“We have to find our own style of Waterpolo based on our potential” – Yoshinori Shiota on adapting the Game

In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, Yoshinori Shiota, head coach of the Japanese men’s national water polo team, explains why long-term success in international water polo is only possible when teams build their game around their own strengths, rather than copying traditional European models.

Yoshinori begins by making an important clarification: the current Japanese playing style was not created by him, but by former head coach Yoji Omoto. In the years leading up to the Olympic Games, Japan initially tried to follow a more traditional European-style water polo, including heavy use of the center forward and zone defense. Over time, it became clear that this approach did not fit the physical profile of Japanese players.

Compared to teams from Hungary, Serbia or Croatia, Japanese players are generally smaller and lighter. Instead of seeing this as a weakness, Omoto and his staff decided to completely rethink the concept of the game. The result was a radical shift in philosophy: press defense, passing-lane defense and constant counterattacks became the foundation of Japan’s identity.
Yoshinori explains that for Japan, scoring in a static six-on-six offense is extremely difficult. The team’s real advantage lies in speed, agility and flexibility. By swimming more, creating chaos in passing lanes and attacking before defenses are set, Japan can compete with physically stronger opponents. This philosophy requires tremendous fitness, discipline and collective understanding, but it allows Japan to stay competitive at the highest level.

Over time, the system has continued to evolve. While press defense remains the base, Yoshinori now emphasizes the importance of being more tactically flexible. Against different opponents – such as Hungary, the USA or European teams with strong center play – Japan must be able to adjust. Zone defense, hybrid systems and situational tactics are now part of the playbook.
A key message of the episode is adaptation. Yoshinori stresses that you cannot play someone else’s game if you do not have the same player material. Coaches must be honest about their squad’s characteristics and design a system that maximizes existing strengths instead of exposing weaknesses.

The conversation also touches on Yoshinori’s personal coaching journey. After more than ten years as a Japanese national team player, he pursued academic studies in coaching, worked at Nippon Sport Science University, and later spent time in the United States with the US national teams. Working alongside coaches like Dejan Udovičić influenced his approach, particularly in the area of leg training and physical preparation.

Yoshinori highlights that leg strength is not only crucial for goalkeepers, but for all field players in modern water polo. While swimming speed is important, verticality, stability and explosiveness are decisive factors in today’s game – an area where Japan continues to invest heavily.

Looking ahead, the episode addresses Japan’s busy international calendar. With World Championships in Fukuoka, Asian Games as Olympic qualification, and further global tournaments ahead, Yoshinori sees the packed schedule as a major advantage. Without a professional domestic league, Japanese players are “hungry for games” and benefit greatly from every international match.

This episode offers a clear, honest and insightful look at how modern water polo systems must be built around identity, realism and adaptation – and why Japan’s path may offer valuable lessons for many other nations.