Keisuke Honda stunned Thomas Sorensen with a free kick whipped in from distance that found the far corner, which the keeper perhaps could have done better with.
He had even less chance with a second curling effort from Yasuhito Endo (pictured), which doubled Japan's lead on the half hour.
Denmark were given a lifeline with 10 minutes left, when Daniel Agger won a penalty for the Danes. Jon Dahl Tomasson's effort was saved but he followed up to halve the deficit.
It had little impact on the Japanese, who secured victory when Honda's superb skill and unselfish play set up an open goal for Okazaki.
Japan secured a second round clash with Paraguay, and it's the first time they have got through the group stages on foreign soil.
In the other group clash, the Netherlands defeated Cameroon 2-1, though the outcome was meaningless to both teams.
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