Kitakyushu

The oppressive conditions – with the temperature above 30 degrees Celsius as well as high humidity – meant a three-minute water break in each half and an extended interval of 20 minutes were introduced.

Wales faded badly in the second half as Japan scored 19 unanswered points but Sherratt refused to blame the heat and humidity for the tourists’ demise.

“I would be making excuses if I said that [conditions played a part],” said Sherratt.

“If you look at the game, we took pretty much every chance we got bar one in their 22.

“Every ball that hit the floor bounced for us and we were on the right side of the penalty count.

“In the second half there were some big moments. We had a lineout around 45 minutes to take the game to three scores and it was a tough call by the referee to penalise us.

“We have a young group, we have not had a win for a while and those little scars can start to run deep.

“In the second half every bounce went for them, we had some key lineout positions we did not make the most of and the penalty decisions went away from us.

“Maybe the conditions added to that also but my instinct is not so much.”

Lake says Wales will look at themselves first.

“Conditions are going to play a factor but we’re not blaming that,” said Lake.

“We weren’t clinical enough in the 22 and we didn’t come away with points.”

Jones was proved right when he said before the match the team that coped with conditions would win the game, but the Australian also praised his opposition.

“For Wales to come from the northern hemisphere into those conditions is difficult,” said Jones.

“Like every Wales team, they were always tough to beat. They’re a proud rugby nation and produce tough, good players.”

Wales’ previous trip to Kitakyushu did not pass without controversy.

After all, this was the place in which the squad were based when attack coach Rob Howley was sent home after betting allegations surfaced.

But there are mainly happy memories for Wales – and their Japanese admirers – from those late summer days of 2019.

This visit will end with Saturday’s first Test, when Wales will aim to end a 17-match international losing run.

The Mikuni World Stadium was the scene of one of the highlights of Wales’ visit to these shores six years ago.

An open training session held before the tournament was attended by a capacity crowd of more than 15,000 locals, who memorably sang the Welsh national anthem in unison.

“I had never experienced something that before, where the stadium was full to the brim for just a training session,” said Wainwright.

“Having everyone singing and chanting during that session was one of the special highlights of my tour. Hopefully this time it will be even louder.”

But which anthem will be louder on Saturday? And will the home crowd be shouting for Japan or their beloved visitors?

“We were speaking to people last night and they think the majority of the crowd will be backing Wales,” said Williams.

“We hope that is the case.”