Former Japan internationals Hiroshi Nanami and Ryoichi Maeda have been appointed national team coaches to work under manager Hajime Moriyasu, the Japan Football Association announced Tuesday.

Nanami, 50, played as a midfielder for Japan when they made their World Cup debut in 1998. He has previously managed J-League clubs Jubilo Iwata and Matsumoto Yamaga.

Combined photo shows Hiroshi Nanami (L) and Ryoichi Maeda. (Photo courtesy of J-League)(Kyodo)

Former Samurai Blue forward Maeda, 41, has been in charge of Jubilo's youth team.

"Nanami has a wealth of hands-on experience, and we have big expectations of him having an impact on Japan's future," Yasuharu Sorimachi, the JFA's technical director, said.

"Maeda can get many things across from a similar perspective to that of the players."

Japan will play their first match since the World Cup in Qatar on March 23 at Tokyo's National Stadium.