Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu has named his 26-man World Cup squad in Tokyo, with former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu included despite an absence of nearly two years due to injury.
The Ajax central defender last played for Japan in a June 2024 World Cup qualifier against Syria. He has not appeared for the national team since, after a series of injuries led to his contract termination at Arsenal by mutual consent last year.
Also selected are Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, who has battled injuries this season, and 39-year-old fullback Yuto Nagatomo.
Brighton midfielder Kaoru Mitoma misses out after sustaining a hamstring injury earlier this month against Wolverhampton.
Japan kicks off their eighth World Cup appearance against the Netherlands in Dallas on June 14, followed by Tunisia on June 20 and Sweden on June 25 in Group F. The Samurai Blue have reached the round of 16 in the last two tournaments, falling to Belgium in 2018 and Croatia on penalties in 2022.
Moriyasu will lead Japan into his second World Cup as head coach.