Wolfsburg's Yuki Ogimi scored the lone goal as defending champion Japan won its final warm-up for the Women's World Cup 1-0 over Italy on Thursday.
Norio Sasaki's squad, who also defeated New Zealand four days ago, starts the defense of its title on June 8 in Group C against Switzerland in Vancouver, followed by Cameroon four days later before moving on to Winnipeg to face Ecuador on the 16th.
The final is on July 5 in Vancouver.
"When we won the championship in 2011 there wasn't one easy game for us," Sasaki said. "We could be in for a few thrills this summer but our goal is to repeat as champions."
Added captain Aya Miyama, "We may have won these last two games at home, but we think we can be even better."
While Japan had never beaten Italy in seven past meetings, the hosts were comfortably the better team in their send-off for Canada before a full house at Minami Nagano Sports Park Football Stadium.
Shinobu Ono came within inches of opening the scoring in the 17th minute, hitting the right-hand post to spare the Italians, who did not qualify for this World Cup.
The hosts continued to produce the better moments and broke through eight minutes to the hour, when Ogimi stuck her foot out to redirect Rumi Utsugi's low cross into the net.
It was Ogimi's 53rd goal in 117 appearances.
Mizuho Sakaguchi should have made it 2-0 after 66 minutes, but missed a free header from a corner, and Aya Sameshima also squandered a scoring opportunity, the INAC Kobe full-back blasting a shot over the bar from the edge of the six-yard box minutes before the final whistle.
