Cerezo Osaka, Buriram United play to 2-2 draw

Cerezo Osaka, Buriram United play to 2-2 draw

BURIRAM, Thailand - Japan's Cerezo Osaka striker Kenyu Sugimoto shoots during the first half of an Asian Champions League Group E match against Thailand's Buriram United at Buriram Stadium in Buriram, Thailand, on April 2, 2014. The game ended in a 2-2 draw.

Forlan scores 1st J-League goal

Forlan scores 1st J-League goal

KASHIMA, Japan - Uruguay striker Diego Forlan (10) of Cerezo Osaka reacts after scoring his first J-League goal during a soccer game against Kashima Antlers at Kashima Stadium in Ibaraki Prefecture on March 23, 2014. At left is teammate Kenyu Sugimoto. Cerezo won 2-0.

Japan whip Egypt to reach 1st men's soccer semis in 44 years

Japan whip Egypt to reach 1st men's soccer semis in 44 years

MANCHESTER, Britain - Japan's Yuki Otsu (upper L) is held up by teammate Kenyu Sugimoto after beating Egypt 3-0 in a London 2012 Olympic men's soccer quarterfinal at Old Trafford in Manchester on Aug. 4, 2012.

Japan to meet Egypt in q'finals after Honduras draw

Japan to meet Egypt in q'finals after Honduras draw

COVENTRY, England - Japan's Kenyu Sugimoto (R) fights for the ball during the first half of a men's soccer Group D match against Honduras at the City of Coventry Stadium at the 2012 London Olympics on Aug. 1, 2012. Japan and Honduras drew 0-0.

Japan beat Belarus in soccer friendly

Japan beat Belarus in soccer friendly

NOTTINGHAM, Britain - Kenyu Sugimoto (R back) scores in the 82nd minute of a friendly with Belarus in Nottingham, England, on July 18, 2012. Japan beat Belarus 1-0.

Japan beat Belarus in soccer friendly

Japan beat Belarus in soccer friendly

NOTTINGHAM, Britain - Kenyu Sugimoto (R) scores in the 82nd minute of a friendly with Belarus in Nottingham, England, on July 18, 2012. Japan beat Belarus 1-0.

Japan beat Belarus in soccer friendly

Japan beat Belarus in soccer friendly

NOTTINGHAM, Britain - Kenyu Sugimoto (L) scores in the 82nd minute of a friendly with Belarus in Nottingham, England, on July 18, 2012. Japan beat Belarus 1-0.

Japan, Kiwis draw in Olympic sendoff

Japan, Kiwis draw in Olympic sendoff

TOKYO, Japan - Tokyo Verdy striker Kenyu Sugimoto of Japan (9) scores the first goal in the second half of an U-23 international friendly against New Zealand at National Stadium in Tokyo on July 11, 2012. Japan drew 1-1 in the Olympic sendoff match.

Japan, Kiwis draw in Olympic sendoff

Japan, Kiwis draw in Olympic sendoff

TOKYO, Japan - Tokyo Verdy striker Kenyu Sugimoto of Japan (9) scores the first goal in the second half of an U-23 international friendly against New Zealand at National Stadium in Tokyo on July 11, 2012. Japan drew 1-1 in the Olympic sendoff match.

J-League football

J-League football

Vissel Kobe's Andres Iniesta (R) and Urawa Reds' Kenyu Sugimoto vie for the ball during the second half of a J-League football match on Nov. 18, 2020, at Noevir Stadium in Kobe, Japan.

Japan-Ukraine friendly

Japan-Ukraine friendly

The Japan national team players -- (bottom row, L to R) Makoto Hasebe, Gaku Shibasaki, Yuto Nagatomo, Hotaru Yamaguchi, Gotoku Sakai; (upper row) Eiji Kawashima, Genki Haraguchi, Naomichi Ueda, Tomoaki Makino, Kenyu Sugimoto, Keisuke Honda -- pose before a World Cup warm-up against Ukraine in Liege, Belgium, on March 27, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan forward Sugimoto

Japan forward Sugimoto

Japan forward Kenyu Sugimoto (L) dribbles past the goalkeeper during a mini game in Liege, Belgium, on March 24, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan forward Sugimoto

