Shinji Okazaki struck twice as Japan made a winning start to 2013 with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Latvia on Wednesday in a tuneup for next month's World Cup qualifier away to Jordan.
The Stuttgart striker rattled in off the post to open the scoring late in the first half and sealed victory with a cool finish, seconds after Keisuke Honda had doubled the Asian champions' lead at Home's Stadium in Kobe.
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni fielded a near full-strength side, with 10 of his starting 11 plying their trade in Europe. Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo, Japan's most-capped player, was kept on the bench and Bayer Leverkusen's Hajime Hosogai instead got the nod to partner with captain Makoto Hasebe in midfield.