(1)Japan gets best finishes in relays

(1)Japan gets best finishes in relays

ATHENS, Greece - Four Japanese sprinters, (from L to R) Hiroyasu Tsuchie, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahara and Nobuharu Asahara, smile after missing out on the podium with the best-ever fourth-place finish in the men's 4x100-meter relay at Olympic Stadium on Aug. 28. They finished in 38.49 behind Britain, the United States and Nigeria.

Japanese team advances to 4x100-meter relay

Japanese team advances to 4x100-meter relay

ATHENS, Greece - The Japanese team of (from L to R) Shinji Takahira, Shingo Suetsugu, Nobuharu Asahara and Hiroyasu Tsuchie celebrates after producing a combined time of 38.53 seconds in the men's 4x100-meter relay to squeeze into the eight-team final at the Olympic Stadium in Athens on Aug. 27.

Countdown event toward Tokyo Olympics held in Tokyo

Countdown event toward Tokyo Olympics held in Tokyo

Nobuharu Asahara (L), a bronze medalist in the men's 4 x 100 meters relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, speaks to reporters ahead of the "5 Years to Go" countdown event toward the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games at a Tokyo park on July 24, 2015. Also in attendance are other former or active track and field athletes (from 2nd L to R) -- Satoru Inoue, Hitoshi Saito, Shinji Takahira, and Hiroyasu Tsuchie. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

(1)Japan gets best finishes in relays

(1)Japan gets best finishes in relays

ATHENS, Greece - Four Japanese sprinters, (from L to R) Hiroyasu Tsuchie, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahara and Nobuharu Asahara, smile after missing out on the podium with the best-ever fourth-place finish in the men's 4x100-meter relay at Olympic Stadium on Aug. 28. They finished in 38.49 behind Britain, the United States and Nigeria. (Kyodo)