Date: July 18, 2011
by: Kenji Hall and John M. Glionna
A joyful, nearly disbelieving Tokyo bursts into celebration over the soccer victory, a symbol of hope and resilience for the earthquake-devastated country.
Soccer fans celebrate on the street in Tokyo after Japan's Women's World
Cup victory. (Kim Kyung-hoon / Reuters / July 18, 2011)
Reporting from Tokyo and Seoul—As Japan's Saki Kumagai prepared for her decisive penalty kick in the shootout that ended Sunday's Women's World Cup final, a wounded nation held its breath.
For Japan, this was more than a soccer game. It was an opportunity to prove on a global stage that a country devastated four months ago by a killer earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe still possessed the heart and soul of a fierce competitor.
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Editor's Note: Video below is from Al Jazeera
Japan become the first Asian nation to win the women's World Cup after a thrilling final against the USA in Frankfurt.
Al Jazeera's Nick Spicer has this report from the German city of Frankfurt.