Verstappen makes statement of intent at Suzuka after Singapore shock
The double world champion was a man on a mission at Suzuka, fastest in both practice sessions and laying down a marker with his first lap out of the pits before staying on top throughout the day.
The second session ended two minutes early when Alpine's Pierre Gasly locked up and crashed at Degner Two, bringing out red flags.
Verstappen's record run of 10 wins in a row, and Red Bull's 15 successive victories, came to an end last Sunday when he finished only fifth under the floodlights at Marina Bay with Mexican team mate Sergio Perez eighth.
The Dutchman laid down an immediate marker as the first driver out of the pitlane, on the hard tyres, in the hour long opening session at Suzuka and stayed top throughout.
Verstappen's record run of 10 wins in a row, and Red Bull's 15 successive victories, came to an end last Sunday when he finished only fifth under the floodlights at Marina Bay and Mexican teammate Sergio Perez was eighth.
Verstappen's best time of one minute 31.647 seconds was 0.626 quicker than Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, the winner in Singapore.
McLaren's Lando Norris was third fastest, 0.745 off the pace with a late switch to the soft tyres, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc fourth and 0.927 slower than Verstappen.
"Max back to the front again, so it was fun while it lasted," joked McLaren boss Zak Brown on Sky Sports television.
Perez, 151 points behind Verstappen after 15 of 22 races, was only 11th and 1.396 seconds slower than his teammate.
Red Bull are set to retain their constructors' title in Japan on Sunday, needing to score only a point more than Mercedes.
Mercedes had George Russell 13th fastest and seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton 16th but, unlike those above them on the timesheets, they did not use the quicker soft tyres in the session.
"We're glad its not a sprint race because we've got a bit of work to do," said Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin.
"We just haven't landed with a great balance here... fundamentally, a bit of work to do on the setup."
Japan's only driver Yuki Tsunoda was fifth for AlphaTauri ahead of his home race with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso sixth and McLaren's Oscar Piastri seventh.
"It was a normal session for us," said Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack. "The drivers are reasonably happy."
Williams' Alex Albon, AlphaTauri's stand-in Liam Lawson and Aston Martin's Lance Stroll completed the top 10 in an uneventful practice.
Drivers also tested Pirelli tyres for the 2024 season during the session.