Nootsara Tomkom, legend of the 7 Masters, compares the differences between the Japanese Volleyball League and the Thailand League.
On 13 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Nootsara Tomkom, a world-class setter from the 7 Masters era, who has now become a superstar among Japanese volleyball fans,
recently appeared on the INSIDE SV.LEAGUE 2025-26 ep.4 program. She noted that Japan has many highly skilled setters compared to Thailand. Japan’s setting style is precise and fast. Early in her career, she admired Yoshie Takeshita for being small but an excellent setter, inspiring her to emulate that style.
Regarding differences in setter styles between Japan and Thailand, Nootsara said the overall playing styles are not vastly different but have distinct attacking details. The Japanese league emphasizes attacks from the middle hitter. Setters frequently feed the middle attacker and tend to have less fast-paced ball acceleration.
In contrast, Thailand focuses on a mixed playing style, so the setter’s ball distribution is more varied and spread out.
She also shared her experience playing in the Japanese league and spoke about differences between professional volleyball leagues in Thailand and Japan, saying, “The SV.League is highly professional, with organizers doing an excellent job. Fans really enjoy it because matches occur on the same day simultaneously across several courts. The schedule is quite fixed, which is a strong point and gives teams time to prepare. In Thailand, it varies, but the schedule often shifts and is not firmly set.”