Japan will face a familiar foe in their second Asian Cup match on Friday, with midfielder Shinji Kagawa wary of the prospective humidity in Brisbane.
Kagawa and Co. will take on Iraq at Suncorp Stadium in their second match in Group D with the temperature expected to reach a maximum of 32 degrees, while the humidity could top 60 per cent.
Having already trained in Queensland's capital, Kagawa is worried about the humidity, which he blames for Japan's poor performances at last year's World Cup.
"I remember us struggling in this kind of humidity in Brazil," Kagawa told Kyodo News after training on Wednesday.
Japan opened their defence of their continental title with a comfortable 4-0 win over debutants Palestine, although Javier Aguirre's side looked well below their best despite the victory.
"It is really hard to get used to this heat, especially the humidity like this," Kagawa said.
"You can get exhausted pretty easily and it is not easy to handle."
Kagawa set up one of Japan's goals against Palestine but his Mexican coach wants the Borussia Dortmund playmaker to end his seven-game scoring drought at international level.
"I keep saying it but I have to try and take more shots," he said.
"He (Aguirre) doesn't exactly say 'get more goals than passes' but I am aware I have to shoot more."
According to Opta, Iraq had 429 passes to Jordan's 333 but managed just nine shots to their opponents' 10, with only two on target.
