Ives (26) will be joined by former Otago players midfielder Ryan Nicholas and first five-eighth Shaun Webb.
The squad, which features 10 foreign-born players, also includes James Arlidge, who played one season for the Highlanders in 2003.
Ives grew up in Mosgiel and played club rugby for University A after attending Taieri College.
However, he never played for Otago, leaving New Zealand to join the Sanyo team in 2008.
Ives has impressed during his stint in Japan.
Rapid progress with the champion Sanyo team, which is now called Panasonic, after the large Japanese company bought out its rival, brought Ives to the attention of Japanese coach and former All Black John Kirwan.
Kirwan picked Ives for the Japanese side earlier this year and he had played in most of the warm-up matches.
Neville Ives said his son had picked up a knee injury against Italy earlier this month and there was a concern it would knock him out of the tournament.
But it was only minor bruising and Ives was informed yesterday he had made the cut for the Japanese side.
Ives senior said he would go to the first two games Japan would play, hopefully to see his son in action.
The Japanese take on France at North Harbour Stadium on September 10 and then the All Blacks in Hamilton on September 16, which is also the birthday of Justin Ives' mother, Kate.
Aulika is one of three Highlanders picked in the Tongan team, which is in the same pool as Japan.
The Tongan team plays in the opening game of the tournament, lining up against the All Blacks at Eden Park on September 9.
Prop Aulika is joined in the squad by fellow Highlanders lock Joe Tuineau and centre Siale Piutau.
Former Otago winger Fetu'u Vainikolo, who now plays rugby for Irish club Connacht, has also made the Tongan team, which is coached by former Otago, Highlanders and All Black player Isitolo Maka.
