Monday May 28, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

SOCCER

Sawa named FIFA Women's Player of the Year; Messi world's best player

Sports Jan. 10, 2012 - 06:00AM JST ( 18 )

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18 Comments

-5

smartacusJan. 10, 2012 - 07:09AM JST

I bet it has been many years since Sawa wore a kimono.
0

afterthequakeJan. 10, 2012 - 08:23AM JST

Fantastic news and a beautiful kimono. It's no more than Sawa San deserves. I wonder if she got to have a private word with Messi, out of the presence of Japanese comic buffoons???
1

miyazawa3Jan. 10, 2012 - 09:53AM JST

Great you all ... for did your best..

Best wishes and Congratulation...
2

rickyveeJan. 10, 2012 - 10:00AM JST

she truelly deserved that award. she's been playing amazingly well this past year, especially during the world cup.

too bad the article above barely mentions her.
2

TorafusuTorasanJan. 10, 2012 - 10:39AM JST

@smartacus "I bet it has been many years since Sawa wore a kimono"

You might want to look through the JT photo of the day archives before placing your bet. She was in kimono to meet the emperor a couple of months back.

The kimono really does make the photo. Though Messi has youth, worldwide adulation, and a higher salary on his side, it is Sawa's kimono and stoic demeanor that stand out to my casual glance.
0

smithinjapanJan. 10, 2012 - 10:59AM JST

Good on them both. They do their nations and the sport proud.
0

BurakuminDesJan. 10, 2012 - 11:09AM JST

She looks nice in her kimono. Congrats!
1

GodanJan. 10, 2012 - 11:54AM JST

Congrats to Sawa-san! I think she is a great role model for many people and will surely inspire many young women to take up this sport. Again, congrats!
1

GWJan. 10, 2012 - 01:28PM JST

Congrats to Sawa & Messi, great players!

Big boo for AP for giving Sawa 2 measly lines, WTF! Messi's teammates get as much or more mention.
0

tmarieJan. 10, 2012 - 01:33PM JST

Congrats to Sawa and Messi. She looks and great and I am so glad to see he cut his hair!! I don't get however why Japan was awarded the fair play award due to the earthquake. What does that have anything to do with it?
0

LostinNagoyaJan. 10, 2012 - 09:16PM JST

I think that both Japan and US teams deserved prizes too, the final match was one of the best soccer matches ever. Sawa was spectacular. Congrats to Messi too.
0

BurakuminDesJan. 10, 2012 - 11:51PM JST

Big boo for AP for giving Sawa 2 measly lines, WTF! Messi's teammates get as much or more mention.

To be fair, GW, most people are reading this AP report overseas and are not Japanese - most have never heard of Sawa. Everyone in the world - probably even remote villagers in Papua New Guinea - know of Messi and his team-mates. Sexist it may be, but women's soccer is sadly just a tiny blip on the radar. I hope it changes as Sawa is a fantastic sportswoman and looks nice in kimono!
-1

Bebert61Jan. 11, 2012 - 12:45AM JST

I agree the article doesn't do Sawa justice. As for Messi, I had no idea of who he was until I read this article, thinking I was going to read something about Sawa.
-2

BurakuminDesJan. 11, 2012 - 12:48AM JST

@ Bebert61 - you must not have been here long - they just love this kid "Meshi" in this joint - sometimes I think he must be Japanese... As for Sawa, you won't find much about her in international press like this AP piece. Will find plenty of stories about her in Japanese media, however.
1

kochikameJan. 11, 2012 - 03:12AM JST

I agree....it's shameful how the article doesn't mentione much about Sawa...she's been on the Nadeshiko Japan (japanese women's national team) form more than 18 years(since 15-year-old), and she deserved more attention.

I don't agreee with some people saying most people have never heard....from what I have seen, Women's World Cup held in Germany in 2011 had a huge viewership, and going to the Final match against USA....and then winning the World Cup....for sure many people know saw her, and heard about her...

Congratulations for Sawa and Japan...I'm lookig forward to seeing Nadeshiko Japan in the London Olympics.
-1

BurakuminDesJan. 11, 2012 - 09:49AM JST

@kochikame - I'm not so sure she is well known at all. Ask you friends not living in Japan who Homare Sawa is. I will email mine and do the same. (tell 'em not to Google) It will be interesting if any recognise her name... I wish she was known everywhere - in my mind she would slot nicely into the Japan men's team and probably show most of those guys up!
0

warnerbroJan. 11, 2012 - 07:50PM JST

How many goals did Sawa score? Who was second and third in the women's vote?
0

Mk DamodaranJan. 11, 2012 - 08:44PM JST

Lionel Messi has been awarded the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or. Homare Sawa claimed the women's equivalent. Messi was born on June 24,1987. His birth number is 6 Homare Sawa was born on september 6,1978. Her birth number is 6. The fate number of Lionel Messi is 37. The fate number is obtained by adding all the digits of date of birth(6+2+4+1+9+8+7=37) Similarly,the fate number of Homare Sawa is also 37.

Messi is now 24 years(2+4=6). Sawa is now 33 years old(3+3=6) Strong similarities indeed! MK DAMODARAN