Japan beat Brazil in a five-set semifinal victory over Brazil in Bangkok on Saturday and will meet Italy in the final of the FIVB's women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2024 finals.
Brazil returned from a set down twice to force a decider, and tied to fifth set at 9-9 after trailing 7-1. But Japan's staunch defense kept them ahead to win 26-24, 20-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-12.
Japan's opposite Yukiko Wada led her team to victory with a game-high 21 points.
In the other semifinal, Italy strolled past Poland in straight sets for the second appearance in the VNL final after winning gold in 2022.