For Japan, 2012 will be a make or break year as the country aims to impress in a number of key sporting events at the London Olympics this summer.
After a year in which a country in desperate need of encouraging news to buoy the spirits of its people in the wake of one of the biggest natural disasters in its history, the Nadeshiko Japan soccer team came to the rescue in an epoch victory over the United States in the Women's World Cup final — proving that, even against the odds, miracles do happen.
Nine-time world champion in women's wrestling Saori Yoshida, three-time gymnastics world champion Kohei Uchimura, two-time double Olympic breaststroke champion Kosuke Kitajima and Athens Olympic-winning hammer thrower Koji Murofushi hold the best chances for bringing home gold medals for Japan at the July 27-Aug. 12 games.