Two-time defending champion Kashima Antlers got off on the wrong foot in their quest for a third straight Nabisco Cup title as Toninho Cerezo's men lost 4-2 to FC Tokyo on Saturday.
Ex-Southampton striker Tadanari Lee was the man of the hour, scoring his first goal in Tokyo colors and setting up Keigo Higashi's stylish volley that finished off the five-time winners of the league cup.
Kazuma Watanabe and Lucas added to Tokyo's tally while the strike force of Yuya Osako and Davi netted for Antlers, who fielded an inexperienced team for the Group B affair.