Japan will kick off the World Cup year with a home friendly to New Zealand in March followed by a send-off in May against an unnamed team, the Japan Football Association announced on Thursday.
The Asian champions, headed for their fifth straight World Cup finals next summer in Brazil, will host the All Whites on March 5 in their last game at Tokyo's National Stadium before the venue is rebuilt for the 2020 Olympics.
Alberto Zaccheroni's side will play once more at home, on May 27 at Saitama, before leaving overseas for training camp.