TOKYO (AFP) - Germany's Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Junichi Inamoto has been called up for an Asian qualifier against Bahrain for the 2010 World Cup, the Japan Football Association said on Friday.

It marks the first time Inamoto has been chosen by current Japan coach Takeshi Okada, and the first international match he has played in since one against Austria in September last year.

"It will be our first away game. If we win, it makes us easier to survive the qualifying round. I'll do my best for the team. Since I'm playing games in Germany, I'm in good shape," said Inamoto.

Inamoto has scored four goals in 68 games for Japan, including two in the 2002 World Cup. He is expected to join the team after a Bundesliga match against FC Energie Cottbus on March 20.

Former Frankfurt striker Naohiro Takahara, who has 23 goals in 56 games for Japan, will also return to the national team after being sidelined for the East Asian championship last month in China due to fitness problems.

Nagoya Grampus forward Keiji Tamada will also be back after the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

"I chose these 21 players from the 35 candidates, considering our opponents, weather and pitch conditions," Okada said.

The team will leave here on Monday for their training camp in Dubai before arriving in Manama for the game on March 26.

Japan defeated Thailand 4-1 while Bahrain defeated Oman 1-0 in their opening matches of the Group 2 tournament last month.

Goalkeepers: Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata), Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus Eight), Eiji Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale)

Defenders: Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama Marinos), Yuichi Komano (Iwata), Hiroki Mizumoto (Osaka), Michihiro Yasuda (Osaka), Atsuto Uchida (Kashima)

Midfielders: Junichi Inamoto (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Naotake Hanyu (FC Tokyo), Yasuhito Endo (Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki), Keita Suzuki (Urawa), Yuki Abe (Urawa), Koji Yamase (Yokohama), Yasuyuki Konno (Tokyo), Satoru Yamagishi (Kawasaki)

Forwards: Naohiro Takahara (Urawa), Keiji Tamada (Nagoya), Seiichiro Maki (JEF United Chiba), Yuzo Tashiro (Kashima)