All Blacks XV have scored 30 unanswered points to dispatch a spirited Japan XV 38-6 in hot conditions at Tokyo.
For much of the first half, the home side had their visitors under pressure, scoring early through a penalty from first-five Rikiya Matsuda and trailling only 11-6 at halftime.
NZ counterpart Stephen Perofeta scored the only try of the opening 40 minutes, finding a gap in the defensive line, after an attacking scrum feed. While he missed the conversion, he kicked two penalties and another after the restart to give his team some comfort, before the floodgates opened.
Centre Jack Goodhue scored a long range try, after he made the initial break from his own half, found Perofeta in support and stayed available for a return pass from winger Bailyn Sullivan.
Etene Nanai-Seturo was next to score, after a loose pass from an attacking scrum was fortuitously kicked and regathered by flanker Billy Harmon, and fullback Ruben Love flung a long pass for his unmarked winger.
Midfielder Alex Nankivell was another recipient of Sullivan's generosity near the tryline, while replacement halfback Folau Fakatava had too much speed for the cover defence to score, with time up on the clock.
"Very hot," said co-captain Brad Weber, when asked about the encounter. "I think it's about 7-8 degrees at home, where I'm from, coming over here, where it's 30-plus.
"It took us a bit of time to get used to during the week and that first 20 minutes was some of the fastest and toughest rugby I've played on the lungs. I think I've earned an ice bath and an Asahi [beer].
"They were very sharp and play with such speed. In this kind of heat, it's tough to keep up with at times, but we know next week against their test team will be another step up.
"We just wanted to be physical tonight to take away some of their speed and at times, we did that well, but we have to take another step up, because there are some class players to come in next week."
Guided by national coach Jamie Joseph and his staff, the Japanese combination was probably only a handful of players short of its top line-up and will presumably be bolstered by its veterans for the return match next Saturday at Kumamoto.
All Blacks XV 38 (Perofeta, Goodhue, Nanai-Seturo, Nankivell & Fakatava tries; Perofeta 3 penalties & conversion, Cameron conversion) Japan XV 6 (Matsuda 2 penalties)
