Shinji Ono hopes his return to the J-League can help him make the Japan squad for this year's World Cup finals in South Africa.
The 2002 Asian player of the year signed a two-year deal with Shimizu S-Pulse after an injury plagued two years with Bundesliga side, Bochum.
"It will be impossible unless I can play seriously for Shimizu in every game," the 30-year-old midfielder told Japanese media on Friday. "I just want to go ahead to realise my dream."
Ono has played in the previous three World Cups, but his last international appearance came in August 2008.
