Tatsuhiko Kubo scored the first two goals of his international career to give Japan a 2-0 victory over China on the opening day of the East Asian Football Championship in Tokyo on Thursday evening.
Kubo poked home the first in the fifth minute at National Stadium after a neat through ball from Mitsuo Ogasawara and celebrated his 15th cap by completing a brace with a low drive 10 minutes from time.
Japan, whose win was only its second on home soil under Brazilian coach Zico, joined archrival South Korea on three points after the 2002 World Cup cohosts eased the pressure on under-fire coach Humbert Coelho by beating minnow Hong Kong 3-1 also at National Stadium in the first game of the inaugural tournament.