ELLEN White did it again to send the hosts packing and send GB into the knock-out phase.
England ace White was the two-goal hero of the opening victory over Chile.
Both of those goals had been created by the right-sided vision and delivery of White’s Manchester City club-mate Lucy Bronze.
And the instinctive partnership came up with the goods again to settle a stodgy game with just 15 minutes to go.
Skipper Kim Little fed Bronze, who instantly teased the ball into the near post.
Japan stood and watched, but white reacted like the natural predator she is, getting in front of defender and keeper to float a header over the lot of them and into the far corner.
It continued the perfect start for Hege Riise’s team, even if it was nowhere near as fluid as the opening win in the same Sapporo Dome.
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But the second-half introduction of Caroline Weir added craft and guile, with Steph Houghton and Nikita Parris both going close before White struck.
The result leaves Japan on the brink and they have to beat Chile in their final game to have a chance of making the knock-out phase.
GB, though, can start looking at the last eight draw and wondering how far their adventure could take them.
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