"This was critical for us to start well and have one win beside our name right away," said Nakamura, who scored in open play for the first time in more than a year.
Nakamura found the net just 11 minutes in, chasing a long pass from Nakata before firing a wide angle shot that went just inside the post. Nakata, the team's captain and Adriano's teammate at Parma, notched Japan's second goal in the 64th, easily piercing New Zealand's defense to blow the ball past goalkeeper Mike Utting.
Nakamura, who recently helped Reggina stay in Serie A during his first season in Italy, made it 3-0 with a header.
"We're a better side than we showed today," New Zealand coach Mick Waitt said. "Japan played very well but we also gave them chances to do so.
"I'm disappointed with the first half. I don't think we played with any belief."
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