Host Japan showed great determination and spirit to fight back from one set down and claim a 3-1 victory over Asian rival China in front of a boisterous home crowd at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo on Monday.
Takahiro Yamamoto on the spike and Nobuhiro Ito impressive on the block combined to help Japan rebound after losing the first set and Yoichi Kato also produced a solid performance as Japan prevailed 23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-20 for its second straight win of the tournament.
In other matches, Canada recorded its first victory of the Olympic qualifying competition with a workmanlike straight-set victory over Egypt while Sydney Olympic champion Serbia and Montenegro was given a tough workout before dismissing the United States in straight sets to remain unbeaten.
European champion Italy made it two wins from two as it fended off the aggressive challenge of Venezuela to triumph 3-0 at Site B in Nagano, Brazil came from behind to defeat France 3-1 and South Korea picked up its first win by beating Tunisia 3-0.