Saturday will represent 637 days since the national men’s side experienced a Test match win when they defeated Georgia in the World Cup in Nantes in October 2023.
That record run of defeats has followed with head coach Warren Gatland departing in the middle of the Six Nations in February.
Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt took over in an interim role for the rest of the tournament which finished with a record 68-14 defeat by England in Cardiff.
With Gatland’s successor yet to be appointed, Sherratt has again accepted the caretaker role for this tour with a new-look coaching staff that includes Danny Wilson, Gethin Jenkins and Leigh Halfpenny.
The old goals have not changed with a first Test victory in 21 months the only outcome desired.
“It’s massive,” said Sherratt.
“I spoke to the players before we came away, I wondered what their motivation was and why they were coming here. The short answer was they want to win for Wales.”
Wing Josh Adams, who has experienced Grand Slam and Six Nations success and reached a World Cup semi-final, says it hurt when some of his younger team-mates mentioned they had not experienced any Wales wins.
Number eight Aaron Wainwright, the current Welsh player of the year, has won one game for club and country this season with 19 defeats.
Tour captain Dewi Lake has led Wales in six of the 17 Test defeats when his inspirational individual displays have deserved more.
Lake knows what is at stake over the next week.
“We understand the importance of a win,” said Lake.
“It’s a huge game for us, to hopefully not only kickstart our Japan tour, but also the new season.
“We’ve had that monkey on our back for a long time, trying to get that win.
“All the boys here are going to try do it for each other and our families back home who support us through everything. So it’d be massive to get that elusive win.”
