Saburo Kawabuchi, who played a key role in the launch of Japan's professional football league, and novelist Nanami Shiono were among seven people selected as this year's recipients of Japan's top cultural award, the government said Friday.Kawabuchi, an 86-year-old former president of the Japan Football Association and inaugural chairman of the J-League, is known for his contribution to the development of the Japanese sports community overall. He has also been instrumental in the founding of the professional basketball league in Japan.Shiono, also 86, has worked on historical pieces such as …READ FULL ARTICLE
