A day after the stunning news of Gary Sato's dismissal, the Japan Volleyball Association announced Thursday that Masashi Nanbu would replace the American as the men's national team head coach.

Nanbu, who currently serves as head coach of the Panasonic Panthers of the V Premier League, will immediately take the national squad duty, and is scheduled to leave the corporate club after the annual Kurowashiki All Japan Tournament in May to focus on the heavy task.

Nanbu's debut with the Ryujin Nippon will be in the intercontinental round of the FIVB World League in later May. The team will also compete in the Asian Games in Incheon from late September.