KOBE, Japan — Japanese striker Yoshito Okubo has re-signed with Vissel Kobe after just six months with German champions Wolfsburg, the J-League first division side said Tuesday.

Okubo left Kobe to join Wolfsburg in January for a second try at proving himself in Europe after playing for Spanish club Real Mallorca in 2006.

But the 27-year-old, who joined Wolfsburg on a contract through June 2011, was limited to nine games and failed to score a single goal in the German League.

Okubo said he returned to Kobe because he wanted to gain more playing time to boost his hopes for selection to Japan's national team for next year's World Cup in South Africa.

Okubo has scored 64 goals in 149 J-League games.