For former midfield lynchpin Takashi Fukunishi, seeing the defending champions paired with China at Wednesday's draw for the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 would evoke fond memories of Japan's then record-equalling third continental title almost 10 years ago.

Having been part of the squad that reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup two years earlier, Fukunishi opened the scoring in front of a raucous sell-out crowd at Beijing's Workers' Stadium in the final of the 2004 AFC Asian Cup.

And despite China cancelling out Fukunishi's opener before the end of the first half thanks to a strike by Li Ming, goals from Koji Nakata and Keiji Tamada ensured the AFC Asian Cup trophy remained in Japan, marking the nation out as only the third country to claim three Asian titles.

"The atmosphere felt like a proper away game right from the beginning, especially when we weren't able to hear our national anthem because of the noise from the Chinese fans in the stadium," says Fukunishi.

The core of the squad that reached the Round of 16 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup had remained intact to help Japan join Iran and Saudi Arabia as three-time Asian champions.

Fukunishi was one of two players – alongside central defender Makoto Tanaka – who had also won the Asian Club Championship title in Tehran's intimidating Azadi Stadium five years earlier.

"As the game went on, I was able to play my normal game because of the experience I had personally in Tehran in the final of the Asian Club Championship," says Fukunishi.

"Having played in front of 80,000 fans who were all shouting against Jubilo Iwata really helped, because it meant I had experience of this kind of atmosphere.

"Right after I scored the first goal, the stadium suddenly became so silent. That indicated the value and significance of my goal and also gave me a good feeling, a real sense of achievement."

Japan have since gone on to become the first side to win a fourth continental following their 2011 success in Qatar, where they beat 2015 hosts Australia 1-0 after extra-time thanks to a spectacular volley from substitute Tadanari Lee in Doha.

"The unity we had among all the players and staff as a team was one of the key factors in our success," says Fukunishi of their 2004 success as Japan added to their 1992 and 2000 titles.

"Moreover, we knew becoming the Asian Cup champions would give us an opportunity to participate in the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2005, where we would be able to have a chance to play in the World Cup venues in Germany. That was a great motivating factor for us.

"Winning the 2004 AFC Asian Cup is one of the biggest and most special achievements of my career. In the 2004 competition, I strongly believed that Japan must win this title as a representative of the entire Japanese football family and for the sake of Japan's pride, and so did my team-mates. And we did it!"

The draw for the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 will take place on Wednesday at the iconic Sydney Opera House.

Hosts Australia, defending champions Japan, Korea Republic and 2012 AFC Challenge Cup winners DPR Korea had already secured their qualification before Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan, Jordan, Iraq and China advanced through the qualifiers.

And the winner of May's 2014 AFC Challenge Cup will complete the line-up for the 16-team tournament, which begins in Melbourne on January 9 and concludes with the final in Sydney on January 31.

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