Holding the certification and plaque of the People's Honour Award, Japanese national women's football team head coach Norio Sasaki (front L) and captain Homare Sawa (front R) and other players pose with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan

Holding the certification and plaque of the People's Honour Award, Japanese national women's football team head coach Norio Sasaki (front L) and captain Homare Sawa (front R) and other players pose with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan (front C) for a photo session 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. Pictured in the second row are (L-R) Nahomi Kawasumi, Karina Maruyama and Azusa Iwashimizu. AFP PHOTO / POOL / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA