Ai Kurogo (黒後愛) has announced her move to AEK Athens in the Greek league on a one-season contract. At a press conference, she spoke passionately about developing in a new environment as she targets a return to the Japan national team.
Ai Kurogo (黒後愛), who plays for Japan’s women’s volleyball team, announced on the 24th in Ageo, Saitama, that she will move to AEK Athens and held a press conference. She said she was “very excited” about taking on her first challenge overseas.
Her new club is AEK Athens in the Greek league, and the contract is for one season. She said she made the decision based on the connections she formed and the timing, after receiving offers from teams in several countries.
Ahead of her overseas challenge, Kurogo said she was determined to improve her scoring ability. She also said she wanted to approach positively the possibility of “whatever accidents may happen” during her first experience living abroad and an environment where “what is normal may no longer be normal.” She revealed that Koyomi Iwasaki (岩崎こよみ), a senior teammate from her time at Saitama Ageo, advised her that she “should stay longer.”
Kurogo again expressed her desire to play for Japan, saying she wanted to fight alongside the team, and tearfully conveyed her gratitude to those who supported her during her time at Saitama Ageo. Born in 1998, Kurogo is 28 and has represented Japan at the Tokyo Olympics.