THE JAPAN NEWS
 
Five days before kicking off defense of the Asian Cup, Japan finally has its full squad together at practice.
 
Kashima Antlers midfielder Gaku Shibasaki and Sagan Tosu forward Yohei Toyoda rejoined their teammates in training at the Samurai Blue’s base camp here Wednesday after missing time due to illness.
 
Shibasaki had been recuperating from the flu in Japan and flew to Australia the previous day.
 
Both players and the rest of the 23-man squad went through a full two-hour workout that included sprints and weight training on a sweltering day with temperatures hovering around 30 C.
 
“It’s a different kind of heat from Japan,” Toyoda said. “But I started working out from a few days ago, so it’s alright.”
 
The 1.85-meter Toyoda and the technician Shibasaki are considered indispensable players when Japan needs a goal, and coach Javier Aguirre can only be relieved to have them back on the field.
 
“It’s not as hot as I thought it would be,” Shibasaki said. “I’ll gradually get back into shape from here.”
 
Japan will break camp on Thursday and head to Newcastle, where it will face Palestine in its Group D opening game on Monday.