Japan forward Sugimoto

Japan forward Kenyu Sugimoto (L) holds off defender Naomichi Ueda in Liege, Belgium, on March 24, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan forward Sugimoto, coach Halilhodzic

Japan forward Sugimoto, coach Halilhodzic

Japan forward Kenyu Sugimoto receives instructions from coach Vahid Halilhodzic in Liege, Belgium, on March 24, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan forward Sugimoto

Japan forward Sugimoto

Japan forward Kenyu Sugimoto (R) trains with teammate Masato Morishige in Liege, Belgium, on March 24, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Football: Asian Champions League group stage

Football: Asian Champions League group stage

Kenyu Sugimoto (C) of Cerezo Osaka celebrates after scoring in the 88th minute that salvaged a 2-2 draw at home to Thailand's Buriram United in a group-stage match of the Asian Champions League on March 14, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Belgium-Japan friendly

Soccer: Belgium-Japan friendly

Japan's Kenyu Sugimoto shoots during the second half of a soccer friendly against Belgium in Bruges, Belgium, on Nov. 14, 2017. Belgium won 1-0. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan prepare for Brazil friendly

Japan prepare for Brazil friendly

Japan internationals Yuto Nagatomo (L), Kenyu Sugimoto (C) and Genki Haraguchi warm up during practice in Lille, France, on Nov. 7, 2017, ahead of a friendly against Brazil on Nov. 10. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan prepare for Brazil friendly

Japan prepare for Brazil friendly

Japan defender Yuto Nagatomo (C) and Kenyu Sugimoto (R) warm up in practice in Lille, France, on Nov. 7, 2017, ahead of a friendly against Brazil. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Japan prepare for Brazil friendly

Soccer: Japan prepare for Brazil friendly

(From L in front row) Maya Yoshida, Yuto Nagatomo, Kenyu Sugimoto and Tomoaki Makino run during a training session in Lille, France, on Nov. 7, 2017. Japan will play a friendly against Brazil on Nov. 10 in the French city. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan prepare for Brazil friendly

Japan prepare for Brazil friendly

Japan internationals (from L) Kenyu Sugimoto, Hiroki Sakai and Hotaru Yamaguchi train in Lille, France, on Nov. 6, 2017, ahead of a friendly against Brazil on Nov. 10. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan prepare for Brazil friendly

Japan prepare for Brazil friendly

Japan players (from L) Yuto Nagatomo, Masaaki Higashiguchi, Kenyu Sugimoto and Hiroki Sakai train in Lille, France, on Nov. 6, 2017, ahead of a friendly against Brazil on Nov. 10. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Cerezo claim 1st title with League Cup win

Soccer: Cerezo claim 1st title with League Cup win

Kenyu Sugimoto opens the scoring in the first half of Cerezo Osaka's 2-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale in the final of the YBC Levain Cup at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, north of Tokyo, on Nov. 4, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Cerezo claim 1st title with League Cup win

Soccer: Cerezo claim 1st title with League Cup win

Kenyu Sugimoto (L) opens the scoring with a strike that beats goalkeeper Jung Sung Ryong in the first half of Cerezo Osaka's 2-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale in the final of the YBC Levain Cup at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, north of Tokyo, on Nov. 4, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Cerezo claim 1st title with League Cup win

Soccer: Cerezo claim 1st title with League Cup win

Cerezo Osaka celebrate on Nov. 4, 2017, after capturing their first major domestic title with a 2-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale in the final of the YBC Levain Cup at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, north of Tokyo, with Kenyu Sugimoto holding aloft the championship trophy. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Saudi Arabia defeats Japan

Soccer: Saudi Arabia defeats Japan

Japan's Kenyu Sugimoto (15) and Saudi Arabia's Yasir Al Shahrani (13) vie for the ball during the second half of the final World Cup qualifier in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 5, 2017. The Saudis defeated Japan 1-0, qualifying for the 2018 event in Russia. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Sugimoto vows to seize chance after getting call for Japan

Soccer: Sugimoto vows to seize chance after getting call for Japan

Cerezo Osaka striker Kenyu Sugimoto (C) is pictured during Japanese men's national soccer team's training session in Saitama, north of Tokyo, on Aug. 27, 2017, ahead of a World Cup qualifier against Australia on Aug. 31. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo