The sole goal came in the 73rd minute when Haminu Dramani, a midfielder with the Turkish club Genclerbirligi, banged in a short cross from FC Copenhagen forward and late substitution Razak Pimpong from deep right field.

Both sides squandered several scoring chances before 52,400 spectators at the Nissan Stadium in their first international clash since 1994. Their head-to-head tally was level at 2-2.

The Black Stars placed in their starting line-up nine players from Ghana's World Cup squad, who lost to Brazil in a last-16 match in their first World Cup finals in Germany.

Japan, without the help of Europe-based stars tied with their club commitments, lacked precision both on the offensive and the defensive.

"Ghana proved to be a strong team as expected," said Japan coach Ivica Osim, a 65-year-old Bosnian who took over the team from Brazilian legend Zico after Germany 2006.

"Japan played better in terms of details. It is disappointing that we lost the match this way," he added.

It was the second loss against three wins for Osim's charges who are aiming to rebuild the Asian side after their dismal World Cup campaign which ended with two losses and one draw in the first round.

After a goalless equilibrium in the first half, Udinese midfielder Sulley Ali Muntari's sharp long-range left-foot shot was stopped by Japanese World Cup goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi in the 53rd minute.

Three minutes later, Japanese midfielder Satoru Yamagishi slid the pitch to catch a left cross in front of the net but his shot bounced off the left post.

In the 58th minute, World Cup player Stephen Appiah dribbled past a defender for a one-on-one shot which was saved by Kawaguchi.

Appiah's free-kick from just outside the box three minutes later was also punched away by the intrepid Japanese keeper.

After Ghana's goal, Japan struggled to fight back but Brazilian-born right winger Alessandro Santos's 84th-minute free-kick, which flew over the bar after hitting a Ghana wall, was the closest they could get to scoring.

The Africans will now travel to Seoul for another international friendly on Sunday against South Korea, who also failed to make the second round in Germany.

Japan will head to Bangalore for an Asian Cup qualifier against India on October 11.