Three Japan players — midfielders Homare Sawa and Aya Miyama, as well as goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto — were shortlisted for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award on Thursday.
Norio Sasaki, coach of Japan's Olympic silver medalist team, and Hiroshi Yoshida, who helmed Japan's Under-20 and Under-17 national squads, were also nominated for the women's coach of the year honors.