Japan Won't Play Copa America: Shinji Kagawa and 3 Others That We'll Miss

Japan are formally out of the Copa America. In their a place, Costa Rica have been invited to participate.

The Samurai Blue's absence from the tournament is a major letdown because the Asian team is brimming with talent. And while we will be able to watch Twente's Bryan Ruiz, we will miss the opportunity to watch this batch of fantastic players.

Atsuto Uchida

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MILAN, ITALY - APRIL 05: Atsuto Uchida of Schalke 04 controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between FC Internazionale Milano and Schalke 04 at San Siro Stadium on April 5, 2011 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino

Position: Right back

Club: Schalke 04 (Germany)

One of those special backs that can play from goal line to goal line, Uchida has shown he has the quality to play in one of Europe's best clubs.

In this year's Schalke Champions League venture, he was one of his team's best players, and he seems to have all the physical skills to play in Europe's top tier. 

Yuto Nagatomo

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NAPLES, ITALY - MAY 15: Yuto Nagatomo of FC Internazionale Milano in action during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and FC Internazionale Milano at Stadio San Paolo on May 15, 2011 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Position: Right back/left back

Club: Inter Milan (Italy)

Knowing about Uchida, you might wonder why it seems Japan has two of them on the pitch. No, it is not double vision, nor are you imagining things.

It is Inter's Nagatomo playing on the other side. 

They are almost identical in both playing style and quality—Nagatomo being more attacking minded and better crosser. 

With these two rovers as side backs, it is no wonder the Samurai Blue like to attack from the sides so much.

Shinji Kagawa

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SEVILLE, SPAIN - DECEMBER 15: Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund (L) celebrates with his team mates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League group J match between Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Decem

Position: Winger/attacking midfielder

Club: Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Exploding onto the International Football scene with his fantastic and unexpected first half of the season at Dortmund, he is one of the up-and-coming footballers from the Asian powerhouse. 

With 12 goals and two assists this season with the German Champions until his magnificent season was cut down in January by a broken metatarsal in his foot, he was already being courted by Europe's top clubs in the midseason transfer window. 

He is now fully fit again and added two more goals and assists with Dortmund before the season ended. 

As much as we missed seeing him when injured, we will miss him again in Copa America. 

Keisuke Honda

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA - APRIL 30: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN ALL JAPANESE MEDIA UNTIL 48 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Keisuke Honda of PFC CSKA Moscow in action during the Russian Football League Championship match between PFC CSKA Moscow and FC Spartak

Position: Winger/midfielder/attacking midfielder/striker/second striker

Club: CSKA Moscow (Russia)

Japan's best talent. The leftie is truly the Samurai Blue personified. 

Keisuke is dead-ball expert, showing his ability scoring twice on free kicks at last year's FIFA World Cup and even having his Cristiano Ronaldo-like knuckleball free kicks nicknamed "Mukaiten." He is also extremely talented at dribbling and shooting and doesn't shy way from defensive duties, either. 

In Russia, he plays a central midfield role, but when on national duty, he is employed everywhere, sometimes even starting as a striker. 

This are the reasons he is being heavily scouted by Liverpool, Arsenal, Atlético de Madrid, Milan and even Manchester United. 

But while he is widely wanted in Europe, America will possibly lose the only chance they had to watch him live on the pitch.