Urawa defender Nasu scores header in 2-1 win over Kofu

Urawa defender Nasu scores header in 2-1 win over Kofu

KOFU, Japan - Defender Daisuke Nasu (R) of Urawa Reds beats Ventforet Kofu defender Naoki Aoyama (C) to score in Kofu, eastern Japan, on May 28, 2014, in the J-League club's 2-1 victory in the first round of the Nabisco Cup soccer competition. The win gave Urawa a place in the last eight.

Japan stunned by Qatar in Olympic qualifier

Japan stunned by Qatar in Olympic qualifier

DOHA, Qatar - Japan's Naoki Aoyama scored the opening goal before halftime of a qualifier for next year's Beijing Olympics against Qatar in Doha on Oct. 17. But Japan was defeated by the Gulf side 2-1 in Asian zone Group C.

Japan beat China 2-0 in under-21 friendly

Japan beat China 2-0 in under-21 friendly

TOKYO, Japan - Under-21 Japan defender Naoki Aoyama (R) tries to block China striker Chen Tao in the first half of their friendly match at National Stadium in Tokyo on Oct. 25. Japan beat China 2-0.

Japan beat China 2-0 in under-21 friendly

Japan beat China 2-0 in under-21 friendly

TOKYO, Japan - Under-21 Japan defender Naoki Aoyama (R) tries to block China striker Chen Tao in the first half of their friendly match at National Stadium in Tokyo on Oct. 25. Japan beat China 2-0. (Kyodo)

Japan stunned by Qatar in Olympic qualifier

Japan stunned by Qatar in Olympic qualifier

DOHA, Qatar - Japan's Naoki Aoyama scored the opening goal before halftime of a qualifier for next year's Beijing Olympics against Qatar in Doha on Oct. 17. But Japan was defeated by the Gulf side 2-1 in Asian zone Group C. (Kyodo)

Takiguchi, Motoya share Akutagawa award, Aoyama wins Naoki Prize

Takiguchi, Motoya share Akutagawa award, Aoyama wins Naoki Prize

Novelists Yukiko Motoya (C) and Yusho Takiguchi (R), winners of the Akutagawa Prize for up-and-coming authors, and Bumpei Aoyama, winner of the Naoki Prize for popular fiction, hold up their award-winning works while posing for a photo at a hotel in Tokyo on Jan. 19, 2016. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Tokyo in late February. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo