That is on par with with Vancouver 2010 when they finished eighth overall with 11 medals, including three gold, three silver and five bronze. 

"We want to win at least 10 medals," Masanobu Araki, Japan's Chef de Mission for Sochi 2014 said in Tokyo today. 

Cross-country skiers Shoko Ota and Kozo Kubo and Alpine skiers Taiki Morii and Hiraku Misawa, who attended the press conference in the Japanese capital to announce the team, were confident of reaching the target. 

"If we perform well, more people will become aware of the Paralympics. I'll do my best to help achieve that," said Misawa, 26.

Kubo, 32, was excited about the challenges ahead at the Paralympics, which is due to start on March 7.

"I want to do everything I can to win and reach the pinnacle of my sport," he said.

Yoshihiro Nitta after receiving his gold medal in the one kilometre sprint standing event at Vancouver 2010, one of events he won ©Getty Images

Japan's best-ever performance at the Winter Paralympics was at Nagano in 1998 when they won a total of 41 medals, including 12 gold, to rank fourth overall. 

At Vancouver 2010 their best performer was cross-country skier Yoshihiro Nitta, winner of gold medals in the men's one and 10 kilometre sprint standing races.

Japan's other gold was won by Akira Kano in the men's super-G sitting. 

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