Japan have big aims at the World Cup where they want to go all the way, defender Yukinari Sugawara has vowed on the eve of their opening match on Sunday against the Netherlands.
"We came here to win the World Cup. We are not here for fun. We want to make history," the Werder Bremen defender said.
Japan have never gone beyond the last 16 at the World Cup but are considered a dark horse this time around.
They were the first team to qualify and have won their last six matches, with a clean sheet in the last five. Victories include a first ever over Brazil in autumn and against England at Wembley.
Expectations in the Samurai Blue are huge at home and Sugawara said that "we must be ready for that, we will fight for that, for the country, for the family, friends, all Japanese people."
The duel against three-time finalists Netherlands is one of the top matches on the opening matchday in the 12 groups.
"There are no easy matches at a World Cup and the Netherlands also have a good team. We have to give our all, physically and mentally," Sugawara said.
Japan are without influential captain Wataru Endo from Liverpool who has not recovered from injury. Borussia Mönchengladbach's Shuto Machino has been nominated in his place and Ko Itakura from Dutch side Ajax will be the World Cup captain.
Sugawara said that this will not deter them because "we you have to stand together at a certain point. We always train and work hard together. That is our strength."
