International Friendlies
The former Vissel Kobe forward, who was named Scottish Premiership Player of the Year last week after a league title-winning season with the Glasgow-based club, is included in the 26-man squad for the first time since September.
“I called him up because he’s getting results and making his presence felt,” Moriyasu said of the 28-year-old, who scored 25 times in 35 league games this season.
“I expect him to score goals. I expect him to go for goal and create chances.”
Furuhashi, who was not included in Japan’s squad for last year’s FIFA World Cup, is one of three players from the Scottish side to be selected, joining midfielder Reo Hatate and fellow forward Daizen Maeda.
There are first-time call-ups for Ryoya Morishita of Nagoya Grampus, Kyoto’s Sota Kawasaki and Takumu Kawamura from Sanfrecce Hiroshima while Qatar-based Shogo Taniguchi has been selected for the first time since the FIFA World Cup finals.
Moriyasu’s side are due to take on El Salvador on June 15 before playing Peru five days later as the Japanese continue their preparations for January’s AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™, where they have been drawn to take on Indonesia, Iraq and Vietnam.
Japan squad
Goalkeepers: Daniel Schmidt, Keisuke Osako, Kosuke Nakamura
Defenders: Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Ryoya Morishita, Hiroki Ito, Ayumu Seiko, Yukinari Sugawara
Midfielders: Wataru Endo, Hidemasa Morita, Junya Ito, Daichi Kamada, Kaoru Mitoma, Reo Hatate, Keito Nakamura, Sota Kawasaki, Yuki Soma, Takumu Kawamura, Hayao Kawabe, Ritsu Doan, Takefusa Kubo
Forwards: Kyogo Furuhashi, Takuma Asano, Daizen Maeda, Ayase Ueda
Defenders: Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Ryoya Morishita, Hiroki Ito, Ayumu Seiko, Yukinari Sugawara
Midfielders: Wataru Endo, Hidemasa Morita, Junya Ito, Daichi Kamada, Kaoru Mitoma, Reo Hatate, Keito Nakamura, Sota Kawasaki, Yuki Soma, Takumu Kawamura, Hayao Kawabe, Ritsu Doan, Takefusa Kubo
Forwards: Kyogo Furuhashi, Takuma Asano, Daizen Maeda, Ayase Ueda
