Warren Gatland 12-year reign as Wales coach ended in defeat as New Zealand sealed third place at the Rugby World Cup by running in six tries.
Gatland was hoping to spring an upset in Tokyo with Wales seeking their first win over their bogey team since 1953.
But New Zealand made it 31 straight wins in the fixture after scoring two tries in the first 13 minutes and never looking back after that.
It proved a game too far for Gatland's battered and bruised squad at the end of a gruelling tournament in which injuries took their toll.
The loss means the elusive wait for victory over the All Blacks goes on, with incoming coach Wayne Pivac the next to try when he takes Wales down under for a summer tour in 2020.
The game was also a New Zealand swansong for Steve Hansen, who bows out after eight years in the job.
Wales got off to the worst possible start when prop Joe Moody went over for a try in the fifth minute, with Beauden Barrett following suit eight minutes after.
That put Gatland's side on the backfoot from the off, although they did fightback midway through the first half when Hallam Amos rounded off an excellent move as Wales spread the ball wide.
But New Zealand ended the opening 40 minutes as they finished it, Ben Smith twice racing over with fly-half Richie Mo'unga making it a perfect four out of four conversions as Wales went in at the interval 28-10 down.
There was no let up after the break when Ryan Crotty quickly scored New Zealand's fifth try, Mo'unga again converting to make it 35-10, and there were real fears at that stage this would turn into a real hammering.
But Wales, inspired by a rampaging Justin Tipuric run, showed the spirit expected under Gatland and went through the phases before Josh Adams dived under a flurry of bodies to score from close range.
It was Adams' seventh try of the tournament, a new Welsh record as he eclipsed the six scored by Shane Williams in 2007, and he was tantalisingly just one short of the World Cup best of eight in a single tournament held jointly by Jonah Lomu, Bryana Habana and Julian Savea.
However, any hopes of a remarkable Welsh comeback were quickly extinguished as New Zealand took control again, Mo'unga going over for a try of his own near the end to complete the scoring.
