Every now and then a superstar is born and thankfully in water polo, we have many who put their hands up for that esteemed accolade. Japan’s Taiyo Watanabe is one such person making a mark on the international scene.
There are standouts and there are standouts. While the likes of Serbian Dusan Mandic was showing his class at the Aquatics World Championships and Paris Olympic Games at the age of 30, Watanabe was just 22 and putting his stamp on the game in a very forceful manner.
His efforts help guide Japan through to the World Aquatic World Cup finals series in Montenegro this April, giddy heights for a team on the edge of the top division for some years.
The past two Olympics provided plenty of heartache with 10th and 11th positions after some very close matches but seeded into the Division One section of this year’s World Cup, Japan made the most of its opportunities and beat Georgia to gain a spot in Montenegro.
Watanabe started playing water polo at the age of eight. “I made the Japan national team for U19 and U20 at the age of 17, then I became a fully fledged Japan national team player at the age of 21. I am now a member of the Japan national team and play for the French club PAN.”
He and Japan’s head coach Yoshinori Shiota, himself a world class athlete, agree on his contribution to the team: “Taiyo Watanabe is one of the most talented water polo players in the world. He has a super-fast swimming speed and a brilliant shooting sense that no one can imitate. I believe he will lead Japan to the top of the world.”
When Watanabe was asked the question, he replied: “My special skills are shooting and speed. I will use them to bring more offensive power to my team. I will score many goals for the team.”
This is what he did last year and last month in Otopeni, Romania during the World Cup preliminaries.
Shiota took over the reins of the national team from Yoji Omoto, twice an Olympic coach, after Tokyo 2020 and has brought the Japan style of play as more of a threat to the European style.
(Ed: Shiota is a dual Asian Games silver medallist and one-time bronze medallist).
The Japanese defend differently, swim faster and counter more than other teams. It is that agility and quickness that sets the team apart and send shockwaves through the opposition. Other wicked attributes are the speed and accuracy with which every player shoots.
Watanabe is just one of the many star shooters with the incomparable Yusuke Inaba, Seiya Adachi and former captain a fellow youngster Toi Suzuki in the mix.
Asian Games
The road to the Olympics came from beating China in the final of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in 2023.
Watanabe describes the thrill of that moment: “It was a match that determined our ticket to the Paris Olympics, which we had not won for 53 years (1970). I was filled with a lot of emotions, even on behalf of my predecessors. When it was decided that we would win, I shouted from the bottom of my heart with joy.
“I still vividly remember the image of the Japanese flag climbing up the centre pole and the national anthem reverberating through the stadium. It was a moment that made me think that I was glad to be playing water polo and that I still wanted to play water polo.
Doha World Aquatics Championships
The 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha was not perfect preparation for Paris 2024. What was the thinking in the team at this time?
“The group stage at the Doha World Championships was tough. I wanted to win against strong countries like Serbia (17-10), the United States of America (18-5) and Montenegro (13-11), but that didn't happen. However, what I gained from these defeats was great, and it led to Paris.
“I participated in the French league after the Doha World Championships. I was able to learn in France what I felt I was lacking in Doha.”
Paris Olympic Games
Shifting to the Olympic Games, what was it like arriving in Paris?
“When I arrived in Paris, I had a strong feeling that it was finally starting. And I really wanted to win here.
Losing to Serbia (16-15), France (14-13) and Hungary (17-16) by a single goal in Paris must have been devastating. What were the team’s feelings?
“Our first match in the group stage against Serbia was very important. We lost by one point, which was a disappointing loss, and everyone wanted to win against France next. However, we lost by one point to France, and the whole team was disheartened. After that, we didn't give up and fought to get through the group stage. It feels bad, but the team was united.”
Losing to Spain (23-8) and then coming back to beat Australia by a single goal (14-13) was a good way to finish the event?
“Although we couldn't get past the group stage, it was good that we finished with a win against Australia. It was a big win that will help us in the future.”
Looking back on those three close losses. What did the team learn from those?
“We learned a lot from these three losses. We learned how to improve our defence, how the game unfolded and many things.”