There has once again been controversy surrounding a Japan squad selection - or rather the lack of Celtic players involved.

Not content with leaving Hoops pair Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate at home for the World Cup finals in Qatar at the end of last year, Hajime Moriyasu hit them both with a double whammy as he snubbed them for a friendly double-header against Uruguay and Colombia.

The good news is that Parkhead wide man Daizen Maeda - a goalscorer in the World Cup round of 16 against Croatia - has retained his place in the squad this time around.

Moriyasu clearly has his own way of doing things and he has since explained his decision.

"I've watched all of Celtic's games and seen what they've accomplished and their presence in the team," he reportedly said. "But there's no bar to clear to be called up, it's a comprehensive decision.

"We think about the level of the league and various other factors when making the decision. For this squad, we focused on the squad from Qatar as well as some new players. There will be other call-ups.

"As I said, we're trying to build strongest team possible ahead of 2026. In order to do that we're taking a wide view of how to build the team as I think we all agree, they [Hatate and Furuhashi] would absolutely be able to contribute to the team but this time I wanted to try out some different players and that's why they weren't selected."

How dare Moriyasu ignore Kyogo was the first thought of many a Celtic fan. After all, the Japanese striker is the Scottish Premeirship's top marksman and has banged in 26 goals across all competitions this season. Those are, surely, irresistible numbers.

As for Hatate, well, he is a Scottish football player of the year candidate, isn't he? Can you name a better or more consistent performer during the whole campaign? I'll wait.

READ MORE: Why Kyogo is the ghost in Ange Postecoglou's Celtic machine

It might irk Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou that his men have been overlooked, given that he is such a champion of his players achieving the highest accolade of representing their country.

Remember: the Australian once stood in Moriyasu's shoes as head coach of the Socceroos. He, more than most, will have empathy for all those concerned.

Is it really such a slap in the face from Moriyasu to ignore two footballers who are adored by the Celtic faithful? Well actually it isn't viewed as such in Japan; there has been no real outcry there at Kyogo and Hatate's omission.

That is according to Japanese football expert and journalist Dan Orlowitz, who admits that while he is a strong advocate for both men featuring for their national side he's not quite losing sleep over their non-selections just yet.

"Moriyasu seemed to get the Celtic supporters worked up over his squad selection for these friendlies, didn't he?" Orlowitz said to TCW. "It's not for the first time - but there is no panic concerning Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate's inclusion in the Japanese national squad.

"I have advocated for them to be in Moriyasu's plans for ages. I am not getting worked up about it, the Japanese media aren't getting worked up about it and neither are the Samurai Blue fans, although some Japan supporters have asked where Kyogo and Hatate are.

"Let's put this into some sort of perspective: these are friendlies and Japan have nine matches like this pencilled in before the World Cup qualifiers start in earnest in November.

"We have these two, three in June, two in August/September and two in October, which will be played in Europe, and then the World Cup qualifiers start in November before the Asian Cup in January.

"There is plenty of time for Moriyasu to build this team. It's not even a changing of the guard because we don't know what the new guard is. There are 16 players from the World Cup squad and 10 young and fringe players who could feature in the Japanese Olympic team next year.

Celtic Way:

"Moriyasu is giving them a chance and the fact that I am not bothered by it says it all. He kind of gets a mulligan on this and the Celtic supporters just need to step away with their pitchforks at this present time.

"It's cool, we are not worried. Even the prominent journalists in Japan are saying that this makes perfect sense."

So while Moriyasu's squad picks may appear harsh on Kyogo and Hatate, there is a silver lining for both the players themselves as well as Celtic and their supporters.

Orlowitz outlined the reasons they need not panic about another international snub just yet, while Celtic staff and fans can rejoice that both will not be away running the risk of an international-duty injury spoiling their involvement in the final stretch of domestic fixtures.

That run-in includes three Glasgow Derbies, one a Scottish Cup semi-final, as Postecoglou goes full tilt for a historic treble. This is a theory that Orlowitz also subscribes to.

He continued: "I would encourage the Celtic supporters out there to relax and calm down. Celtic have some crucial domestic games coming up and Kyogo and Hatate will be best served to concentrate on those club matches that could see them win the treble rather than travel halfway around the world for what amounts to two glamour friendlies - as that is what they are."

Orlowitz also revealed that Moriyasu is well aware of what qualities Kyogo and Hatate bring to the international table as he watched both in action during Celtic's Champions League group campaign earlier this season.

He insists that means there is still plenty of time for both players to make their mark at international level and joked that there will be a future opportunity for both himself and the Celtic supporters to lose their shape... but that certainly isn't right now.

"Moriyasu has watched every Celtic game this season and he has seen them both in Champions League action as he admitted that to the media," Orlowitz added. "I can fully understand why the comment about the quality of the league may have upset some Celtic supporters but I guess it is what it is.

"It is way too early for anybody to get to worked up about this - Celtic supporters included. Japan is building for the Asian Cup and the 2026 World Cup. These are the first games after the World Cup finals so, in the grand scheme of things, they are not that important.

"In any other year they would be seen as vital preparation but Moriyasu has just short of a full year from the World Cup to the Asian Cup to experiment so this is not the first weird Japan squad that we will see from him and we are not in a rush to see a full strength group just yet.

"I think Celtic supporters are sometimes guilty of seeing their players and nobody else's. Japanese fans are looking at the immediate future like who is going to form the Olympic team.

"If I think people should be angry about Kyogo and Hatate, I would tell them this is all about getting the band back together in the studio for a jamming session in front of 60,000 people and it will be fun. Come June we will fine-tune things and get a bit more serious.

"Let's put it this way: if Kyogo and Hatate are not called up in June, I will be concerned. If they are not called up in September, I will be really concerned. If they are not called up by November then we riot."

It's hard to argue with any of Orlowitz's sentiments. His is sound and logical reasoning and puts the dynamic duo's omission into its proper context.

So, to the Celtic fans screaming "Holy snubs and all that Batman", it's really nothing of the kind.

You don't need to riddle me this: Kyogo and Hatate's time in the Blue Samurai shirt will come - it's just not right now.