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

(×1): 2023
(×1): 2023
(×2): 2001, 2022
(×2): 2008, 2025

Domestic

(×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
(×1): 2024–2025
(×1): 2025–2026
(×6): 1979, 1985, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2022
(×4): 1986, 1992, 1999, 2023
(×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
1Japan Taishi OnoderaFebruary 27, 1996 (age 30)2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)Middle Blocker2023–Japan JT Hiroshima
2Japan Kenji SatoJanuary 16, 1997 (age 29)1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Middle Blocker2019–Tokai University
5Japan Ryo ShimokawaJanuary 12, 2000 (age 26)1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)Setter2024–Japan VC Nagano Tridents
7Japan Alain de ArmasMarch 4, 2001 (age 25)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter2020–Miyakonojo Higashi High School
8Japan Masahiro SekitaNovember 20, 1993 (age 32)1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)Setter2025–Japan JTEKT StingsTransfer[3]
10Japan Tomohiro OgawaJuly 4, 1996 (age 30)1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)Libero2025–Japan JTEKT StingsTransfer[3]
11Japan Soshi FujinakaDecember 2, 1999 (age 26)1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)Libero2022–Japan VC Nagano TridentsJersey number changed
12Japan Ran Takahashi (c)September 2, 2001 (age 24)1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)Outside Hitter2020–Italy Vero Volley Monza
13Russia Dmitriy MuserskiyOctober 29, 1988 (age 37)2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)Opposite Hitter2018–Russia Belogorie Belgorod
14Japan Ren OnikiAugust 28, 2000 (age 25)2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)Middle Blocker2023–Nippon Sport Science University
15Japan Yoshimitsu KiireMay 13, 1995 (age 31)1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)Libero2018–Waseda UniversityVice Captain
17Japan Hirohito KashimuraJanuary 15, 1999 (age 27)1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Middle Blocker2021–2022
2023–		Japan Voreas Hokkaido
18Russia Egor KliukaJune 15, 1995 (age 31)2.09 m (6 ft 10 in)Outside Hitter2025–Russia Zenit Saint PetersburgTransfer[3]
19Japan Kotaro KaiNovember 5, 2001 (age 24)1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)Opposite Hitter2024–Senshu University
21Japan Rui TakahashiJanuary 14, 2000 (age 26)1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)Outside Hitter2022–Nihon University
22Japan Kenshin KuwadaJune 28, 1999 (age 27)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter2022–2024
2025–		Japan Voreas HokkaidoReturn
23Japan Tatsuki KashiwadaNovember 9, 1997 (age 28)1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)Middle Blocker2022–Japan Voreas Hokkaido
Head Coach: France 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
1Japan Taishi OnoderaFebruary 27, 1996 (age 30)2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)Middle Blocker
2Japan Kenji SatoJanuary 16, 1997 (age 29)1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Middle Blocker
4Japan Atomu TorikaiApril 6, 1996 (age 30)1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)Opposite Hitter
5Japan Ryo ShimokawaJanuary 12, 2000 (age 26)1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)Setter
7Cuba Alain De ArmasMarch 4, 2001 (age 25)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
8Japan Soshi FujinakaDecember 2, 1999 (age 26)1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)Libero
9Japan Masaki OyaApril 23, 1995 (age 31)1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)Setter
10Japan Kenya Fujinaka (c)July 25, 1993 (age 32)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
11Poland Aleksander ŚliwkaMay 24, 1995 (age 31)1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)Outside Hitter
12Japan Ran TakahashiSeptember 2, 2001 (age 24)1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)Outside Hitter
13Russia Dmitry MuserskiyOctober 29, 1988 (age 37)2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)Opposite Hitter
14Japan Ren OnikiAugust 28, 2000 (age 25)2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)Middle Blocker
15Japan Yoshimitsu KiireMay 13, 1995 (age 31)1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)Libero
17Japan Hirohito KashimuraJanuary 15, 1999 (age 27)1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Middle Blocker
18Japan Hikaru SomenoJuly 3, 2001 (age 25)1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)Outside Hitter
19Japan Kotaro KaiNovember 5, 2001 (age 24)1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)Opposite Hitter
20Japan Hiroki NishidaAugust 15, 1997 (age 28)1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)Setter
21Japan Rui TakahashiJanuary 14, 2000 (age 26)1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)Outside Hitter
23Japan Tatsuki KashiwadaNovember 9, 1997 (age 28)1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)Middle Blocker
Head Coach: France Olivier Lecat
Team Roster – Season 2023–24
No. Name Date of Birth Height Position
1Japan Taishi OnoderaFebruary 27, 1996 (age 30)2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)Middle Blocker
2Japan Yuito TakahashiMay 23, 1997 (age 29)1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)Libero
4Japan Atomu TorikaiApril 6, 1996 (age 30)1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)Opposite Hitter
6China Yu YuantaiDecember 3, 1997 (age 28)1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)Outside Hitter
7Cuba Alain De ArmasMarch 4, 2001 (age 25)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
8Japan Soshi FujinakaDecember 2, 1999 (age 26)1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)Libero
9Japan Masaki Oya (c)April 23, 1995 (age 31)1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)Setter
10Japan Kenya FujinakaJuly 25, 1993 (age 32)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
12Japan Kenji SatoJanuary 16, 1997 (age 29)1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Middle Blocker
13Russia Dmitry MuserskiyOctober 29, 1988 (age 37)2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)Opposite Hitter
14Japan Ren OnikiAugust 28, 2000 (age 25)2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)Middle Blocker
15Japan Yoshimitsu KiireMay 13, 1995 (age 31)1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)Libero
17Japan Hirohito KashimuraJanuary 15, 1999 (age 27)1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Middle Blocker
18Japan Hikaru SomenoJuly 3, 2001 (age 25)1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)Outside Hitter
19Japan Kotaro KaiNovember 5, 2001 (age 24)1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)Opposite Hitter
20Japan Hiroki NishidaAugust 15, 1997 (age 28)1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)Setter
21Japan Rui TakahashiJanuary 14, 2000 (age 26)1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)Outside Hitter
22Japan Kenshin KuwadaJune 28, 1999 (age 27)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
23Japan Tatsuki KashiwadaNovember 9, 1997 (age 28)1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)Middle Blocker
Head Coach: Japan Kota Yamamura
Team Roster – Season 2022–23
