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 beat New Zealand 4-2 in friendly

Japan beat New Zealand 4-2 in friendly

TOKYO, Japan - Japan defender Masato Morishige (L) is congratulated by Shinji Okazaki (back) and Maya Yoshida (R) after scoring his side's third goal during the first half of a friendly against New Zealand at National Stadium in Tokyo on March 5, 2014.

Man gets 18-year prison term for abduction, murder

Man gets 18-year prison term for abduction, murder

People queue for a lottery to gain admission to the trial of Masato Okazaki, 25, whom the Nara District Court sentenced Oct. 19 to 18 years in prison for the May 1997 abduction and murder of a 13-year-old girl in western Japan. Presiding Judge Masayoshi Suzuki sentenced Okazaki for killing Michiyo Urakubo, an acquaintance of the defendant, on May 4 last year.

Murderer dies after hanging self in prison

Murderer dies after hanging self in prison

TOKYO, Japan - Masato Okazaki (file photo), who was serving a life sentence for murdering a 13-year-old girl, hanged himself in his prison cell earlier this month and died four days later, the government said Sept. 19. Okazaki, 29, was found guilty of murdering Michiyo Urakubo in May 1997 after deliberately hitting her with his car in the village of Tsukigase, Nara Prefecture.

Man gets 18-year prison term for abduction, murder

Man gets 18-year prison term for abduction, murder

People queue for a lottery to gain admission to the trial of Masato Okazaki, 25, whom the Nara District Court sentenced Oct. 19 to 18 years in prison for the May 1997 abduction and murder of a 13-year-old girl in western Japan. Presiding Judge Masayoshi Suzuki sentenced Okazaki for killing Michiyo Urakubo, an acquaintance of the defendant, on May 4 last year. ==Kyodo