Aya Miyama's second-half free kick gave Japan a 2-1 victory over New Zealand and a winning start to its Women's World Cup campaign on Monday.
Miyama struck from just outside the box after Yuki Nagasato opened the scoring early and Amber Hearn quickly leveled for New Zealand, as Norio Sasaki's side collected its first points in Germany.
Ranked fourth in the world, Japan is trying to better its quarterfinal result from the 1995 competition in its sixth appearance. Japan's next match is on Friday against Mexico, which plays England in the other Group B contest later Monday.