dʒəpˈænz nˈæʃənəl kˈoʊtʃ zˈiːkoʊ ɡˈeɪv hˌɪm ðə fˈɜːst kˈæp ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiː wɛn hiː plˈeɪd tsˈuːbɔɪ ˌɔn ɪlˈɛvən dʒˈuːn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiː ɪn ɐ fɹˈɛndli ɐɡˈɛnst pˈæɹəɡwˌaɪ æt seɪtˈɑːmə stˈeɪdiəm.
Japan's national coach Zico gave him the first cap in 2003 when he played Tsuboi on 11 June 2003 in a friendly against Paraguay at Saitama Stadium.