999-12-02) December 2, 1999 (age 26)	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)	Libero
9	Masaki Oya (c)	(1995-04-23) April 23, 1995 (age 31)	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)	Setter
10	Kenya Fujinaka	(1993-07-25) July 25, 1993 (age 32)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
12	Kenji Sato	(1997-01-16) January 16, 1997 (age 29)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	Middle Blocker
13	Dmitry Muserskiy	(1988-10-29) October 29, 1988 (age 37)	2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)	Opposite Hitter
14	Ren Oniki	(2000-08-28) August 28, 2000 (age 25)	2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)	Middle Blocker
15	Yoshimitsu Kiire	(1995-05-13) May 13, 1995 (age 31)	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)	Libero
17	Hirohito Kashimura	(1999-01-15) January 15, 1999 (age 27)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	Middle Blocker
18	Hikaru Someno	(2001-07-03) July 3, 2001 (age 25)	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)	Outside Hitter
19	Kotaro Kai	(2001-11-05) November 5, 2001 (age 24)	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)	Opposite Hitter
20	Hiroki Nishida	(1997-08-15) August 15, 1997 (age 28)	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)	Setter
21	Rui Takahashi	(2000-01-14) January 14, 2000 (age 26)	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	Outside Hitter
22	Kenshin Kuwada	(1999-06-28) June 28, 1999 (age 27)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
23	Tatsuki Kashiwada	(1997-11-09) November 9, 1997 (age 28)	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)	Middle Blocker
Head Coach: Kota Yamamura

Team Roster – Season 2022–23
No.	Name	Date of Birth	Height	Position
2	Yuito Takahashi	(1997-05-23) May 23, 1997 (age 29)	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)	Libero
3	Haruki Ono	(1995-10-27) October 27, 1995 (age 30)	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)	Middle Blocker
4	Atomu Torikai	(1996-04-06) April 6, 1996 (age 30)	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	Opposite Hitter
5	Ryu Yamamoto	(2000-09-23) September 23, 2000 (age 25)	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)	Setter
6	Shikun Peng	(2000-08-26) August 26, 2000 (age 25)	2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)	Middle Blocker
7	Alain De Armas	(2001-03-04) March 4, 2001 (age 25)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
8	Soshi Fujinaka	(1999-12-02) December 2, 1999 (age 26)	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)	Libero
9	Masaki Oya (c)	(1995-04-23) April 23, 1995 (age 31)	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)	Setter
10	Kenya Fujinaka	(1993-07-25) July 25, 1993 (age 32)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
11	Kosuke Hata	(1995-07-15) July 15, 1995 (age 31)	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
12	Kenji Sato	(1997-01-16) January 16, 1997 (age 29)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	Middle Blocker
13	Dmitry Muserskiy	(1988-10-29) October 29, 1988 (age 37)	2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)	Opposite Hitter
14	Ren Oniki	(2000-08-28) August 28, 2000 (age 25)	2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)	Middle Blocker
15	Yoshimitsu Kiire	(1995-05-13) May 13, 1995 (age 31)	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)	Libero
18	Takeshi Ogawa	(1994-07-07) July 7, 1994 (age 32)	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)	Middle Blocker
19	Masashi Kuriyama	(1988-07-14) July 14, 1988 (age 38)	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)	Outside Hitter
20	Hiroki Nishida	(1997-08-15) August 15, 1997 (age 28)	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)	Setter
21	Rui Takahashi	(2000-01-14) January 14, 2000 (age 26)	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	Outside Hitter
22	Kenshin Kuwada	(1999-06-28) June 28, 1999 (age 27)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
23	Tatsuki Kashiwada	(1997-11-09) November 9, 1997 (age 28)	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)	Middle Blocker
Head Coach: Kota Yamamura

Team Roster – Season 2021–22
No.	Name	Date of Birth	Height	Position
1	Taiki Tsuruda	(1991-07-13) July 13, 1991 (age 35)	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)	Libero
2	Yuito Takahashi	(1997-05-23) May 23, 1997 (age 29)	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)	Libero
3	Haruki Ono	(1995-10-27) October 27, 1995 (age 30)	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)	Middle Blocker
5	Kentaro Matsubayashi	(1994-10-08) October 8, 1994 (age 31)	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)	Outside Hitter
6	Shikun Peng	(2000-08-26) August 26, 2000 (age 25)	2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)	Middle Blocker
7	Alain De Armas	(2001-03-04) March 4, 2001 (age 25)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
8	Masahiro Yanagida	(1992-07-06) July 6, 1992 (age 34)	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	Outside Hitter
9	Masaki Oya (c)	(1995-04-23) April 23, 1995 (age 31)	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)	Setter
10	Kenya Fujinaka	(1993-07-25) July 25, 1993 (age 32)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
11	Kosuke Hata	(1995-07-15) July 15, 1995 (age 31)	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
12	Kenji Sato	(1997-01-16) January 16, 1997 (age 29)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	Middle Blocker
13	Dmitry Muserskiy	(1988-10-29) October 29, 1988 (age 37)	2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)	Opposite Hitter
14	Hisanori Kato	(1994-04-07) April 7, 1994 (age 32)	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)	Middle Blocker
15	Yoshimitsu Kiire	(1995-05-13) May 13, 1995 (age 31)	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)	Libero
17	Hirohito Kashimura	(1999-01-15) January 15, 1999 (age 27)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	Middle Blocker
18	Takeshi Ogawa	(1994-07-07) July 7, 1994 (age 32)	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)	Middle Blocker
19	Masashi Kuriyama	(1988-07-14) July 14, 1988 (age 38)	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)	Outside Hitter
20	Hiroki Nishida	(1997-08-15) August 15, 1997 (age 28)	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)	Setter
21	Rui Takahashi	(2000-01-14) January 14, 2000 (age 26)	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	Outside Hitter
22	Kenshin Kuwada	(1999-06-28) June 28, 1999 (age 27)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
23	Tatsuki Kashiwada	(1997-11-09) November 9, 1997 (age 28)	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)	Middle Blocker
91	Árpád Baróti	(1991-10-23) October 23, 1991 (age 34)	2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)	Opposite Hitter
Head Coach: Kota Yamamura

