With Richard Hibbard on British & Irish Lions duty, Ken Owens injured and Matthew Rees rested, Phillips has been handed his opportunity in the Far East.
He was thrilled to earn his first cap in the 22-18 victory over the Brave Blossoms and is desperate to make a lasting impression.
“It’s huge. Everyone in Wales wants to play for Wales,” said Phillips.
“It’s always been a target for me, so to finally get it was brilliant.
“It was pretty warm and Japan play at a pace not many national teams play at, so it was quite a big step up. I was given a warning beforehand that international rugby would be fast and it didn’t disappoint really.
“There were one or two things at the lineout, a few throws, and I’ll take it on the chin. It was such a hectic, high-tempo game, sometimes you are just trying to suck it in.
“I really enjoyed it and once you get a taste for it, you just want more and more.”
Phillips was given a first-half lesson in some of the underhand intricacies of international rugby when Michael Broadhurst sniped over in the corner.
The Scarlets hooker was taken out off the ball with the referee missing the incident and no TMO available.
There was no lasting consequence for Wales, as they secured a slender victory but it was certainly a case of lesson learnt for the 26-year-old.
“It all happened pretty quick to be honest and by the time I looked up there was somebody in my face grabbing me,” added Phillips.
“I don’t know if I could have done more to stop that. I have got to work harder on that and be more alert at the front. We know they like their funny plays off lineouts.
“You see the most successful sides and they all seem to have pretty good cheats in their team. Defences are so good these days, especially at international level, you need that little tiny thing which can open defences up and once they are behind you, that’s when teams score.
“You have got to learn to live with it and pick those tricks up yourself. It’s probably a case of becoming more street-wise from my end. In international rugby, it all happens so quickly that you have something like that and a try has been scored.”
