Asked if there was a go-to song the players were using to fire themselves up before matches, fullback Ryohei Yamanaka said: “Yes, Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way.”

Japan, hitherto tournament whipping boys, have become potential giantkillers since toppling two-time champions South Africa in their opening game four years ago in the first of three World Cup victories under Eddie Jones.

The Brave Blossoms, who have become an almost permanent fixture in the world’s top 10 since that 2015 tournament, beat Russia 30-10 in their Pool A opener last Friday.

As Jamie Joseph’s troops prepare to take on Ireland in their second game in Shizuoka on Saturday, the Japanese players will once again be warming up to Backstreet Boys lyrics such as “Am I your fire? Your one desire” before going into battle.

Japan will likely need to beat Scotland in their final Pool A fixture to achieve Joseph’s target of reaching the knockout stage for the first time.

The Scots got off to a shocking start with a 27-3 defeat by the Irish last weekend.