Japan brushed aside Montenegro 2-0 in their Kirin Cup opener at Shizuoka Ecopa Stadium on Friday evening. Yuji Nakazawa and Naohiro Takahara's first-half goals set up a second-half stroll in the park for Ivica Osim's men, giving them a boost ahead of July's Asian Cup finals.

News photoJapan's Kengo Nakamura, left, and Montenegro's Vladimir Vujovic chase the ball during first-half action of their Kirin Cup soccer match on Friday at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture. Japan won 2-0.

AP PHOTO