It looks like the victory of the "Nadeshiko" Japan women's national soccer team not only gave hope to a nation still recovering from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami but also energized unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who vowed Tuesday to persevere.
"I, too, must not give up and must do my best as long as there are things I need to deal with," Kan said during a Lower House Budget Committee meeting Tuesday morning.
Later in the day, Kan met with the 21 team members, including captain Homare Sawa and coach Norio Sasaki, and congratulated them for winning the Women's World Cup soccer final.