Just three months into the job, Japan coach Javier Aguirre finds himself under intense scrutiny as the Blue Samurai lurch from one stuttering performance to the next in the run-up to the Asian Cup in January.

The 55-year-old, who led his native Mexico to the last 16 of the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, has been forced to bring back Japan's record caps holder Yasuhito Endo for this month's home warm-ups against Honduras and Asian Cup hosts and title rivals Australia after a run of inept displays since taking charge.

Reigning Asian champions Japan have won just once in four matches under Aguirre -- a fortuitous 1-0 victory over Jamaica -- and were overrun by Brazil in their last outing last month when Neymar ran riot, scoring all four goals in a 4-0 thumping.

Questions are being asked about Aguirre's selection policy with the Mexican still undecided over his best side, and Friday's Sankei Sports newspaper reported that the Japan Football Association (JFA) will summon the coach to explain himself next month, saying the "scalpels will be out".

"What matters is quality, not age," Aguirre told reporters after doing an about-turn on Endo, who has made 146 appearances for Japan and was discarded following the side's World Cup flop under Italian Alberto Zaccheroni.

"Endo is a vastly experienced player and they're the players you need."

Anything short of a convincing win against Honduras in Toyota on November 14 is likely to spark more concern among JFA officials before the crunch game against the Socceroos in Osaka on November 18.

Aguirre, on a record salary for a Japan coach at an estimated $2.45 million a year, has also brought back World Cup captain Makoto Hasebe and coaxed right-back Atsuto Uchida out of international retirement for the games.

Talisman Keisuke Honda, who tearfully blasted Japan as "pathetic" after they crashed out of the World Cup in Brazil, and playmaker Shinji Kagawa will also be under pressure after Aguirre's decision to blood several new players backfired in his first four matches.

Failure at the Asian Cup could trigger an early release from Aguirre's contract after an alarmingly brief honeymoon period.