Japan midfielder Yajima in AFC U-22 C'ship

Japan midfielder Yajima in AFC U-22 C'ship

MUSCAT, Oman - Japan midfielder Shinya Yajima (C) tries to shrug off his marker in a quarterfinal game against Iraq at the 2014 AFC U-22 Championship in Muscat, on Jan. 20, 2014. Iraq won 1-0 to set up a semifinal clash with South Korea.

Soccer: Japan beat Ghana in Under-23 charity match for quake-hit region

Soccer: Japan beat Ghana in Under-23 charity match for quake-hit region

Shinya Yajima (L) scores the second goal in Japan's 3-0 win over Ghana in an Under-23 charity match at Best Amenity Stadium in Tosu, southwestern Japan, on May 11, 2016. The match was played to support relief efforts following a series of earthquakes that rocked Kumamoto and surrounding areas in southwestern Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan face off against Thailand

Japan face off against Thailand

Shinya Yajima (21) of Japan's Under-23 team scores the team's second goal during the second half of a U-23 Asian Championship match against Thailand in Doha on Jan. 16, 2016. The championship doubles as the Rio 2016 Olympic qualifying tournament for Asia. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan face off against Thailand

Japan face off against Thailand

Shinya Yajima (21) of Japan's Under-23 team celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the second half of a U-23 Asian Championship match against Thailand in Doha on Jan. 16, 2016. The championship doubles as the Rio 2016 Olympic qualifying tournament for Asia. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan face off against Thailand

Japan face off against Thailand

Shinya Yajima (21) of Japan's Under-23 team celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the second half of a U-23 Asian Championship match against Thailand in Doha on Jan. 16, 2016. The championship doubles as the Rio 2016 Olympic qualifying tournament for Asia. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan edge S. Korea to head to Rio as U23 Asian champions

Japan edge S. Korea to head to Rio as U23 Asian champions

Japan's Shinya Yajima heads an equalizer during the second half of the Asian Under-23 Championship final against South Korea at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on Jan. 30, 2016. Japan came back from two goals down to beat South Korea 3-2. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan edge S. Korea to head to Rio as U23 Asian champions

Japan edge S. Korea to head to Rio as U23 Asian champions

Japan's Shinya Yajima (21) celebrates after heading an equalizer during the second half of the Asian Under-23 Championship final against South Korea at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on Jan. 30, 2016. Japan came back from two goals down to beat South Korea 3-2. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan edge S. Korea to head to Rio as U23 Asian champions

Japan edge S. Korea to head to Rio as U23 Asian champions

Japan's Shinya Yajima (R) heads an equalizer during the second half of the Asian Under-23 Championship final against South Korea at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on Jan. 30, 2016. Japan came back from two goals down to beat South Korea 3-2. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Olympics: Japan win but eliminated in men's soccer

Olympics: Japan win but eliminated in men's soccer

Japan midfielder Shinya Yajima (front) reacts after scoring a second-half goal against Sweden in their final group match of the men's soccer tournament at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games on Aug. 10, 2016. Japan won the match 1-0 but were eliminated. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Olympics: Japan win but eliminated in men's soccer

Olympics: Japan win but eliminated in men's soccer

Japan midfielder Shinya Yajima (9) scores a goal past Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Linde in the second half of their final group match of the men's soccer tournament at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Aug. 10, 2016. Japan won the match 1-0 but were knocked out of the tournament. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo