Japan members pose before 1st Asian Cup match

Japan members pose before 1st Asian Cup match

NEWCASTLE, Australia - The 11 starting members of Japan's national soccer team pose ahead of their first Asian Cup match in Newcastle, Australia, on Jan. 12, 2015. In the front row are (from L) midfielder Makoto Hasebe, forward Shinji Okazaki, midfielder Yasuhito Endo, defenders Gotoku Sakai and Yuto Nagatomo, and forward Takashi Inui. In the back row are (from L) goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, defenders Maya Yoshida and Masato Morishige, and forwards Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda.

Japan vs. Ivory Coast

Japan vs. Ivory Coast

RECIFE, Brazil - Members of the Japan soccer national team pose for a photo before a World Cup Group C match against Ivory Coast at Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, on June 14, 2014. They are (front row, from L) Makoto Hasebe, Yuto Nagatomo, Atsuto Uchida, Hotaru Yamaguchi, Shinji Okazaki and Shinji Kagawa, and (back row, from L) Yuya Osako, Masato Morishige, Maya Yoshida, goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and Keisuke Honda. Ivory Coast won 2-1.

Japan draw with Uzbeks

Japan draw with Uzbeks

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - Japan's national soccer team members including defender Yuichi Komano (far R) and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima (2nd from R) concede the opening goal to Uzbekistan in the eighth minute of a game in the third-round qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 6, 2011. Shinji Okazaki scored an equalizer in the 65th minute of the game, which ended 1-1.

Japan wins in equestrian team jumping

Japan wins in equestrian team jumping

PUSAN, South Korea - Japan wins in the equestrian team jumping in the Asian Games in Pusan on Oct. 12. (From L to R) Kenji Morimoto, Osamu Komiyama, Tadayoshi Hayashi and Eiji Okazaki. (Asian Games)

Japan draw with Uzbeks

Japan draw with Uzbeks

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - Japan's national soccer team members including defender Yuichi Komano (far R) and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima (2nd from R) concede the opening goal to Uzbekistan in the eighth minute of a game in the third-round qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 6, 2011. Shinji Okazaki scored an equalizer in the 65th minute of the game, which ended 1-1. (Kyodo)