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Atsuki Ito was selected for the Japan national team / photograph: Kenzaburo Matsuoka

Potential new custodian Osako, attacking full-back Maikuma, and midfield sensation Ito – can the J.League players appeal in the ever-evolving Japan national team?

6 Oct 2023
by Yuhei Harayama

On 4 October, Hajime Moriyasu announced the Japan national team squad for two friendlies, against Canada on 13 October and Tunisia on 17 October.

Of the 26 players, only five members have been changed from the European tour in September, which saw Japan defeat Germany and Turkey consecutively. While captain Wataru Endo, Takefusa Kubo, and Kaoru Mitoma made the list as usual, Daichi Kamada and Ritsu Doan were dropped. Other members missing from the September list were Schmidt Daniel, Kosuke Nakamura, and Ryoya Morishita.

Moriyasu cited their meager conditions as the reason for the omission of Kamada and Doan. The players haven’t currently been performing well at their clubs, Lazio and Freiburg respectively, and perhaps the manager doesn’t want to push them too hard this time.

None of the five replacements were called up for the first time: two goalkeepers, Daiya Maekawa, and Zion Suzuki, as well as Yuta Nakayama, who has been out injured for a long time, Minamino Takumi, who has been performing well for his club in this season, and versatile midfielder Reo Hatate. 

Only four players were selected from the J.League

In the squad, there are only four players from the J.League. With an increasing number of players seeking to play overseas, particularly in Europe, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the J.League players to be selected for the national team.

One player who has consistently made the squad is Keisuke Osako, a promising custodian of Sanfrecce Hiroshima. In comparison to in-field players, Japanese goalkeepers tend to stay in the J.League, and Osako has kept performing well in the league and has been called up for every match since last year’s World Cup.

Grew up in the Hiroshima academy and been a starter since his second year as a professional, Osako has been known for sharp reflections, building up ability, and accurate feeds – those have improved especially in recent years.

Even aged 24, the goalie has already played more than 100 J.League matches. Although he has only a handful of caps for the national team, Osako was named in the starting line-up against Germany in September.

Another advantage for him is that Japan’s national team goalkeeping coach Takashi Shimoda used to coach Osako at Hiroshima. Constantly developing Osako could lead the competition for the goal-keeping spot of the national team.Though his family name is the same as Vissel Kobe’s Yuya Osako, as well as both hailing from the same Kagoshima prefecture, they are not relatives.

Another goalkeeper, Daiya Maekawa of Kobe, has returned to the national team after a two-year absence. Born from a former national team goalkeeper, he is a rare Japanese player with a height of over 190 cm (6.23 feet). Until last season, he was Kobe’s second choice in goal but has now played every game so far this season. The 29-year-old goalie has been a core of the defense of Kobe, who are currently top of the J1 table. With his reputation steadily improving, Maekawa could continue to be called by the national team. To make that real, these two games in October are likely to be turning points.

Atsuki Ito of Urawa Reds was continuously called up

Following on from his first call-up last time, Cerezo Osaka’s Seiya Maikuma has been selected. Having made his professional debut for J2 side V-Varen Nagasaki in 2020, the versatile right back can play at wing with his attacking attributes. He made the step up to J1 side Cerezo last season and has been an unwavering starter this season.

Maikuma made his debut at the friendly against Turkey in September, assisting Keito Nakamura’s goal after a powerfully bursting run. If he could impress again in the right-back position, it would be interesting competition with Yukinari Sugawara.

Atsuki Ito of the Urawa Reds was also continuously called up. In his third year as a professional, the box-to-box player has improved very well with strong defensive qualities and the ability to push forward. He scored his first goal for the national team with a powerful strike against Turkey in September. With his all-round attributes, Ito is competing for the starting roles in the midfield with Endo, and Morita. 

Japan squad for the friendlies

Goalkeepers

Daiya Maekawa (Vissel Kobe), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Zion Suzuki (Sint-Truiden)

Defenders

Shogo Taniguchi (Al-Rayyan), Ko Itakura (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Yuta Nakayama (Huddersfield Town), Koki Machida (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise), Seiya Maikuma (Cerezo Osaka), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal), Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart), Daiki Hashioka (Sint-Truiden), Yukinari Sugawara (AZ Alkmaar)

Midfielders

Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Junya Ito (Stade Reims), Minamino Takumi (AS Monaco), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting CP), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion), Reo Hatate (Celtic), Atsuki Ito (Urawa Reds), Ao Tanaka (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Keito Nakamura (Stade Reims), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad)

Forwards

Takuma Asano (Bochum), Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord)

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