Striker Yoshito Okubo claimed a place in Japan's World Cup squad after more than two years in the international wilderness as manager Alberto Zaccheroni named his 23-man selection on Monday.
Kawasaki Frontale forward Okubo started all four of Japan's games at the 2010 World Cup but has appeared only once in the past four years under Zaccheroni, playing in a friendly against Iceland in February 2012.
But Zaccheroni rewarded the 31-year-old for his prolific goal-scoring form since his 2013 move to Frontale, where he won the J. League Golden Boot with 26 goals last year and has scored eight so far this season.