With Japan travelling to Europe and Africa in recent months looking for tough tests ahead of the 2010 World Cup, a chance for some competitive games at home is just what coach Takeshi Okada ordered.

Next month sees the biennial East Asian Championships and for the first time since 2003, they will be hosted in Tokyo.

As well as Hong Kong, Japan will face regional rivals and old football foes South Korea and China.

In the three tournaments so far, Japan has yet to win. South Korea took the 2003 and 2008 titles with China winning in 2005. Okada is looking forward to the challenge and wants to lift the trophy for the first time.

"We've never won this and it's about time we have," Okada said according to the Daily Yomiuri.

"We're at home and anything less than the championship would be unacceptable," Okada added.

"You don't get this kind of opportunity at home very often, and it's a great time to solidify our core of J.League players."