Kuala Lumpur: There will be a touch of inexperience in Japan's squad for the international friendlies against Brazil and Belgium with head coach Vahid Halilhodzic including several young players in his 25-man squad.
Japan will play Brazil on November 10 and Belgium four days later as they ramp up their preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia.
While Kazuki Nagasawa of Urawa Red Diamonds is the the only uncapped player included in the squad, the likes of Shintaro Kurumaya, Genta Miura and Kenyu Sugimoto have little international experience.
That, however, doesn't mean a weakened Japan squad as Halilhodzic has called up 12 Europe-based players for the two friendlies.
Japan-based Shu Kurata (left) and Kenyu Sugimoto have been included in the squad for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
It will be Japan's 12th meeting with Brazil, with the previous 11 ending in nine wins for the South Americans with two draws.
The Samurai Blue have played Belgium four times previously, winning two and drawing two.
Japan will play Brazil at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium near Lille, France while the friendly against Belgium will be at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges.
Shinji Kagawa will miss Japan's friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
Halilhodzic's team played New Zealand and Haiti in October, winning 2-1 and drawing 3-3 respectively.
The draw against Haiti was sealed thanks to a strike by Shinji Kagawa deep into stoppage time but the Borussia Dortmund star hasn't been included in the squad.
Also not selected were Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City) and Keisuke Honda ( Pachuca) for the two friendlies.
Japan squad - Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Metz), Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka), Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Red Diamonds); Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan), Tomoaki Makino (Urawa Red Diamonds), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Hiroki Sakai (Marseille), Gotoku Sakai (Hamburg), Shintaro Kurumaya (Kawasaki Frontale), Gen Shoji (Kashima Antlers), Genta Miura (Gamba Osaka); Midfielders: Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt), Shu Kurata (Gamba Osaka), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), Ryota Morioka (Waasland-Beveren), Kazuki Nagasawa, Wataru Endo (both Urawa Red Diamonds), Yosuke Ideguchi (Gamba Osaka); Forwards: Shinzo Koroki (Urawa Red Diamonds), Takashi Inui (Eibar), Yuya Osako (Cologne), Genki Haraguchi (Hertha Berlin), Kenyu Sugimoto (Cerezo Osaka), Yuya Kubo (Gent), Takuma Asano (Stuttgart).
Sources: Japan Football Association, AFP
Source: the-afc.com