An Awards Ceremony was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence to confer a letter of appreciation to the Japan National Team and Coach, who advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan.
At the Awards Ceremony, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi presented the letter of appreciation to Mr. Philippe Troussier, former Coach of the Japan National Team, and a representative of the team Mr. Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, and handed commemorative gifts to each player.
Afterward, in addressing the ceremony Prime Minister Koizumi praised the heroic efforts of the players, stating, "I am profoundly grateful that this World Cup tournament, the first ever held in Asia and co-hosted by Japan and the Republic of Korea, ended in a great success thanks to an excellent performance by the players. Watching the actual football matches at the stadium was something that moved me beyond my expectations."
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