No. Name Date of Birth Height Position
2Japan Yuito TakahashiMay 23, 1997 (age 29)1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)Libero
3Japan Haruki OnoOctober 27, 1995 (age 30)1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)Middle Blocker
4Japan Atomu TorikaiApril 6, 1996 (age 30)1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)Opposite Hitter
5Japan Ryu YamamotoSeptember 23, 2000 (age 25)1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)Setter
6China Shikun PengAugust 26, 2000 (age 25)2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)Middle Blocker
7Cuba Alain De ArmasMarch 4, 2001 (age 25)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
8Japan Soshi FujinakaDecember 2, 1999 (age 26)1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)Libero
9Japan Masaki Oya (c)April 23, 1995 (age 31)1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)Setter
10Japan Kenya FujinakaJuly 25, 1993 (age 32)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
11Japan Kosuke HataJuly 15, 1995 (age 31)1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
12Japan Kenji SatoJanuary 16, 1997 (age 29)1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Middle Blocker
13Russia Dmitry MuserskiyOctober 29, 1988 (age 37)2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)Opposite Hitter
14Japan Ren OnikiAugust 28, 2000 (age 25)2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)Middle Blocker
15Japan Yoshimitsu KiireMay 13, 1995 (age 31)1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)Libero
18Japan Takeshi OgawaJuly 7, 1994 (age 32)1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)Middle Blocker
19Japan Masashi KuriyamaJuly 14, 1988 (age 38)1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)Outside Hitter
20Japan Hiroki NishidaAugust 15, 1997 (age 28)1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)Setter
21Japan Rui TakahashiJanuary 14, 2000 (age 26)1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)Outside Hitter
22Japan Kenshin KuwadaJune 28, 1999 (age 27)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
23Japan Tatsuki KashiwadaNovember 9, 1997 (age 28)1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)Middle Blocker
Head Coach: Japan Kota Yamamura
Team Roster – Season 2021–22
No. Name Date of Birth Height Position
1Japan Taiki TsurudaJuly 13, 1991 (age 35)1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)Libero
2Japan Yuito TakahashiMay 23, 1997 (age 29)1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)Libero
3Japan Haruki OnoOctober 27, 1995 (age 30)1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)Middle Blocker
5Japan Kentaro MatsubayashiOctober 8, 1994 (age 31)1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)Outside Hitter
6China Shikun PengAugust 26, 2000 (age 25)2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)Middle Blocker
7Cuba Alain De ArmasMarch 4, 2001 (age 25)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
8Japan Masahiro YanagidaJuly 6, 1992 (age 34)1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)Outside Hitter
9Japan Masaki Oya (c)April 23, 1995 (age 31)1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)Setter
10Japan Kenya FujinakaJuly 25, 1993 (age 32)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
11Japan Kosuke HataJuly 15, 1995 (age 31)1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
12Japan Kenji SatoJanuary 16, 1997 (age 29)1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Middle Blocker
13Russia Dmitry MuserskiyOctober 29, 1988 (age 37)2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)Opposite Hitter
14Japan Hisanori KatoApril 7, 1994 (age 32)1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)Middle Blocker
15Japan Yoshimitsu KiireMay 13, 1995 (age 31)1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)Libero
17Japan Hirohito KashimuraJanuary 15, 1999 (age 27)1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Middle Blocker
18Japan Takeshi OgawaJuly 7, 1994 (age 32)1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)Middle Blocker
19Japan Masashi KuriyamaJuly 14, 1988 (age 38)1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)Outside Hitter
20Japan Hiroki NishidaAugust 15, 1997 (age 28)1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)Setter
21Japan Rui TakahashiJanuary 14, 2000 (age 26)1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)Outside Hitter
22Japan Kenshin KuwadaJune 28, 1999 (age 27)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
23Japan Tatsuki KashiwadaNovember 9, 1997 (age 28)1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)Middle Blocker
91Hungary Árpád BarótiOctober 23, 1991 (age 34)2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)Opposite Hitter
Head Coach: Japan Kota Yamamura
Team Roster – Season 2020–21
No. Name Date of Birth Height Position
1Japan Taiki TsurudaJuly 13, 1991 (age 35)1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)Libero
3Japan Haruki OnoOctober 27, 1995 (age 30)1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)Middle Blocker
4Japan Atomu TorikaiApril 6, 1996 (age 30)1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)Outside Hitter
5Japan Kentaro MatsubayashiOctober 8, 1994 (age 31)1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)Outside Hitter
6China Daoshuai JiFebruary 7, 1992 (age 34)1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)Outside Hitter
7Cuba Alain De ArmasMarch 4, 2001 (age 25)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
8Japan Masahiro YanagidaJuly 6, 1992 (age 34)1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)Outside Hitter
9Japan Masaki Oya (c)April 23, 1995 (age 31)1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)Setter
10Japan Kenya FujinakaJuly 25, 1993 (age 32)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
11Japan Kosuke HataJuly 15, 1995 (age 31)1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)Outside Hitter
12Japan Tatsuya ShiotaNovember 17, 1989 (age 36)1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)Middle Blocker
13Russia Dmitry MuserskiyOctober 29, 1988 (age 37)2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)Opposite Hitter
14Japan Hisanori KatoApril 7, 1994 (age 32)1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)Middle Blocker
15Japan Yoshimitsu KiireMay 13, 1995 (age 31)1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)Libero
17Japan Hirohito KashimuraJanuary 15, 1999 (age 27)1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Middle Blocker
18Japan Takeshi OgawaJuly 7, 1994 (age 32)1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)Middle Blocker
19Japan Masashi KuriyamaJuly 14, 1988 (age 38)1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)Outside Hitter
20Japan Hiroki NishidaAugust 15, 1997 (age 28)1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)Setter
21Japan Kenji SatoJanuary 16, 1997 (age 29)1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)Middle Blocker
22Japan Yuito TakahashiMay 23, 1997 (age 29)1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)Libero
23Japan Tatsuki KashiwadaNovember 9, 1997 (age 28)1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)Middle Blocker
Head Coach: Japan Kota Yamamura

