"Income Has Dropped Significantly": Yuichi Nakagaichi, Renowned Former Coach of Japan's Volleyball Team, Chooses the Path of a Rice Farmer Before Turning 60. "I'm a Person of the Past"—The Life of a Volleyball Legend Unattached to Past Glory
ABEMA Entame's exclusive documentary segment 'NO MAKE' featured Yuichi Nakagaichi, former coach of the Japan men's national volleyball team. After stepping down following the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he returned to his hometown in Fukui Prefecture to become a rice farmer. The free broadcast showcases his current life, his forward-looking mindset free from past glory, and his heartwarming interactions with former players.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 19, 2026 at 02:32
- 🔍 Collected: May 18, 2026 at 18:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 18, 2026 at 21:45 (3h 43m after Collected)
The new future television network 'ABEMA' broadcasts 'ABEMA Entame,' a news program delivering carefully selected entertainment information on the 'ABEMA NEWS Channel.'
Recently, 'NO MAKE,' an exclusive documentary segment within 'ABEMA Entame,' closely followed Yuichi Nakagaichi, the former player and head coach of the Japan men's national volleyball team. This documentary is currently available to stream for free in its entirety on ABEMA.
■ "Income Has Dropped Significantly": Yuichi Nakagaichi, Renowned Former Coach of Japan's Volleyball Team, Chooses the Path of a Rice Farmer Before Turning 60
Nakagaichi, who once shined as the absolute ace of the Japan national volleyball team, led the team to the top 8 for the first time in 29 years as the head coach at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. In 2022, after retiring as coach, he returned to his hometown in Fukui Prefecture to take over his family's farm. Regarding his transition to becoming a rice farmer, Nakagaichi explained that it was a decision made with the rest of his life in mind: "You can only stay in a company past the age of 50 for about 15 years at most. When I thought about what I could do without a title, I wanted to acquire a skill and work steadily. If I dive in as soon as possible, I should be able to achieve something decent."
Nakagaichi works on a vast rice field that is "about the same area as Enoshima, or roughly 2,200 volleyball courts," striving to grow specially cultivated rice without using any chemical fertilizers and with reduced pesticides. When asked about his income, he clearly stated, "My income has dropped significantly, but that wasn't the goal, and I knew that from the beginning. If I hated it, I just wouldn't do it." He spoke straight about his goal to become a rice-farming 'professional' before turning 60, adding, "Stories from the past don't matter, and past successes or failures are irrelevant. What matters is right now and the future."
■ Immense Popularity Yet Feeling "I'm a Person of the Past": The Life of a Volleyball Legend Unattached to Past Glory
During his playing days, Nakagaichi boasted immense popularity due to his tall 194cm stature and handsome looks. Reflecting calmly on his past self, he said, "I always had a part of me taking a step back in my mind. Just because I was decent at volleyball didn't mean my value as a human being was particularly high. The popularity, like people screaming for me, was just created by the media. I always downplayed it, thinking it wasn't a big deal." Looking back on his volleyball career, he noted, "I think I was allowed to go as far as I could to some extent, and I have no regrets." Showing his grace in not clinging to past glory, he stated, "I don't intend to hold on to it forever. I'm a person of the past, someone outdated. People like that should hand things over to the younger generation."
■ Watching Over Former Players Like an "Uncle": Considering Sending Rice to Yuji Nishida
When the topic shifted to the current national team and players, Nakagaichi smiled, saying, "I don't look at them with the same eyes as before. I'm more like a fan, looking at them with the feelings of a relative's uncle." He expressed absolute trust in players like Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi, noting, "They basically don't need a coach, so I didn't give them any particular instructions." He also praised the talent of Yuji Nishida, stating, "I might have given him some technical guidance at first, but he absorbs things rapidly. Nishida is just that kind of player." He revealed that he still keeps in touch with Nishida, sharing a heartwarming relationship: "Sometimes I send him rice. Nishida tells me to 'send rice,' so I might send him some when his league finishes."
The documentary detailing the second life chosen by the volleyball legend and his dedication to agriculture is currently available to watch for free on ABEMA.
■ 'ABEMA Entame' Broadcast Overview
An information program introducing carefully selected latest entertainment news. It delivers daily hot topics, breaking news, and celebrity SNS news, as well as exclusive interviews that delve into the charm and true faces of trending figures.
