FC Tokyo down Matsumoto Yamaga in Emperor's Cup

FC Tokyo down Matsumoto Yamaga in Emperor's Cup

CHOFU, Japan - Defender Yuki Okubo (L) of J-League Division 2 side Matsumoto Yamaga and Sota Hirayama (C) of J-1 club FC Tokyo clash for the ball during a third-round Emperor's Cup match in the Tokyo suburb of Chofu on Aug. 20, 2014. Tokyo won 2-0.

Ivory Coast beat Japan 2-0 in World Cup warm-up match

Ivory Coast beat Japan 2-0 in World Cup warm-up match

SION, Switzerland - Ivory Coast defender Guy Demel (C) battles with Japan midfielder Yoshito Okubo (L) and midfielder Yuki Abe during the first half of a warm-up match in Sion, Switzerland, on June 4, 2010, before the start of the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa on June 11. Ivory Coast won 2-0.

(2)Japan Under-23s brace for Asian qualifiers

(2)Japan Under-23s brace for Asian qualifiers

FUKUSHIMA, Japan - Japan Undeer-23 coach Masakuni Yamamoto (R) chats with midfielder Yuki Abe (L) and Yoshito Okubo (C) during their practice March 10 in preparation for the final phase of Asian qualifiers for the Athens Olympics, which kick off in Saitama on March 14.

Ivory Coast beat Japan 2-0 in World Cup warm-up match

Ivory Coast beat Japan 2-0 in World Cup warm-up match

SION, Switzerland - Ivory Coast defender Guy Demel (C) battles with Japan midfielder Yoshito Okubo (L) and midfielder Yuki Abe during the first half of a warm-up match in Sion, Switzerland, on June 4, 2010, before the start of the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa on June 11. Ivory Coast won 2-0. (Kyodo)

FC Tokyo down Matsumoto Yamaga in Emperor's Cup

FC Tokyo down Matsumoto Yamaga in Emperor's Cup

CHOFU, Japan - Defender Yuki Okubo (L) of J-League Division 2 side Matsumoto Yamaga and Sota Hirayama (C) of J-1 club FC Tokyo clash for the ball during a third-round Emperor's Cup match in the Tokyo suburb of Chofu on Aug. 20, 2014. Tokyo won 2-0. (Kyodo)

(2)Japan Under-23s brace for Asian qualifiers

(2)Japan Under-23s brace for Asian qualifiers

FUKUSHIMA, Japan - Japan Undeer-23 coach Masakuni Yamamoto (R) chats with midfielder Yuki Abe (L) and Yoshito Okubo (C) during their practice March 10 in preparation for the final phase of Asian qualifiers for the Athens Olympics, which kick off in Saitama on March 14. (Kyodo)