League Results

  Champion    Runner-Up

League Position Teams Matches Wins Losses
V.League
1994–95Champion821147
1995–964th821147
1996–973rd821129
1997–984th821129
1998–993rd1018144
1999–00Champion1018144
2000–01Champion1018144
2001–02Champion1018117
2002–03Champion821138
2003–04Champion8211110
2004–055th8281414
2005–06Runner-Up828208
V・Premier
2006–07Champion828235
2007–083rd828244
2008–094th828226
2009–105th8281513
2010–11Runner-Up824186
2011–123rd8211011
2012–134th828244
2013–146th8281117
2014–15Runner-Up821165
2015–167th821912
2016–174th821138
2017–185th821813
V・League Division 1 2018–194th10322111
2019–203rd10302010
2020–21Champion1036333
2021–22Champion1038299
2022–23Runner-Up10402812
2023–24Champion1038326
SV.League
2024–25Champion1049409
2025–26Runner-Up1049436

References

  1. ↑ "Japan's Suntory Sunbirds claim historic Asian Clubs Championship title". www.fivb.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  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.
  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.
  4. ↑ "選手・スタッフ" (in Japanese). サントリーサンバーズ. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  5. ↑ "サントリーサンバーズ". vleague.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-12-27.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suntory_Sunbirds_Osaka