Football: Japan vs Senegal at World Cup

Football: Japan vs Senegal at World Cup

EKATERINBURG, Russia, June 24 Kyodo - Keisuke Honda of Japan (2nd from L) celebrates with teammates Makoto Hasebe (L) and Maya Yoshida (22) after scoring a goal during the second half of a World Cup Group H match against Senegal in Ekaterinburg, Russia, on June 24, 2018.

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 players acknowledge fans' cheers after win

Japan players acknowledge fans' cheers after win

NEWCASTLE, Australia - Japanese players Gotoku Sakai, Makoto Hasebe, Maya Yoshida and Eiji Kawashima (from L) respond to supporters in Newcastle, Australia, on Jan. 12, 2015, after Japan blanked Palestine 4-0 in a Group D match.

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 World Cup soccer squad practices in training camp

Japan World Cup soccer squad practices in training camp

IBUSUKI, Japan - Maya Yoshida (R), a center back for English Premier League club Southampton, and Makoto Hasebe, a midfielder for Bundesliga club 1. FC Nurnberg and the captain of the Japanese national football squad, play in a practice game during the team's training camp in Ibusuki, southwestern Japan, on May 22, 2014, ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening in Brazil in June.

Centenarians in Fukushima

Centenarians in Fukushima

AIZUWAKAMATSU, Japan - Makoto Yoshida (L) celebrates his 100th birthday in Aizuwakamastu, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 27, 2012, seated next to his 101-year-old wife Tsuru. They have evacuated to Aizuwakamatsu from a no-entry zone near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

Sydney gold medalist judoka Takimoto to debut in PRIDE

Sydney gold medalist judoka Takimoto to debut in PRIDE

TOKYO, Japan - Sydney Olympics gold medalist Makoto Takimoto (in file photo) said on Dec. 7 he will join the ranks of combatants in the Japanese mixed martial arts of PRIDE. Takimoto, who won gold in the 81-kilogram weight category in Sydney in 2000, is the second Japanese Olympic gold medalist judoka to enter the no-holds bared sport after 1992 Barcelona Olympic champion Hidehiko Yoshida, who won gold at 78 kg. (Kyodo)

Centenarians in Fukushima

Centenarians in Fukushima

AIZUWAKAMATSU, Japan - Makoto Yoshida (L) celebrates his 100th birthday in Aizuwakamastu, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 27, 2012, seated next to his 101-year-old wife Tsuru. They have evacuated to Aizuwakamatsu from a no-entry zone near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. (Kyodo)

Japan players acknowledge fans' cheers after win

Japan players acknowledge fans' cheers after win

NEWCASTLE, Australia - Japanese players Gotoku Sakai, Makoto Hasebe, Maya Yoshida and Eiji Kawashima (from L) respond to supporters in Newcastle, Australia, on Jan. 12, 2015, after Japan blanked Palestine 4-0 in a Group D match. (Kyodo)

Football: Japan vs Belgium at World Cup

Football: Japan vs Belgium at World Cup

Romelu Lukaku (C) of Belgium is challenged by Makoto Hasebe (L) and Maya Yoshida, both of Japan, during the first half of a World Cup round-of-16 match in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, July 2, 2018. Belgium won 3-2. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Football: Japan-Switzerland friendly

Football: Japan-Switzerland friendly

(From R) Japan's Makoto Hasebe, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida and Keisuke Honda leap to block a free kick by Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri (23) during the second half of a pre-World Cup friendly in Lugano, Switzerland, on June 8, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Football: Japan-Switzerland friendly

Football: Japan-Switzerland friendly

Japan's Makoto Hasebe (17) and Maya Yoshida (22) look deflated after Switzerland score during the first half of a pre-World Cup friendly in Lugano, Switzerland, on June 8, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Brazil-Japan friendly in France

Soccer: Brazil-Japan friendly in France

Japan's starting 11 pose for a photo before a friendly match against Brazil in Lille, France, on Nov. 10, 2017: (from L in front row) Makoto Hasebe, Yuya Kubo, Hotaru Yamaguchi, Genki Haraguchi, Yuto Nagatomo (from L in back row) Eiji Kawashima, Hiroki Sakai, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Yuya Osako and Yosuke Ideguchi. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Japan prepare for Brazil friendly

Soccer: Japan prepare for Brazil friendly

(From L) Captain Makoto Hasebe, Maya Yoshida, Yuto Nagatomo and Eiji Kawashima jog during practice in Lille, France, on Nov. 9, 2017, the eve of a friendly against Brazil. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan prepare for friendly against Brazil

Japan prepare for friendly against Brazil

Japan players (from L) Yuya Kubo, Maya Yoshida, Ryota Morioka, Gotoku Sakai and Makoto Hasebe train in Lille, France, on Nov. 5, 2017, ahead of a friendly against Brazil on Nov. 10. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo