Keisuke Honda admits Japan is still suffering mental "damage" from last year's World Cup and needs more wins like Thursday's 4-0 thrashing of Iraq to exorcize the demons.
Japan warmed up for next Tuesday's opening 2018 World Cup qualifier against Singapore by hammering Iraq in Yokohama, taking a three-goal lead after just over 30 minutes before substitute Genki Haraguchi added a fourth late in the second half.
Japan, which has also been drawn with Afghanistan, Cambodia and Syria in the first qualifying stage, is bidding to reach a sixth straight World Cup.