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 draw with Uzbeks

Japan draw with Uzbeks

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - Japan's national soccer team members including defender Yuichi Komano (far R) and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima (2nd from R) concede the opening goal to Uzbekistan in the eighth minute of a game in the third-round qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 6, 2011. Shinji Okazaki scored an equalizer in the 65th minute of the game, which ended 1-1.

Japan's marathon runners arrive in Sydney

Japan's marathon runners arrive in Sydney

SYDNEY, Australia - Japan's marathon runners Shinji Kawashima (R) and Nobuyuki Sato (L) walk into the arrival lounge at Sydney airport Sept. 26. The Olympic men's marathon race is scheduled for Oct. 1.

Japanese marathon runners off for Sydney

Japanese marathon runners off for Sydney

NARITA, Japan - Japanese Olympic marathon runners wave hands as they leave for Sydney from Narita airport April 26 to run in the Host City Marathon scheduled for April 30. (2nd from L to R) Eri Yamaguchi, Shinji Kawashima, Nobuyuki Sato, Takayuki Inubushi and Kayoko Obata.

Japan draw with Uzbeks

Japan draw with Uzbeks

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - Japan's national soccer team members including defender Yuichi Komano (far R) and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima (2nd from R) concede the opening goal to Uzbekistan in the eighth minute of a game in the third-round qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 6, 2011. Shinji Okazaki scored an equalizer in the 65th minute of the game, which ended 1-1. (Kyodo)

Four more named to Japan's six-member Olympic marathon squad

Four more named to Japan's six-member Olympic marathon squad

TOKYO, Japan - Naoko Takahashi (bottom R) and Takayuki Inubushi (top C) were named March 13 to Japan's six-member Olympic marathon squad along with Shinji Kawashima (top R) and Eri Yamaguchi (bottom C). The four will join Nobuyuki Sato (top L) and Ari Ichihashi (bottom L) who had been given tentative approval for the Olympic team last summer after winning medals in the athletics world championships in Spain.

Spaniard Fiz repeats at Lake Biwa Mainichi marathon

Spaniard Fiz repeats at Lake Biwa Mainichi marathon

OTSU, Japan - Defending champion Martin Fiz of Spain fights off Japanese Olympic hope Shinji Kawashima in the closing stages on March 5 for victory in the Lake Biwa Mainichi marathon. Fiz, a former world champion, pulled away from Kawashima with about 3 kilometers left in the 42.195-km race to cross the finish line at Ojiyama stadium in Shiga Prefecture in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 14 seconds. The victory was the third at Lake Biwa for the 37-year-old Fiz.