Masayoshi Manabe has been named head coach of the Japan women's national volleyball team while Tatsuya Ueta will remain in charge of the men's team, the Japan Volleyball Association said Monday.
Manabe, a member of Japan's Olympic team at the 1988 Seoul Games, became manager of the Hisamitsu Springs in 2005 and guided them to the title of Japan's Premier League in the 2006-2007 season. He takes over from Shoichi Yanagimoto, who led Japan to consecutive Olympic appearances in 2004 and 2008.
Ueta guided Japan to its first Olympic appearance in the men's competition in 16 years at the Beijing Games this year.