The Life and Legacy of Kasai Masae: the Mother of Japanese Volleyball

Nakamura (nee: Kasai) Masae (July 14, 1933 – October 3, 2013) was Captain of the Japanese women’s volleyball team, popularly nicknamed the “Oriental Witches” (Tōyō no Majo) that won the Gold Medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. This victory propelled Kasai into the Japanese media spotlight and she spent the remainder of her life actively promoting the sport. Kasai was an instrumental figure in the emergence of volleyball as a popular sport for women of all age groups across Japan. Following an interview I did with her in May 2012, Kasai sadly and unexpectedly passed away in October 2013. This article reflects on her remarkable life, her commitment to the sport of volleyball, and her legacy as one of Japan’s most famous sporting personalities to date