The "Agony of Doha" — where Japan conceded a last-minute goal to Iraq to miss out on qualification for the 1994 World Cup — is indelibly burned on Japanese soccer's consciousness.
As the national team returns to the city for the first time, for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Qatar, the wound must feel as fresh as ever.
Takeshi Okada's side warmed up for the match with a friendly against Syria in Kobe last week, and although the 3-1 win was comfortable overall, the final 10 minutes were anything but.