Keito Nakamura and Koki Ogawa both hit braces as Japan cruised to a 5-0 win away to Myanmar on Thursday, keeping their perfect record after five games in the Asian second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Already-qualified Samurai Blue led through goals from attackers Nakamura and Ritsu Doan in the first half before forward Ogawa netted twice, and Nakamura got his second in the dying minutes of their Group B encounter at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon.
Starting with a three-man defense, 18th-ranked Japan led in the 17th minute against their 163rd-ranked hosts when Daichi Kamada released a lively Nakamura in acres of space down the left. The Reims winger cut inside before drilling in a low shot.
Kamada, back in the side after being overlooked for the Asian Cup, received a heavy tackle but managed to get back on his feet moments before his low shot on the turn came off the post to set up Doan in the 34th minute.
While Brondby attacker Yuito Suzuki remained quiet after coming on at the break on his Japan debut, Ogawa recovered from a half to forget as he headed in Japan's third off substitute Yuki Soma's cross in the 75th minute.
Ogawa swept in his second seven minutes from time as a low Soma cross was not cleared by Myanmar's defense, and the NEC Nijmegen man held off his marker to set up Nakamura to curl home from 20 meters out for his impressive eighth goal in nine games for the national team.
Japan play their final game of the round at home to Syria on Tuesday in Hiroshima.
