Japan failed to win the E-1 Football Championship after collapsing 4-1 against South Korea on Saturday on the final day of the tournament.
Japan headed into the game at Ajinomoto Stadium needing only a draw to lift the trophy for the second time, and the omens looked good when Yu Kobayashi staked the home side to a third-minute lead from the penalty spot.
But South Korea, which like Japan was without its European-based players for the four-team tournament also featuring North Korea and China, equalized through Kim Shin-wook in the 13th minute before a free kick from Jung Woo-young and another strike from Kim Shin-wook gave the Koreans a two-goal halftime lead.