Japan coach Zico recalled Yokohama F. Marinos striker Tatsuhiko Kubo and Urawa Reds defender Keisuke Tsuboi for home friendlies against Kazakstan and Syria in the buildup to February's World Cup qualifier at home to North Korea.
JEF United Ichihara midfielder Yuki Abe, a member of Japan's U-23 side that played in the Athens Olympics, earned a call-up for the 23-man squad announced Tuesday by the Japan Football Association.
Kubo last played for Japan in an Oct. 13 World Cup qualifier away at Oman before being sidelined with a sore back while Tsuboi returned to the national side since injuring his left hamstring in a Kirin Cup match against Slovakia on July 9.
No European-based players are included in the squad.