Broadcast Time: Every Monday to Friday at 11:00 PM
Broadcast Channel: ABEMA NEWS Channel
Recently, 'NO MAKE,' an exclusive documentary segment within 'ABEMA Entame,' closely followed Yuichi Nakagaichi, the former player and head coach of the Japan men's national volleyball team. This documentary is currently available to stream for free in its entirety on ABEMA.
■ "Income Has Dropped Significantly": Yuichi Nakagaichi, Renowned Former Coach of Japan's Volleyball Team, Chooses the Path of a Rice Farmer Before Turning 60
Nakagaichi, who once shined as the absolute ace of the Japan national volleyball team, led the team to the top 8 for the first time in 29 years as the head coach at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. In 2022, after retiring as coach, he returned to his hometown in Fukui Prefecture to take over his family's farm. Regarding his transition to becoming a rice farmer, Nakagaichi explained that it was a decision made with the rest of his life in mind: "You can only stay in a company past the age of 50 for about 15 years at most. When I thought about what I could do without a title, I wanted to acquire a skill and work steadily. If I dive in as soon as possible, I should be able to achieve something decent."
Nakagaichi works on a vast rice field that is "about the same area as Enoshima, or roughly 2,200 volleyball courts," striving to grow specially cultivated rice without using any chemical fertilizers and with reduced pesticides. When asked about his income, he clearly stated, "My income has dropped significantly, but that wasn't the goal, and I knew that from the beginning. If I hated it, I just wouldn't do it." He spoke straight about his goal to become a rice-farming 'professional' before turning 60, adding, "Stories from the past don't matter, and past successes or failures are irrelevant. What matters is right now and the future."
■ Immense Popularity Yet Feeling "I'm a Person of the Past": The Life of a Volleyball Legend Unattached to Past Glory
During his playing days, Nakagaichi boasted immense popularity due to his tall 194cm stature and handsome looks. Reflecting calmly on his past self, he said, "I always had a part of me taking a step back in my mind. Just because I was decent at volleyball didn't mean my value as a human being was particularly high. The popularity, like people screaming for me, was just created by the media. I always downplayed it, thinking it wasn't a big deal." Looking back on his volleyball career, he noted, "I think I was allowed to go as far as I could to some extent, and I have no regrets." Showing his grace in not clinging to past glory, he stated, "I don't intend to hold on to it forever. I'm a person of the past, someone outdated. People like that should hand things over to the younger generation."
■ Watching Over Former Players Like an "Uncle": Considering Sending Rice to Yuji Nishida
When the topic shifted to the current national team and players, Nakagaichi smiled, saying, "I don't look at them with the same eyes as before. I'm more like a fan, looking at them with the feelings of a relative's uncle." He expressed absolute trust in players like Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi, noting, "They basically don't need a coach, so I didn't give them any particular instructions." He also praised the talent of Yuji Nishida, stating, "I might have given him some technical guidance at first, but he absorbs things rapidly. Nishida is just that kind of player." He revealed that he still keeps in touch with Nishida, sharing a heartwarming relationship: "Sometimes I send him rice. Nishida tells me to 'send rice,' so I might send him some when his league finishes."
The documentary detailing the second life chosen by the volleyball legend and his dedication to agriculture is currently available to watch for free on ABEMA.
■ 'ABEMA Entame' Broadcast Overview
An information program introducing carefully selected latest entertainment news. It delivers daily hot topics, breaking news, and celebrity SNS news, as well as exclusive interviews that delve into the charm and true faces of trending figures.
Broadcast Time: Every Monday to Friday at 11:00 PM
Broadcast Channel: ABEMA NEWS Channel
FAQ
What is Yuichi Nakagaichi doing now and where is he?
He has returned to his hometown in Fukui Prefecture to take over his family's farm, living as a rice farmer cultivating special rice.
How can I watch the documentary about Nakagaichi?
It is streaming entirely for free on ABEMA's news program 'ABEMA Entame' under the segment 'NO MAKE.'
How large is Nakagaichi's farm?
It is vast, roughly the size of Enoshima, which equates to about 2,200 volleyball courts.