Key facts
- Japan's table tennis, basketball, and volleyball leagues are expanding their reach across Asia.
- The leagues are using star players from overseas to attract international fans.
- Volleyball World has partnered with Japan's SV.LEAGUE to broadcast matches globally on VBTV.
- The SV.LEAGUE aims to become the world's top volleyball league by 2030.
- Asian basketball leagues, including Japan's B.League, are experiencing significant growth.
Japan's professional table tennis, basketball, and volleyball leagues are increasingly staging events across Asia to enhance their international presence. This strategy capitalizes on the popularity of overseas star players to draw in wider fan bases from countries like Taiwan, the Philippines, and Thailand.
In a significant development for volleyball, Volleyball World has entered into a multi-year strategic partnership with Japan's SV.LEAGUE. This collaboration will see Volleyball World's Over-The-Top (OTT) platform, VBTV, serve as the international home for SV.LEAGUE matches and exclusive content. The goal is to provide global fans with unprecedented access and to spotlight the league's international stars. The SV.LEAGUE has set an ambitious target to become the world's top volleyball league by 2030, with Volleyball World's marketing expertise expected to be crucial in achieving this vision. Starting from the 2025-2026 season, regions including Indonesia, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan will gain access to SV.LEAGUE content via VBTV.
Meanwhile, Asian basketball is undergoing a period of rapid growth, with Japan's B.League, South Korea's KBL, and China's CBA emerging as significant forces. The B.League, established in 2016 to unify Japanese basketball, has become a notable success story, characterized by strong attendance, polished marketing, and modern arenas. Its playing style emphasizes a fast tempo, clean spacing, and strong perimeter shooting, attracting imports who fit these skill-first systems. The league's global visibility has increased following the national team's recent successes. The SV.League, launched in autumn 2024, represents a new competitive platform for professional men's and women's volleyball teams in Japan, with aspirations to reach global prominence.