Sint-Truiden attacker Ryotaro Ito and FC Tokyo goalkeeper Taishi Brandon Nozawa received their first call-ups Thursday as Japan announced the 23-man squad to face Thailand in a New Year's Day international friendly at Tokyo's National Stadium.
Manager Hajime Moriyasu named eight J-League players and 15 playing in European leagues that will be in winter recess at the time of the game, which falls outside a FIFA-designated international window and serves as preparation for the Asian Cup starting Jan. 12 in Qatar.
Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma and Real Sociedad attacker Takefusa Kubo are among the Samurai Blue regulars who will miss the match due to club fixtures scheduled around the New Year period.
"We aim to win and make both the players and the people watching feel like they've made a good start to the year," Moriyasu told a press conference.
Borussia Monchengladbach defender Ko Itakura, who has not played since late October due to an ankle injury, has been ruled available for the game.
Nagoya Grampus defender Haruya Fujii, Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder Takumu Kawamura and Nurnberg attacker Kanji Okunuki, who have all previously been called up, will also look to earn their first caps along with Ito and Nozawa.
Japan will announce their Asian Cup squad sometime after the game against Thailand. The Samurai Blue begin their Asian Cup campaign against Vietnam on Jan. 14 before facing Iraq and Indonesia in Group D in Qatar.
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Japan squad:
Goalkeepers: Daiya Maekawa (Vissel Kobe), Zion Suzuki (Sint-Truiden), Taishi Brandon Nozawa (FC Tokyo)
Defenders: Shogo Taniguchi (Al-Rayyan), Ko Itakura (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ryoya Morishita (Nagoya Grampus), Koki Machida (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise), Seiya Maikuma (Cerezo Osaka), Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart), Yukinari Sugawara (AZ Alkmaar), Haruya Fujii (Nagoya Grampus)
Midfielders/Forward: Junya Ito, Keito Nakamura (Reims), Takuma Asano (Bochum), Takumi Minamino (Monaco), Ryotaro Ito (Sint-Truiden), Ritsu Doan (Freiburg), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Ao Tanaka (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Kanji Okunuki (Nurnberg), Takumu Kawamura (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Kaishu Sano (Kashima Antlers), Mao Hosoya (Kashiwa Reysol)
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