Nakamoto 6th in men's marathon

Nakamoto 6th in men's marathon

LONDON, Britain - Japan's Kentaro Nakamoto crosses the finish line in the 2012 London Olympics men's marathon, clocking 2 hours, 11 minutes and 16 seconds, for 6th place on Aug. 12, 2012. Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich won the gold medal with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 1 second. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

Japan picks Olympic marathon team

Japan picks Olympic marathon team

KITAKYUSHU, Japan - Kentaro Nakamoto holds a press conference in Kitakyushu, southwestern Japan, on March 12, 2012, after Japan named him and five other athletes to its marathon team for the London Olympics.

Japan picks Olympic marathon team

Japan picks Olympic marathon team

KITAKYUSHU, Japan - Kentaro Nakamoto holds a press conference in Kitakyushu, southwestern Japan, on March 12, 2012, after Japan named him and five other athletes to its marathon team for the London Olympics. (Kyodo)

Athletics: Japanese marathon runners for world c'ships in London

Athletics: Japanese marathon runners for world c'ships in London

Japanese marathon runners for the world championships in London in August 2017 pose for a photo in Tokyo on March 20: (from L) Kentaro Nakamoto, Yuki Kawauchi, Hiroto Inoue, Yuka Ando, Risa Shigetomo and Mao Kiyota. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Athletics: Nakamoto wins Oita-Beppu Marathon

Athletics: Nakamoto wins Oita-Beppu Marathon

Kentaro Nakamoto crosses the finish line to win the Beppu-Oita Marathon in Oita, Japan, on Feb. 5, 2017, a race that doubled as a qualifier for the country's team for the world athletics championships in London in August. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Athletics: Nakamoto wins Oita-Beppu Marathon

Athletics: Nakamoto wins Oita-Beppu Marathon

Kentaro Nakamoto poses with his time as he celebrates winning the Beppu-Oita Marathon in Oita, Japan, on Feb. 5, 2017, a race that doubled as a qualifier for the country's team for the world athletics championships in London in August. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo