Japan won the first Olympic women's volleyball tournament at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The Japanese team defeated the Soviet Union in the final and became the inaugural Olympic champion in women's volleyball.
Volleyball had appeared as a demonstration sport at earlier Olympics, but Tokyo 1964 marked its official Olympic debut as a medal sport. Both men's and women's tournaments were held, reflecting the sport's rapid international growth after its creation in the United States.
Japan's women's team was coached by Hirofumi Daimatsu, whose demanding training methods helped produce a disciplined defensive style. The team was widely known as the “Oriental Witches,” a nickname that became prominent in international coverage.
The Soviet Union won the women's silver medal, while Poland took bronze. Volleyball has remained on the Summer Olympic program ever since its official introduction at Tokyo.