The Oriental Witches: Japan’s 1964 Volleyball Golden Team
The Oriental Witches: Japan’s 1964 Volleyball Golden Team
The team that won the first Olympic women’s volleyball gold in 1964 and captivated a nation. Here is the story of the Oriental Witches.
The “Oriental Witches” were Japan’s women’s volleyball team that won gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics — the first Olympic women’s volleyball champions. Drilled by the famously ferocious coach Hirofumi Daimatsu and riding a 175-match winning streak, their straight-sets final win became one of the defining moments of post-war Japan.
1. Gold in Tokyo
The first champions.
On 23 October 1964, Japan beat the Soviet Union 3–0 at Komazawa to win the first-ever Olympic women’s volleyball gold, led by captain Masae Kasai.1
2. Demon Daimatsu
A legendary, brutal regime.
Coach Hirofumi Daimatsu — nicknamed “Demon Daimatsu” — drove the team through notoriously punishing training and innovations like the rolling receive, building a 175-match winning streak before the Games.1
3. A national moment
A country watching as one.
An estimated 80% of Japan watched the final on television — still among the most-watched broadcasts in Japanese history.1
4. Why they matter
A symbol of a nation reborn.
The Witches became a symbol of post-war Japan rising to the world stage, and the foundation of the country’s deep volleyball tradition carried on by stars like Saori Kimura.
Frequently asked questions
Who were the Oriental Witches?
Japan’s women’s volleyball team that won gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the first Olympic women’s volleyball champions.
Who coached them?
Hirofumi Daimatsu, nicknamed “Demon Daimatsu” for his punishing training.
How big was their impact?
Around 80% of Japan watched the final — one of the most-watched broadcasts in Japanese history.
Keep exploring
Explore the stories, systems and culture behind Japanese sport.
Sources & notes
- 1964 Tokyo women’s volleyball gold (first Olympic champions), beat USSR 3–0 on 23 Oct 1964, captain Masae Kasai; coach Hirofumi “Demon” Daimatsu; 175-match winning streak; ~80% TV audience. Wikipedia; Olympics.com.
A guide dated 22 June 2026. No copyrighted material is reproduced.
📅 更新履歴
| 日付 | 変更内容 |
|---|---|
| 2026年6月22日 | 初回公開 |
✅ ファクト再検証
最終検証日：2026年6月22日
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