Powerful Brazil proved too much for host Japan, cruising to a 4-0 win in their preliminary group match in blind soccer on Monday at Aomi Urban Sports Park.
Ricardo Alves scored a pair of second-half goals and Raimundo Mendes and Tiago da Silva also found the net as Brazil improved to 2-0 in the four-team group, while Japan dropped to 1-1.
Brazil has won all four gold medals since blind soccer was introduced at the 2004 Athens Paralympics.
Japan, which opened the tournament with a 4-0 victory over France on Sunday, is participating in the five-a-side competition for the first time.
"I was nervous, but it was a comfortable tension," Japan captain Ryo Kawamura said after the match against France. "I'm really happy to be able to play soccer on such a wonderful venue."
Japan will next face China on Tuesday in its final Group A match, with the winner advancing to the semifinals. China defeated France 1-0 in the early match on Monday.
Coach Satoshi Takada said that leading up to the tournament, "Everything that we could do, we did." At training camp, the team simulated the Paralympic match schedule, right down to wakeup calls and mealtimes.
The team even practiced during the hottest times of the day in preparation for the sweltering conditions. That paid off in the match against France, played under a hot midday sun. "There was nothing unusual, we just took the field as normal," Kawamura said.
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