Kunihiro Shimizu

In this Japanese name, the surname is Shimizu.

Kunihiro Shimizu (清水邦広 Shimizu Kunihiro, born August 11, 1986) is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for Panasonic Panthers. He announced retirement from the national team after finishing seventh place in 2020 Summer Olympics.^[5] Shimizu was crowned the Most Valuable Player in Asian Championship 2015.

Kunihiro Shimizu
Personal information
Full name	Kunihiro Shimizu
Nickname	Gori [1]
Born	(1986-08-11) August 11, 1986 (age 38)[1] Fukui City, Fukui, Japan[1]
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Weight	97 kg (214 lb)[3]
Spike	345 cm (136 in)[4]
Block	330 cm (130 in)
Volleyball information
Position	Opposite[1]
Current club	Panasonic Panthers
Number	1
National team
2007–2021  Japan
Medal record Men's volleyball Representing  Japan World Grand Champions Cup Osaka/Nagoya 2009 Team Asian Games 2010 Guangzhou Team 2014 Incheon Team Asian Championship 2009 Manila Team 2015 Tehran Team 2017 Gresik Team 2019 Tehran Team

Clubs

• Fukui University Fukui Junior and Senior High School
• Tokai University (2005–2009)
• Panasonic Panthers (2009–)

Awards

Individuals

• 2009: 58th Kurowashi Tournament – MVP, Best 6
• 2009: World Grand Champions Cup – Best Scorer
• 2009: 2009/10 V.Premier League – MVP, Best Spike, Best 6
• 2010 Kurowashiki Tournament Best6
• 2010–2011 Men's V.Premier League – Best 6
• 2011–2012 Men's V.Premier League – Best 6
• 2013–14 Men's V.Premier League MVP, Best 6
• 2014: 63rd Kurowashi Tournament – Most Valuable Player
• 2015: Asian Championship – Most Valuable Player
• 2015–2016 Men's V.Premier League Fighting Spirit Award, Best 6

Team

• 2009 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship – Champion, with Panasonic Panthers.
• 2009–2010 V.Premier League – Champion, with Panasonic Panthers.
• 2010 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship – Champion, with Panasonic Panthers.
• 2011–2012 V.Premier League – Champion, with Panasonic Panthers.
• 2012 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship – Champion, with Panasonic Panthers.
• 2012–2013 V.Premier League – Runner-Up, with Panasonic Panthers.
• 2013 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship – Runner-Up, with Panasonic Panthers.
• 2013–2014 V.Premier League – Champion, with Panasonic Panthers.
• 2014 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship – Champion, with Panasonic Panthers.

National team

Senior Team

• 2007: World Cup – 9th place
• 2007: World League – 13th place
• 2008: Summer Olympics – 11th place
• 2008: World League – 6th place
• 2009: World League – 15th place
• 2009: Asian Championship – Gold Medal
• 2009: World Grand Champions Cup – Bronze Medal
• 2010: Asian Games – Gold Medal
• 2011: World League – 15th place
• 2011: World Cup – 10th place
• 2012: World League – 15th place
• 2013: Asian Championship – 4th place
• 2013: World League – 18th place
• 2014: World League – 19th place
• 2014: Asian Games – Silver Medal
• 2015: Asian Championship – Gold Medal
• 2015: World Cup — 6th place
• 2015: World League — 13th place (tied)
• 2016: World League — 24th place
• 2019: Nations League — 10th place
• 2019: World Cup — 4th place
• 2019: Asian Championship — Bronze Medal
• 2021: Nations League — 11th place
• 2021: Summer Olympics — 7th place

Personal life

Shimizu married singer Mika Nakashima in 2014.^[6] On February 2, 2018, Nakashima announced that she and Shimizu were getting a divorce.^[7][8] The decision was mutual, as they both agreed that they don't see each other enough and that it would be best to divorce. They both agreed that the time they spent together was irreplaceable. There are no hard feelings and they will remain friends and continue to support each other and pursue their dreams.

In January 2022, he married TV Osaka reporter, Nana Sakamoto, who is 7 years his junior.^[9][10] He and his wife welcomed their first child, a daughter, born on September 3, 2022.^[11]

References

1. 『2011/12 V・PREMIER/V・CHALLENGE LEAGUE MEN OFFICIAL PROGRAM』2011年12月発売
2. V-League official profile
3. V-League official profile
4. スポーツナビ その他 バレーボール 選手プロフィール Archived January 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine、2011年7月18日閲覧
5. "【バレー】清水邦広が代表引退「次の代表の未来は 若い選手に託します！ 凄く頼もしい選手ばかりです！」" (in Japanese). news.yahoo.co.jp. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
6. "中島美嘉がクリスマス結婚 – 芸能ニュース". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved November 5, 2022.
7. nikkansports.com. "中島美嘉がクリスマス結婚". Retrieved December 25, 2014.
8. "中島美嘉、元バレー日本代表・清水と離婚…東京と大阪拠点「心の距離まで離れ」 – スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Retrieved November 5, 2022.
9. "バレー元日本代表主将・清水邦広、再婚相手は「一緒にいて居心地がいい」という女子アナ。良きパートナーを得て"伝道師"として邁進" (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
10. "バレー清水邦広、再婚を報告 「笑顔の絶えない明るい家庭を築く」と決意新た". ORICON NEWS. January 11, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
11. "バレー清水邦広、第1子女児誕生を報告「感謝でいっぱいです」「これからもっとがんばりまっせ!!!」". ORICON NEWS. September 3, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.

External links

• Kunihiro Shimizu on Twitter
• Kunihiro Shimizu at V.League (archived) (in Japanese)
• Kunihiro Shimizu at V.League (archived) (in Japanese)
• Kunihiro Shimizu at V.League (archived) (in Japanese)
• Kunihiro Shimizu at WorldofVolley
• Kunihiro Shimizu at Olympedia
• Panasonic Panthers Player Profiles at the Wayback Machine (archived 2010-03-23)
• バレー元日本代表主将・清水邦広、再婚相手は「一緒にいて居心地がいい」という女子アナ。良きパートナーを得て“伝道師”として邁進 at Yahoo! Japan