Lausanne, Switzerland, June 19, 2018 - China host Japan Friday in Jiangmen, as the two sides go head-to-head for the 45th time in an Asian classic at a world competition, when they meet for the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League. Japan are theoretically still in the race for a ticket the Final Six, though it does remain a long shot. Japan lead their series with China at world level 27-17.
Head-to-Head
• China and Japan have played 44 world level major competition matches against each other, with Japan winning 27 and China 17.
• World level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• China have won 10 of their last 16 world level major competition matches against Japan, including the last two.
• China could beat Japan three times in a row for the second time ever, after four straight in 1996-1997.
• On home soil, China have won four of their five world level major competition matches against Japan.
China
• China have two wins and 10 defeats in the 2018 VNL.
• China have lost six matches in a row at world level for the first time since 16 consecutive defeats in 2010-2011. The last of those defeats was a 3-0 against Japan.
• Since the start of the 2016 World League, China have played nine world level major competition matches in their home country. They won six of those nine, including two against Japan.
• China have suffered six straight-set defeats in the 2018 VNL. The last time they had more 3-0 defeats in a single world level major competition was during the 2006 World League (9).
• Jiang Chuan is the 2018 VNL top scorer on 217 points. He has the second-best spike rate in the competition (56.1%), trailing only Russia's Dmitriy Muserskiy (67.3%).
Japan
• Japan have won six matches at the VNL and lost six.
• Japan have played the most sets of all 2018 VNL teams with 49 (Italy also 49).
• Japan have claimed four of their wins in five sets. They could win five five-setters at a single major world level tournament for the first time. They also had four in the 1966 World Championship and the 1993 World League.
• Japan's last four defeats in the 2018 VNL came in straight sets. The last world level tournament in which they suffered at least five defeats in straight sets, was the 2015 World League (5).
• Tatsuya Fukuzawa is the second-most secure receiver in the 2018 VNL, with a 22.8% success rate. Fukuzawa only trails Poland's Pawel Zatorski (27%).