Women's World Cup Golden Boot winner Hinata Miyazawa and fellow attacker Maika Hamano are set to make their returns from injury following Japan's announcement Thursday of the 22-player squad for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup in the United States.
Manchester United attacker Miyazawa, who scored five goals for Japan in New Zealand last summer at the World Cup, returns for Nadeshiko Japan after suffering a left ankle fracture in a friendly match away to Brazil in December.
Chelsea's Hamano injured her shoulder prior to the World Cup and was limited to a short cameo at the tournament before having surgery in September.
"I want to prepare the team for the (Paris) Olympics. I'd like to spur my players' growth," Japan manager Futoshi Ikeda said.
The four-team SheBelieves Cup will be his side's first outing since clinching a berth at the Paris Games with a 2-1 aggregate win over North Korea in February.
Nadeshiko Japan, seventh in the FIFA rankings, face fourth-ranked hosts the United States on April 6, while world No. 9 Canada take on 10th-ranked Brazil in their opener.
The winners and losers of the two matches will face each other on April 9.
Japan squad:
Goalkeepers: Ayaka Yamashita (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Chika Hirao (Albirex Niigata), Shu Oba (University of Mississippi)
Field players: Saki Kumagai, Moeka Minami (Roma), Mina Tanaka, Miyabi Moriya, Hikaru Kitagawa (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Risa Shimizu, Honoka Hayashi, Riko Ueki (West Ham), Kiko Seike, Rion Ishikawa (Urawa Reds), Mami Ueno (Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina), Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Hina Sugita (Portland Thorns), Fuka Nagano (Liverpool), Hinata Miyazawa (Manchester United), Aoba Fujino (Tokyo Verdy Beleza), Maika Hamano (Chelsea), Momoko Tanikawa (Rosengard), Toko Koga (Feyenoord)
Related coverage:
Football: Unpolished Nadeshiko Japan pick up steam toward Paris
Football: Nadeshiko Japan beat North Korea 2-1 to reach Paris Olympics
Football: Japan, North Korea draw 1st leg of final Olympic qualifier
