Iain Henderson says Ireland will be well prepared for Japan's shock-and-awe brand of rugby.
The sides will meet for the tenth time on Saturday afternoon as the Autumn Nations Series gets underway (Aviva Stadium, 1pm).
Ireland have won all but one of their previous meetings, the aberration coming in the infamous World Cup pool stage defeat in Shizuoka in 2019.
"They're impressive, they shock teams and audiences," says the Ulster lock of the Brave Blossoms, currently ranked tenth in the world.
"You have to remove that shock factor and understand that's the way they're going to be.
"They're going to play with tempo, they're going to play with speed. They've got incredible speed throughout their whole team.
"That's exciting to see, it's exciting to watch, but it's very difficult to play against. If you're aware of that and understand that's how they're going to play you can sort of dictate the pace with your own team's tempo.
"I'm incredibly excited about the game and I think everyone else should be too."
Henderson, who will win his 64th Ireland capped if named in the team at Thursday lunchtime, was part of a British and Irish Lions side that beat Jamie Joseph’s men prior to their summer tour but has yet to claim a victory over Saturday’s visitors in a green shirt.
"I played against them in the World Cup and that was obviously a shock, fortunately played them in the summer too and they definitely have a team that knows how they want to play," the 29-year-old said.
"That’s the one thing you can say about them, they work together as a unit very well, they have players who do all the simple drills very well and we’re fully aware of that.
"We need to have our heads screwed on. Most teams who suffer against Japan get shocked by how fast they play and the tempo at which they play. That’s something we’re trying to account for."
While Henderson has had a taste of action against Japan, captain Johnny Sexton, who has 99 international caps, has never faced them but was a spectator at the World Cup and in the 39-31 summer Test victory.
He said: "I remember being at the World Cup game, I was on the pitch watching Ireland's warm-up and was drawn into watching the Japanese team warm up and how good they were, how good their skills were, even though it was the warm-up they were going at such tempo.
"Everything was running smooth and it was very impressive, and then obviously in the game and through all that World Cup they were outstanding. It was a big tournament for them in front of their home supporters.
"And then during the summer, I had the summer off and brought Luca, my son, to the Japanese game in the Aviva and same again, played some outstanding rugby and they are a team to be reckoned with."
Follow Ireland's November internationals v Japan, New Zealand and Argentina via our live blogs on RTÉ.ie/sport or the RTÉ News app, or watch live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
