Rui Kitada, who turned pro last summer, carded four of her day's six birdies in the back nine on her way to a 3-under-par 69, taking the lead with a one-stroke advantage after the first round of the Saishunkan Ladies on Friday.
Sae Takamura produced five birdies against three bogeys and closed at 2-under 70 while Shiho Oyama led a trio of golfers including Misayo Fujisawa and Kozue Azuma who took a share of third with 71.