2011 saw him named in the squad for the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar where this time he wore the number 4 on his back. He played every minute of all Japan's six matches at the tournament as they went on to lift the title, defeating Australia 1–0 after extra time in the final thanks to Tadanari Lee's 109th-minute winner. Later in the year he scored his first international goal, a 36th-minute opener in the 4–0 win away to Tajikistan in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on 11 November.