Toray, who was ranked 5th in the league, won the final home match. A comfortable 3-1 victory over JT Hiroshima.
He got his revenge in Round 1 (1●3) and delivered a victory to setter Naonobu Fujii (age 31) who passed away on the 10th. With this day’s victory, Panasonic ranked 3rd and Sakai ranked 4th.
◇ ◇ ◇
In mourning for Mr. Fujii, who passed away from stomach cancer on the 10th, following the first round, everyone wore uniforms with the uniform number “21” and practiced before the game. He also wore a mourning band on his left arm during matches. A memorial corner was also set up at the venue, where uniforms and life-size panels were displayed. The monitor showed the heroic figure of the past, and he regretted parting. Miho Okamura, a company employee who came from Chiba Prefecture, bit her lip, saying, “I’m from Ishinomaki, the same as Fujii-san. Akiyo Miyashiro, a company employee from Gifu Prefecture, said, “My feelings for Mr. Fujii were conveyed through his play.”
Joined Toray in 2014 after graduating from Furukawa Engineering High School in Miyagi and Juntendo University. Since 2017, he has been selected for the Japanese national team and played an active role as a setter. Captain Yudai Minemura, 28, renewed his determination, saying, “As Mr. Fujii said, I will continue to do my best while being conscious of enjoying the game.”
