2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia June 14 - July 15,2018 - Japan's 23-man squad announced

Japan coach Akira Nishino has included experienced midfielders Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa in his 23-man squad for the World Cup in Russia.

Honda, 31, has played 94 times for his country and former Manchester United midfielder Kagawa, 29, has 90 international caps.

Both played during Japan's 2-0 home loss to Ghana  in Yokohama on Wednesday.

That was Nishino's first game in charge of Japan after he replaced Vahid Halilhodzic, who was sacked last month.

Southampton defender Maya Yoshida and Leicester City forward Shinji Okazaki have also both been named in the squad

Japan's 23-man World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Metz), Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka), Kosuke Nakamura (Kashiwa).

Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (Galatasaray), Tomoaki Makino (Urawa), Wataru Endo (Urawa), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Hiroki Sakai (Marseille), Gotoku Sakai (Hamburg), Gen Shoji, Naomichi Ueda (Kashima).

Midfielders: Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt), Keisuke Honda (Pachuca), Takashi Inui (Eibar), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), Genki Haraguchi, (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Takashi Usami (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Gaku Shibasaki (Getafe), Ryota Oshima (Kawasaki).

Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Leicester), Yuya Osako (Werder Bremen), Yoshinori Muto (Mainz).