CHIBA, Japan - Ajax defender Takehiro Tomiyasu returned to the Japan squad for the first time in a year and nine months on Thursday ahead of their upcoming friendlies away to fellow World Cup qualifiers Scotland and England.
The 27-year-old had two surgeries on his right knee since August 2024 and left Arsenal by mutual consent last summer. He joined the Dutch giants on a six-month deal in January before making his first Eredivisie start on Saturday.
"I've worked with him from the younger age group and been wondering if he's had a career-threatening injury," Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu told a press conference. "As a coach, I'm happy that he has recovered to a level at which he can play with no hesitation."
"He knows the high quality in world football having played for Arsenal, one of the very top clubs...His character will naturally influence our team, but I want him to get a sense of fulfillment in being able to play above anything."
Wolfsburg's 20-year-old forward Kento Shiogai earned his first call-up three months before the World Cup, while Bayern Munich defender Hiroki Ito also made the squad for the first time in around a year.
There was a place for Parma keeper Zion Suzuki, who fractured his left hand in November before returning to action on Friday, but injured Wataru Endo, Takefusa Kubo and Yuto Nagatomo were all absent for the trips to Hampden Park on March 28 and Wembley Stadium on the 31st.
"Both teams can play with high intensity, at a World Cup standard," Moriyasu said. "None of our players has secured a ticket to the World Cup. I want each of them to show desire and express themselves while looking to beat Scotland and England."
A notable absentee was midfielder Hidemasa Morita, who on Tuesday helped Sporting CP to secure a place in the Champions League quarterfinals by beating Bodo/Glimt 5-3 on aggregate after extra time in the second leg, having lost the first leg 3-0 away from home.
Japan squad:
Goalkeepers: Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Zion Suzuki (Parma)
Defenders: Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), Tomoya Ando (St. Pauli), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Junnosuke Suzuki (Copenhagen)
Midfielders/Forwards: Junya Ito (Genk), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Koki Ogawa, Kodai Sano (NEC Nijmegen), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Ao Tanaka (Leeds), Shuto Machino (Borussia Monchengladbach), Keito Nakamura (Reims), Kaishu Sano (Mainz), Yuito Suzuki (Freiburg), Joel Chima Fujita (St. Pauli), Kento Shiogai (Wolfsburg), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden), Ryunosuke Sato (FC Tokyo)
