Japan striker Hisato Sato was named the J. League's 2012 Player of the Year on Monday, becoming the first player from Sanfrecce Hiroshima to win the award.

At the J. League Awards where he cleaned up with four honors, Sato is also only the fifth player in the league's 20-year history to win both the MVP and the golden boot in the same season. The last to complete the double was Marquinhos with Kashima Antlers in 2008.

"I only won this award because we won the championship," Sato said. "I'd like to thank my wonderful teammates and manager, as well as everyone else at the club who help me do what I do."