Japan will be looking for a repeat of their commendable opening-match effort when they take on World Cup favourites New Zealand on Friday.
John Kirwan's Japan side were within four points of heavyweights France with 10 minutes remaining of their Pool A clash on Saturday, before eventually succumbing to a 47-21 defeat.
Kirwan, a World Cup winner with the All Blacks back in 1987, wants to see a similar performance from his Japan players when they take on his former team in Hamilton.
"You know competing with a top-five side gives you great confidence," Kirwan said.
"What you need to do is back that up week after week, so it's important that we keep playing the game that suits us and keep that level of passion in there as well."
"I think the courage and commitment of our guys was fantastic and we need to do that for 80 minutes."
Japan will be looking to erase the memory of their last meeting with the All Blacks at the 1995 World Cup, when New Zealand won by a record score of 145-17.
While Japan were handed an undeniably tough start to their campaign, facing France and the All Blacks first up, Kirwan thinks taking on the world's top teams early on can only be good for his men.
"It's really exciting for me, I think it's really exciting for the players," he said.
"Playing the All Blacks in New Zealand, doesn't get any better than that, at a World Cup."
"So far as highlights are concerned, it's going to be a fantastic week for us and we're excited and we're going to take that excitement into the game."
Despite Japan's good start against the French, Kirwan looks likely to make several changes to his side for their match against the All Blacks.
The coach has targeted Japan's last two games against Tonga and Canada as winnable matches and will be looking to keep his squad fresh for those encounters.