Keisuke Honda said his country had a blueprint for the future despite being knocked out of the World Cup in painful fashion by Belgium on Monday.
Akira Nishino's side had been 2-0 up in Rostov-on-Don thanks to goals from Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui, and were seemingly headed for the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
But Belgium fought back and completed the turnaround with a 94th-minute winner from substitute Nacer Chadli to go through instead to a last-eight tie against Brazil.
Elation for Belgium, but utter heartbreak for #JPN
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Thank you for contributing so much to a #WorldCup classic and for everything you've added to Russia 2018, Japan. #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/rtd3xUrEyj
Once again the Japanese fail to win a World Cup knockout tie, after previous defeats at this stage as co-hosts in 2002, and in 2010.
But Honda, one of the great Japan players of his generation who is now 32, said this defeat should not be compared with that on penalties against Paraguay at the same stage in South Africa eight years ago.
"That time, our team were more than 90 percent playing in Japan, and just three or four playing in Europe," said Honda, who came off the bench late on against Belgium.
4 - Keisuke Honda is now the top-scoring Asian player in World Cup history, netting four goals in nine total appearances in the competition. Icon. #JPNSEN #JPN #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/tT4NYxu04K
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"We played just long ball and we couldn't keep the ball, we couldn't make chances like today, so we can't compare.
"Today we showed how we proceed as Japanese football."
Honda, though, indicated that he is likely to call time on his own international career despite closing in on 100 caps.
"I might finish my career for the national team, but I am happy because many young players are following us and I think that they will make new history for Japanese football," said the former CSKA Moscow and AC Milan man, now playing in Mexico.
"It’s worth remembering, always, that this is a game — that this is a sport we play because we love it."
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How football has changed Keisuke Honda's perspective on life beyond the pitch. #WC32
?: https://t.co/MD0grWvrlD pic.twitter.com/2Urzvzk4gz
The majority of the squad brought to Russia by coach Nishino is based in Europe, and Honda hopes clubs from the continent will look even more closely to the J League in future.
"We learned a lot from Spanish soccer, we don't have the physicality, but we also have technique, we have good midfielders," said Honda, who scored in the 2-2 draw with Senegal in the group stage.
"The Japanese league also has a lot of these qualities, so they can play in Spain or Germany.
"Maybe we gave the European crowds a message that they should bring more Japanese players, not even national players. I hope they will now take a lot of new talents."
Even after a hearbreaking defeat at the #WorldCup
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Japan's football fans setting the bar for the rest of the world pic.twitter.com/O6f2Jx5MqG
The Samurai Blue's next assignment will be at the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates early next year.
However, defender Maya Yoshida admitted that his side also need to look to future World Cups and aim to finally make it to a quarter-final.
"In terms of our development, and for our improvement, we need to go through the round of 16 constantly," said the Southampton stalwart.
"Then maybe 10 or 20 years later it will be normal for us."