Koji Yamase scored twice in the second half Wednesday to help Japan beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-0 in an exhibition match.
Defender Yuji Nakazawa opened the scoring for Japan in the 68th minute from close range. Yamase widened the lead with goals in the 83rd and 88th minutes at Tokyo’s National Stadium.
It was Japan’s first win under newly appointed coach Takeshi Okada, who replaced Ivica Osim after he suffered a stroke in November.
“We got off to a slow start but played better after the break,” said Okada, who led Japan to its first World Cup in 1998.
Osim attended the match and waved to the crowd from a private box.
Japan will play its first qualifier for the 2010 World Cup on Feb. 6 against Thailand, in a group also featuring Bahrain and Oman.