Kashiwa Reysol's in-form striker Masato Kudo and FC Tokyo midfielder Keigo Higashi received their first callups as Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni named a 26-strong squad on Thursday for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Australia.
Kudo has scored 13 goals in the J.League and the Asian Champions League this season, including Kashiwa's third in a 3-2 win over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Wednesday night.
Higashi, a member of Japan's Olympic team which reached the semifinals in London last summer, could deputize for injured Keisuke Honda (thigh) if the CSKA Moscow man does not recover in time for the June 4 game at Saitama.