Left centre Ryan Nicholas scored a total of 16 points to help Japan beat the United States 29-19 in the first match of a two-Test series on Sunday.
Nicholas scored four penalties and two conversions before right winger Kosuke Endo put the game out of the United States' reach by scoring a try five minutes into the second half.
Koliniasi Holani scored Japan's other try in the team's first test match win in nine years and Japan's fourth victory over the United States.
Nicholas opened the scoring in the third minute with his first penalty, before the United States took the lead 7-3 with left prop Mike MacDonald's try and stand-off Mike Hercus' conversion six minutes later.
The visitors ended the first half on top at 14-10 following Takudzwa Ngwenya's converted try but paid the price for indiscipline after conceding too many penalties in the second half. They were able to add only five more points through substitute hooker Joseph Welch's try in the 69th minute.
The second match will be played next Saturday in Tokyo.
JAPAN 29 (H Holani, K Endo tries; R Nicholas 2 cons, 4 pens, S Webb pen) bt USA 19 (M MacDonald, T Ngwenya, J Welch tries; M Hercus 2 cons) at Nagoya.
AFP
