Evans spearheaded a Toyota domination of the 22-stage asphalt rally that hosted the final round of the WRC season.
The Welshman delivered a masterclass in changeable conditions - that ranged from extreme wet weather to snow showers - to lead home Toyota team-mates Sebastien Ogier (+1m17.7s) and two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera (+1m46.5s).
The victory marked his third of the season, alongside Croatia and Finland, as the 34-year-old secured the runner-up spot in the championship.
Evans' success in Japan arrived exactly 12 months on from being denied a shot at securing a home win for Toyota by a final day puncture.
“Of course, under the circumstances it is special to win with your team-mates side by side it has been mega,” Evans told Autosport.
“It has been a difficult rally and I felt a bit of unfinished business after last year, so it is nice to score a result this way.
“Yeah definitely [there was pressure]. I guess it was from a finishing point of view you look like a fool if you chuck it off and honestly it would be something so easy to do. A minor misjudgement somewhere was all it would have taken in the conditions we had.”
Source: Autosport