Ishikawa was named as the "Best outside spiker" at the FIVB World Cup (2015, 2019), FIVB Nations League (2023, 2024), and Asian Championship (2017, 2019, 2021), as well as the "Most valuable player" at the Asian Championship (2017, 2023).
Ishikawa is the first volleyball player to have a wax figure in Japan.[1] Currently, his wax figure is displayed at Madame Tussauds Tokyo.[2]
Personal life
Ishikawa's father, Mikihisa, is a former track and field sprinter of DENSO. His mother, Midori, is a former basketball player of DENSO. His elder sister, Naomi, is a former volleyball player and his sister, Mayu, is a member of the Japan women's national volleyball team.[3]
In the 2014–2015 season, Ishikawa played for the Italian team Parmareggio Modena about 3 months after the end of the All Japan Intercollegiate Volleyball Championship.[5] According to an official of the Japan Association, he was the first student to challenge an overseas league through university, and was also the first university freshman to play volleyball in the SuperLega.[6] In the 2015–2016 season, he returned to Japan to continue playing for Chuo University's club. In December 2016, he transferred to Italy again, played for Top Volley Latina[7] until 2018.[8] During this time, he was an exchange student while actually still playing for his university.
After graduating from university in March 2018, Ishikawa signed his first professional contract with the Italian team Emma Villas Siena (The club was ranked up to the SuperLega in 2018–2019 season).[9] He moved to Kioene Padova in the next season.[10] He changed club again in 2020, to Allianz Milano.[11] Then, he extended his contract in the 2021–2022 season,[12] continued to stay with the club for the 2022–2023 season,[13] and re-signed for the fourth time for the next season.[14] In the 10th season, he joined Sir Safety Perugia.[15]
In September 2015, Ishikawa participated in the 2015 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup in Japan for the first time. The Japanese team finished in 6th place but he still won the first "Best outside spiker" award of FIVB's tournament as a member of the senior national team.
In July 2017, Ishikawa participated in the 2017 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship in Gresik, Indonesia for the first time because he was not called to the tournament in 2015. The Japanese team won the gold medal, and he also won the first "Most valuable player, Best Outside Spiker" double award of AVC's tournament as a member of the senior national team.
In July 2023, Ishikawa and the Japanese team won bronze medal at the 2023 FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League with a set count 3–2 against the Italy team.[27] He also won the "Best outside spiker" award as a captain of the senior national team.[28] In August 2023, he led the team to win the 10th gold medal at the 2023 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship, and won the "Most Valuable Player" award as a captain of the senior national team.[29]
Highlights
Ishikawa was selected as a member of "Team CORE" of『Project CORE』in June 2014.[30]
『Project CORE』was a project launched by the JVA with the aimed to "revitalize volleyball, deliver courage and excitement" to the people of Japan toward 2020 as well as the future beyond.[30]
Ishikawa was selected as a member of「TEAM JAPAN symbol athletes」in June 2022.[31]
「TEAM JAPAN symbol athletes」are athletes the representative of TEAM JAPAN and certified by the JOC as the symbol of "athletes that everyone admires". Their mission is to actively cooperates with the JOC's Olympic Movement promotion projects and marketing activities, and plays a role in conveying the value of sports to society.[32]
Commercial value
Ishikawa signed an advisory contract with Japanese sportswear brand『DESCENTE』and『SKINS』of Descente Ltd. in April 2018.[33] Then, he signed a support contract for amino acid brand「VAAM」of Meiji Co., Ltd. in September of the same year.[34]
According to an Italian sports newspaper published in 2022, the President of Allianz Milano, Lucio Fusaro revealed that more than 60 season tickets were purchased from Ishikawa's fans in Japan and Thailand to support the team despite the fact that they could not go to Italy to watch the games live.[35]
Ishikawa signed an advisory contract with Japanese necklace brand「Colantotte」of Colantotte Co., Ltd. in October 2022.[36]
Ishikawa signed an ambassador contract with the Italian medical bedding brand「Fabe」in July 2023.[37]
In December 2020, Ishikawa was positive for COVID-19 when he was playing volleyball in Italy.[40] He recovered after nearly 20 days of home treatment. However, his taste and smell were still experiencing abnormal symptoms.[41]