Team Roster – Season 2020–21
No.	Name	Date of Birth	Height	Position
1	Taiki Tsuruda	(1991-07-13) July 13, 1991 (age 35)	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)	Libero
3	Haruki Ono	(1995-10-27) October 27, 1995 (age 30)	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)	Middle Blocker
4	Atomu Torikai	(1996-04-06) April 6, 1996 (age 30)	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	Outside Hitter
5	Kentaro Matsubayashi	(1994-10-08) October 8, 1994 (age 31)	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)	Outside Hitter
6	Daoshuai Ji	(1992-02-07) February 7, 1992 (age 34)	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	Outside Hitter
7	Alain De Armas	(2001-03-04) March 4, 2001 (age 25)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
8	Masahiro Yanagida	(1992-07-06) July 6, 1992 (age 34)	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	Outside Hitter
9	Masaki Oya (c)	(1995-04-23) April 23, 1995 (age 31)	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)	Setter
10	Kenya Fujinaka	(1993-07-25) July 25, 1993 (age 32)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
11	Kosuke Hata	(1995-07-15) July 15, 1995 (age 31)	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)	Outside Hitter
12	Tatsuya Shiota	(1989-11-17) November 17, 1989 (age 36)	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)	Middle Blocker
13	Dmitry Muserskiy	(1988-10-29) October 29, 1988 (age 37)	2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)	Opposite Hitter
14	Hisanori Kato	(1994-04-07) April 7, 1994 (age 32)	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)	Middle Blocker
15	Yoshimitsu Kiire	(1995-05-13) May 13, 1995 (age 31)	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)	Libero
17	Hirohito Kashimura	(1999-01-15) January 15, 1999 (age 27)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	Middle Blocker
18	Takeshi Ogawa	(1994-07-07) July 7, 1994 (age 32)	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)	Middle Blocker
19	Masashi Kuriyama	(1988-07-14) July 14, 1988 (age 38)	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)	Outside Hitter
20	Hiroki Nishida	(1997-08-15) August 15, 1997 (age 28)	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)	Setter
21	Kenji Sato	(1997-01-16) January 16, 1997 (age 29)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	Middle Blocker
22	Yuito Takahashi	(1997-05-23) May 23, 1997 (age 29)	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)	Libero
23	Tatsuki Kashiwada	(1997-11-09) November 9, 1997 (age 28)	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)	Middle Blocker
Head Coach: Kota Yamamura

League Results

Champion Runner-Up

League		Position	Teams	Matches	Wins	Losses
V.League
	1994–95	Champion	8	21	14	7
	1995–96	4th	8	21	14	7
	1996–97	3rd	8	21	12	9
	1997–98	4th	8	21	12	9
	1998–99	3rd	10	18	14	4
	1999–00	Champion	10	18	14	4
	2000–01	Champion	10	18	14	4
	2001–02	Champion	10	18	11	7
	2002–03	Champion	8	21	13	8
	2003–04	Champion	8	21	11	10
	2004–05	5th	8	28	14	14
	2005–06	Runner-Up	8	28	20	8
V・Premier
	2006–07	Champion	8	28	23	5
	2007–08	3rd	8	28	24	4
	2008–09	4th	8	28	22	6
	2009–10	5th	8	28	15	13
	2010–11	Runner-Up	8	24	18	6
	2011–12	3rd	8	21	10	11
	2012–13	4th	8	28	24	4
	2013–14	6th	8	28	11	17
	2014–15	Runner-Up	8	21	16	5
	2015–16	7th	8	21	9	12
	2016–17	4th	8	21	13	8
	2017–18	5th	8	21	8	13
V・League Division 1	2018–19	4th	10	32	21	11
	2019–20	3rd	10	30	20	10
	2020–21	Champion	10	36	33	3
	2021–22	Champion	10	38	29	9
	2022–23	Runner-Up	10	40	28	12
	2023–24	Champion	10	38	32	6
SV.League
	2024–25	Champion	10	49	40	9
	2025–26	Runner-Up	10	49	43	6

References

↑ "Japan's Suntory Sunbirds claim historic Asian Clubs Championship title". www.fivb.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
1 2 "2025-26シーズン新体制のお知らせ" (in Japanese). サントリーサンバーズ大阪. 2025-06-03. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
1 2 3 "2025-26シーズン新入団選手のお知らせサントリーサンバーズ大阪". SUNBIRDS 大阪サントリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-08.
↑ "選手・スタッフ" (in Japanese). サントリーサンバーズ. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
↑ "サントリーサンバーズ". vleague.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-12-27.

External Links

V.League - Team profile

[1] "Japan's Suntory Sunbirds claim historic Asian Clubs Championship title". www.fivb.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.

[新体制-2] 1 2 "2025-26シーズン新体制のお知らせ" (in Japanese). サントリーサンバーズ大阪. 2025-06-03. Retrieved 2025-06-12.

[:1-3] 1 2 3 "2025-26シーズン新入団選手のお知らせサントリーサンバーズ大阪". SUNBIRDS 大阪サントリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-08.

[チーム公式メンバー-4] "選手・スタッフ" (in Japanese). サントリーサンバーズ. Retrieved 2023-10-15.

[V公式チーム紹介-5] "サントリーサンバーズ". vleague.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-12-27.

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