The Obic Seagulls captain Tatsuro Shoji is uplifted by the opportunity to pay back for a humiliation.

"This is our last and biggest motivation of the season," the 32-year-old defensive tackle said at a news conference on Dec. 6.

The Seagulls will take on the Matsushita Electric Ltd. Impulse in the Japan X Bowl, seeking to avenge a defeat in last season's playoffs, when the Seagulls ended up with just 126 offensive yards and lost 10-7.