Nadeshiko Japan, which became the first Japanese as well as the first Asian team to become the World Cup winner, irrespective of men's or women's soccer, will get another laurel. The team, which was victorious over the heavily favored United States in Frankfurt on July 17, will receive the prestigious People's Honor Award from Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Aug. 18.
The team will be the first organization as well as the first sports team to receive the award, which was institutionalized in 1977.
So far, 18 individuals have received the award, including home-run king Sadaharu Oh; Ms. Naoko Takahashi, gold medalist in the 2000 Sydney Olympics women's marathon; Japanese diva Hibari Misora; and actor Hisaya Morishige. Ms. Misora and Mr. Morishige received the award posthumously.