Miyuki Takahashi scored a game-high 21 points to lead Japan to its first victory in the final round of the women's volleyball World Grand Prix with a comeback win over the Netherlands on Thursday.
Makiko Horai nailed three consecutive points to highlight a key rally in the second set as Japan, which lost to Italy in Wednesday's opening match, won 22-25, 25-20, 28-26, 25-22 at Sendai Gymnasium.
In the day's other action in the six-team round-robin tournament, defending champion Brazil won its second match in as many days by beating Cuba 25-16, 21-25, 22-25, 25-21, 16-14.
Italy also improved to 2-0 with a 25-16, 25-21, 25-22 victory over winless China, the gold medalist at the Athens Games.