Head coach Ian Foster said the All Blacks need to keep their heads during their northern hemisphere tour after being made to sweat for their 38-31 win over Japan in Tokyo on Saturday.
New Zealand conceded four tries and lost lock Brodie Retallick to a 66th-minute red card as they kicked off their tour against a spirited Japanese side that trailed by only four points heading into the final minutes.
Foster said the All Blacks were "a bit rusty" playing their first game in more than a month and would need to get up to speed quickly with away games against Wales, Scotland and England to come.
"There are a number of things we have to improve from today but I think we've had five weeks without a game and that sort of showed in some of our timing," said Foster.
"I think there were moments where we weren't composed. When the game doesn't go your way for spells and you're away from home, it's easy to lose confidence and lose shape."
The All Blacks scored three first-half tries through Retallick, Braydon Ennor and Sevu Reece, but Japan hit back with two of their own to head into half-time trailing by only four points.
Caleb Clarke and Hoskins Sotutu scored two more for New Zealand after the interval, but Japan would not be shaken off and a red card for Retallick for dangerous play at a ruck set up a nervy finale.
Kazuki Himeno scored Japan's fourth try to turn the screw in the dying moments but Foster said he was happy that his side "stayed tight through some key points".
"We got put under a lot of pressure but I really liked the way we played," he said.
"Japan came back very well before half-time and really turned the game into a tight contest. Some new combinations, and overall it's a good stepping stone for us."
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Rugby
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Ian Foster
Brodie Retallick
Caleb Clarke