We interviewed Miyaura Kento, a Japan national team opposite who left Japan's V League to play in Poland, the home of volleyball, for the 2022/23 season (interview date: February 5, 2023).
-What do you think about the Polish League so far since the start of the season?
Miyaura: Before coming here, I knew that Polish league teams had won the European Champions League last year and the year before, and that there were many players in the league who were active in the national team. The Italian league tends to get a lot of attention, but I thought that the level of the league was just as high as that, so I was really looking forward to it before coming. Even after coming here, the level of the teams was very high, and even though there are many teams, I think I have come to a place where I can really grow as an individual. I also felt that they were stronger physically than I had experienced before. In terms of the gap, while there are players in Poland who compete with power and height, there are also many players who compete with fine techniques. I have been able to learn more about such fine techniques than I expected.
-Which game this season has been the most memorable for you?
Miyaura: As a team, the games against Zaksa (Kenzierzyn Kozile) (a match that Nysa won 3-0, Zaksa was last year's European champion) and Skra (Belhatov) left a strong impression on me, as we came from two sets down to win. Personally, I think the Gdansk match was good because I had a long playing time and my performance wasn't bad. As for the Lviv match, I was in the starting lineup, but I wasn't able to perform to my potential, which resulted in a disappointing result, so that's what I remember.
-What kind of team is Nisa?
Miyaura: I think it's a team with real potential. I really feel that it's a team with a lot of players with height, power, and physical potential, such as Gerdzhot (Poland) and Wassim Bentala (Tunisia), and I think that their strengths are in their serves and their ability to hit high balls that make the most of that. In terms of fans and supporters, there are a lot of passionate fans that I've never experienced in my career, so it's really rewarding to play, and I feel like I can get really excited myself. I think that's a great culture.
-What kind of coach is Nysa's coach, Princeski?
Miyaura: I think he is a manager who is very detailed about blocking, and has a solid blocking strategy for the opponent. Also, he often changes players when it comes to player selection, and sometimes it works and we win, so I think it's really amazing.
-When I spoke to Director Prinski before, I got the impression that he wasn't very good at English. How is it communicating with you as a director?
Miyaura: I can't speak English very well myself, so I think we can communicate using simple words.
--The players at Nisa seem to get along really well with each other, but who is the player you're particularly close with, Miyaura?
Miyaura: First of all, Rafal (Buszek) (Poland). He has now moved to a different place, but he lived nearby until around December. We used to go to practice together in the car, and he invited me to his house, and we really talked about all kinds of things. We sit next to each other in the locker room, so we talk there, and he also acts as an interpreter during meetings, so he really helps me out in a lot of ways. He is one of my really good friends.
Miyaura: And then there's Nicolas Zerva (Argentina). We were born in 1999, so we're the same age, and we're really good friends, and we often goof around together (laughs). I also do pepper passes with Nicolas, and we always share the same hotel room, so we're really good friends. He's also a passionate player, and I think that's a really good thing about him. He's really strict with himself, and I think he has some really important qualities, like his competitive nature, so I respect that about him.
Miyaura: I also went out to play with Zukowski (Croatia) and Wasim, and Patrick (Szczurek, Poland) also played with me as a substitute and we often shared the ball. He's also a very cheerful character, so we often mess around with each other. Everyone is really kind and funny, so we get along really well.
What do you usually talk about with your teammates?
Miyaura: Japanese anime, culture, Polish culture, and some silly stories (laughs). Everyone likes anime, and they also ask me about sumo, judo, and karate. What surprised me the most was that Noriaki Kasai (ski jumper) is very famous in Poland. I was like, "How do you know him?!" (laughs). I don't think many Japanese people know him, but everyone in Poland knows him, and I also know Japanese ski jumpers that I don't know, so I thought it was amazing (ski jumping is one of the most popular sports in Poland).
What do people talk about in anime?
Miyaura: Of course it's Dragon Ball. Another popular one is Naruto.
-Which of your teammates is especially fond of Japanese anime and manga?
Miyaura: I really like Ventara. I also like Nico (Zerba). Ventara said he really likes Naruto. Also, Rafa's child loves Pokemon, so we play Pokemon on the Nintendo Switch together (laughs).
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