Get to Know Japanese Volleyball Fan Favorite Ran Takahashi

It’s time to brush up on your Nihongo skills, especially with heartthrob Ran Takahashi’s return to Manila.

There are so many things to love about Japan, and if you’re a volleyball fan, Ran Takahashi is another reason to embrace all things Nippon. But who exactly is this Japanese star athlete that won the hearts of Filipinos?

Ryujin Nippon’s (Japan national volleyball team) outside hitter Ran Takahashi hails from Kyoto, Japan and started playing volleyball as early as elementary school and went on to high school mainly playing the sport as a libero. With his amazing skills and performance, he served as an ace and captain of his team by his third year at Higashiyama High School. In college, he went to Nippon Sport Science University and led his team to the 2020 All Japan Intercollegiate Volleyball Championship. His consistent performance as an athlete and his commitment to the sport eventually led him to be a part of the Japan men’s national volleyball team.

He may have had an outstanding reputation already long before he visited the Philippines but his first visit to the country for the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) solidified his popularity among Filipino fans and reached fever pitch during VNL’s return to Manila in June 2024. Unfortunately, he was only able to play in one game due to his knee injury.

The 2024 Paris Olympics enabled fans to tune in once more to Ryujin Nippon’s volleyball journey even though it ended in a heartbreaking loss. But valuable lessons were learned and for Ran Takahashi, doors of opportunities just kept opening as he scored brand deals with Kosé and DIOR (he is the first Japanese volleyball player to be appointed as its brand ambassador), including one in the Philippines with electronics and lighting company Akari tapping him as its brand ambassador.

With the country experiencing another wave of Ran Takahashi fever, here are some fascinating facts about the well-loved athlete.

Ran is now a two-time Olympian.

At only 22, Ran is already legendary for being a two-time Olympian. In 2021, he was one of the outside hitters for the Japan Men’s volleyball team for the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan. He made his second Olympics appearance for the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympics. The team made it to the quarterfinals but lost to Italy in a nerve-wracking match.

His siblings are also volleyball players.

Athleticism runs in the family as Ran’s siblings, older brother Rui and younger sister Riri, are also volleyball players. Rui is with Nippon Sports Science University volleyball club while Riri plays for the Kyoto Ryoyo High School female volleyball club.

Ran can speak English.

Don’t you worry, Ran can have a conversation with you as he also speaks English. His grandfather is an American and he also had to study English when he played in the Italian Volleyball League. “We speak foreign languages only abroad. I would like you to try speaking a foreign language if you have such an opportunity. If you have a friend from abroad, I hope you have an active conversation with him. I find it fascinating and I’m proud of it. It’s great that many people can speak English but I’m proud to be able to speak Japanese,” Ran said on his YouTube vlog. In some instances, Ran grants English interviews to accommodate thousands of volleyball enthusiasts and fans worldwide.

He professionally played volleyball in Italy.

Perhaps to widen his horizon and life experiences, Ran signed up and debuted in the Italian Volleyball League in 2021 and continued on this 2024 until recently. He later signed a 2024 contract with Suntory Sunbirds and will professionally play at the Japanese Volleyball League this time.

Ran bonds with non-Japanese friends over animé.

If you want to befriend or strike a conversation with Ran, animé is a good topic choice. “I can enjoy conversations with many people just by talking about animé. One Piece is especially popular in Italy. I think Japanese animé is great,” he shared on his YouTube vlog. He named One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, and Sailor Moon as some that are popular overseas but confessed that he’s never seen Naruto and declared his love for One Piece.

He practices a particular routine before a match.

Ran shared on his vlog that he chews gum before a match, listens to music, and tries not to think about the match. The latter’s a funny way to cope but would also make quite good advice to ease tension and nervousness before a huge moment.

Ran shakes off stress in relatable ways.

The star player shared that he de-stresses by listening to music, going for a walk or just sitting under the sun.

Filipino fans knows he loves bananas. As an athlete, Ran finds bananas, as a good source of potassium, truly beneficial. His Filipino fans have captured him several times eating a banana while on the bench, endearing him even more to the crowd. Ran replied in Japanese to an X/Twitter user, writing, “Filipino bananas are delicious.”

He plays guitar and sings for pleasure.

As Ran loves music, it’s no surprise that he would love playing guitar. He reportedly started playing it after receiving it as a birthday gift from his seniors at the university volleyball club. He was also once captured singing the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” with his Ryujin Nippon teammates. He shared on his vlog that he loves the music of Japanese artists Yuuri and Mrs. Green Apple.

The Paris Olympics loss taught Ran a valuable lesson.

Japan’s narrow loss to Italy was evidently heartbreaking for Ran Takahashi as various videos of him crying and being emotional after the match went viral. Gianluca Galassi, his friend from the Italian team, even hugged Ran to offer comfort after the game. “We did not have the strength to win. We still need to get stronger and improve our ability to win. I think that is the kind of game we played. We will use this disappointment as a springboard to the next,” Ran said in the post-game interview.

Ran is very active on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

Ran is as Gen Z as he can get! He is absolutely a digital native and he enjoys connecting with fans over Instagram. He also runs YouTube and TikTok accounts with his brother Rui called RanRui. 

Ran is returning to Manila as the brand ambassador of Akari.

The Japanese volleyball superstar makes a comeback to the Philippines but this time as the brand ambassador of electronics and lighting company Akari. Ran will be holding a meet and greet this August 23, Friday, at SM Megamall courtesy of his partnership with Akari. See the mechanics below to have the exclusive opportunity to meet the Olympian.

Lead photo from @dior via @ran.volleyball0902