Inter defender Yuto Nagatomo said he is willing to risk his place in the Serie A side to play for Japan in a domestic charity match to help victims of the quake-tsunami disaster.

“It is not that I don’t have any worry but there is something more important than myself,” the 24-year-old told reporters as he arrived in Osaka for the March 29 match pitting the national team against a J-League select.

Nagatomo moved to Inter from Cesena after Japan won a record fourth Asian Cup in January.

“I have not come here just to play a match. I want to show how important it is not to give up. We must help many people gain courage and hope.”

Nagatomo said all of his club were behind Japan in the nation’s struggle to overcome the tragic March 11 disaster which has left more than 22,000 dead or missing on Japan’s Pacific coast.

“Everybody has cared about Japan. Everybody has been cooperative,” the hard-running player said, showing a football shirt autographed by Inter manager Leonardo and team-mates.

“I want to use it for charity.”