The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held the 2015 AFC Annual Awards in New Deli, India on 29 November, and Japan cleaned up with seven honours; The country was selected as the most inspiring association and the best fair play association, U-19 Japan Women's National Team coach TAKAKURA Asako was given the best female coach for the fourth consecutive year, Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team) won the best national squad of the year among others.

Recipients' comments at the 2015 AFC Annual Awards

The most inspiring association, the best fair play association and Dream Asia Grassroots award

DAINI Kuniya, Japan Football Association president
What we won the award this time for our modest and steady activity, but we are glad that we received positive assessment. It will inspire all of us the federation officials and appreciate it so much. Since this is an activity that's relevant for us, we would like to keep running it.

As for Nadeshiko Japan, we feel that they earned it for having advanced to the championship matches at global tournaments for the third straight time. We've won the berth for next year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and want to capitalise on the momentum toward the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The coach of the year (women)

TAKAKURA Asako, U-19 Japan Women's National Team *For the fourth consecutive year
I'm extremely honored to have been given such a prestigious award like this. This is a result of what our players and staff members have done. To live up to the expectations as the recipient of this award, I would like to do my best on a daily basis to help my team win the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup next year.

List of the award recipients