Star FC Tokyo playmaker Takefusa Kubo marked his 18th birthday Tuesday on the eve of what could be his senior national team debut.

The attacking midfielder spent the day with the rest of the Japan squad preparing for Wednesday's friendly against Trinidad and Tobago at Toyota Stadium.

"I'm happy to spend (my birthday) in this situation," said Kubo, who is taking part in his first Samurai Blue camp.

The youngster, who was among a group of underage players who trained with Japan's World Cup team last year in Russia, now counts veterans of the tournament such as Yuya Osako and Eiji Kawashima as fellow squad members.

After playing in an intra-squad game, Kubo said he was impressed by the skill level among the players in camp.

"The way everyone plays is interesting. The pace is really fast. I'm enjoying being a part of it," he said.

Kubo, however, has also been impressing his new squad-mates.

Salzburg attacker Takumi Minamino, who could be vying with Kubo for a starting spot against 93rd-ranked Trinidad and Tobago, said the former Barcelona youth player showed a rare touch with the ball.

"His shooting technique and ball control is out of the ordinary," Minamino said.

Kubo, who has been on a hot scoring streak for J-League first-division side FC Tokyo, has the chance to write his name in the history books if he can carry his form over to the national team.

The Samurai Blue's current youngest goal scorer, Nobutoshi Kaneda, set the mark in 1977 at the age of 19 years and 119 days.

But Kubo said such a distinction will not be on his mind when he eventually takes the field for Japan.

"I don't play soccer for the records," he said.

And while much of the reporting surrounding his impending debut has focused on his age, the player himself does not think it important.

"I don't really consider 18 to be that young," he said.