Japan was forced to play another full-set match, but this time the host country emerged as the winner.
Miyu Nagaoka scored 15 points and Sarina Koga added 12 on spikes, leading Japan to a 25-18, 20-25, 30-32, 25-15, 15-13 comeback win over the Dominican Republic on Thursday at Yoyogi National Gymnasium.
Japan finished the first round with a 4-1 record and is ranked second to Russia (5-0) in the 12-nation Women's World Cup. Japan's only loss came on Sunday after a five-set defeat to Russia. The Dominican Republic fell to 3-2.