Japanese national women's football team captain Homare Sawa (L) holds the People's Honour Award plaque with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan (C) as they pose for photographers with team head coach Norio Sasaki

Japanese national women's football team captain Homare Sawa (L) holds the People's Honour Award plaque with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan (C) as they pose for photographers with team head coach Norio Sasaki (R) during the awards ceremony at Kan's official residence in Tokyo on August 18, 2011. Japan's women's team received the award following their victory over favourites United States in July at the women's World Cup football final in Germany. AFP PHOTO / POOL / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA