Japan lost to host Poland in the men's Volleyball Nations League semifinals on Saturday, going down 19-25, 28-26, 25-17, 25-21.
Japan, a first-time semifinalist at either the current tournament or the preceding World League that began in 1990, will face Italy in the bronze final on Sunday after the Europeans were beaten in straight sets by the United States in the other semifinal.
Captain Yuki Ishikawa scored six points as Japan won the first set, but a tight second went to Poland after a Kento Miyaura spike was blocked to give Poland the advantage when the set was at deuce. Lukasz Kaczmarek scored the deciding set point.
Japan lost the next two sets as it was unable to rally in front of a partisan Polish crowd in Gdansk.
"We lost and there is only a sense of frustration. We had the chance to win the second set too but we let it slip and we gave them the momentum," Ishikawa said in reference to Japan failing to win a set point chance in the crucial second stanza.
"Gaining lots of these experiences gives us the base to build on. It was a great experience," added the 27-year-old, who currently plays for Power Volley Milano at the club level.