(Click on the image above to view the full gallery) (L-R) Homare Sawa, Lionel Messi, JANUARY 9, 2012 – Football / Soccer : Homare Sawa with the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year trophy and Lionel Messi, FIFA World Player of the Year with the FIFA Ballon d’Or trophy during the during the FIFA [...]

(Click on the image above to view the full gallery) December 27, 2011, Tokyo, Japan  – The Japan National Team attends a celebration event at Tokyo Dome City for becoming the champions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. (Photo by Yusuke Nakanishi/AFLO SPORT) (Click on the image above to view the full gallery) [...]

Odil Ahmedov (UZB), Makoto Hasebe (JPN) battle for the ball during the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 Asian Qualifier Third Round Group C match between Uzbekistan 1-1 Japan at Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 6, 2011. (Photo by Jinten Sawada/AFLO)

(L to R) Yukari Kinga (JPN) and Azusa Iwashimizu (JPN) clap hands on the field during the East Japan Earthquake Charity Women’s Football Match between Japan Women’s National Team 3-2 Nadeshiko League XI at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan on August 19, 2011. (Photo by Jun Tsukida/AFLO SPORT)

File Photo : Naoki Matsuda – One of Japan’s top players Naoki Matsuda died on August 4th, 2011. He was sent to the hospital due to the acute myocardial infarction while his training on August, 2nd in Nagano, Japan. He played for Japan’s National team 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2000 Sydney as well as the [...]

Japan team group (JPN),JULY 17, 2011 – Football :Japan team group celebrate with the trophy after winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 Final match between Japan 2(3 PK 1)2 United States at Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt, Germany. (Photo by Maurizio Borsari/AFLO)

Takashi Usami waves goodbye to Gamba Osaka fans after his last match before his transfer to Bayern Munich in Germany. (Photo by Akihiro Sugimoto/AFLO SPORT)

Kengo Nakamura (14) of Kawasaki Frontale scores the winner with an injury time wonder free kick in a typhoon swept 1 match between between Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 Gamba Osaka at Todoroki Stadium in Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by AFLO).

Takeshi Aoki (Antlers), APRIL 19, 2011 – Football : AFC Champions League 2011 Group H, between Kashima Antlers 1-1 Suwon Samsung Bluewings at National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan. The game started at 2pm on Tuesday afternoon in Tokyo as Kashima are unable to use their home stadium as a result of the earthquake and tsunami that [...]

Atsuto Uchida, of Shalke 04, Germany, becomes the first Japanese player to reach the semi final of the Champions League.

Japanese and non-Japanese sports stars from around the globe show their support and solidarity with the people of Japan in this difficult time. (Click on image to see more).

A new J League soccer season kicked off on Saturday with newly promoted Kashiwa Reysol beating Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 and Omiya Ardija drawing 3-3 at title favourites Kashima Antlers. (Click on the image below to view the full gallery.)