Taka Minowa resigns as Akari coach following a successful run in the PVL

The Akari Chargers have been dealt a major blow as their star head coach, Taka Minowa, has stepped down from his role after spending three years in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) and leading the franchise to its most successful stretch in the league.

The husband of Philippine volleyball star Jaja Santiago, Minowa announced his decision on the social networking platform Instagram, while also wishing the Chargers all the best for the future.

“As I now step away from this role, I want to express my deepest gratitude: To the coaching staff, who worked with relentless commitment — you guys are like family to me. I was only able to do my work here because of your constant support. To the players, who gave their best every single day — thank you for all your sacrifices and your patience. To the social media team — you gave me a completely new experience and brought me the joy of sharing volleyball in a different way,” Minowa wrote in his post.

Once a Charger, always a Charger. 💖⚡️

We have to say goodbye to this important member of our Akari family, but he will always be an important part of our journey thus far. 💌 pic.twitter.com/yq4XYRAVGe

— Akari Chargers (@AkariChargers) June 1, 2025

“And to the PVL and the fans — your unwavering support and warmth truly made a difference. Even the most successful team in the PVL started with back-to-back podium finishes before finally becoming champions, and that’s exactly where this team now stands. The foundation has been laid. The belief is real. And the future is bright. Go for gold. I would be truly grateful if I’ve been able to make even a small positive impact or provide some inspiration to the team and to Philippine volleyball. It was an honor to work in my wife’s home country,” he added.

Minowa began his stint in the PVL in 2023 as the coach of the Nxled Chameleons, before being appointed as the Director of Volleyball Operations for both Nxled and Akari. He then took the reins of Akari starting with the 2024 Reinforced Conference. He led Akari to the finals in his first full conference with them — the best-ever finish in the Chargers’ history. The Japanese tactician followed that up with a bronze-medal finish in the 2025 All-Filipino Conference, giving Akari back-to-back podium finishes.

The Akari management also paid tribute to Minowa in a post on social media, stating:

“Once a Charger, always a Charger. We have to say goodbye to this important member of our Akari family, but he will always be an important part of our journey thus far. Thank you, Coach Taka, for your cool yet compassionate leadership and never-ending commitment to making our talents bloom. You led our team to our best finish in PVL history, and that will always stay with us.

“We have nothing but gratitude and well-wishes in our hearts for the next chapter of your journey. Arigatou. Thank you. Maraming salamat.”

It remains uncertain what Minowa plans to do next, while Akari have yet to reveal their new head coach for the upcoming PVL conference.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.