Japan survived a late Scotland rally and two viable penalty claims to leave the Scots' World Cup qualification hopes in tatters after a 2-1 defeat.
After defeat to England in their opening game, Shelley Kerr's team needed a positive result but were outplayed in the first-half, going down to Mana Iwabuchi (23) and a Yuika Sugasawa penalty (37).
Some second-half substitutions sparked Scotland into life and a brilliant long-range Lana Clelland (88) finish narrowed the deficit but it was too little too late.
Scotland had two strong late penalty shouts - for a foul on Erin Cuthbert and a handball by Risa Shimizu - that were turned down and not reviewed by VAR while Cuthbert also hit the post from close range.
This defeat leaves Scotland bottom of the group, knowing they need to beat Argentina to have a chance of making the knockout stages as one of the four best third-placed sides.
Match Events
23' Iwabuchi was left in quite a bit of space on the edge of the box when Endo picked her out and after taking a touch, she fires her shot over Alexander and into the back of the net.
37' Sugasawa scores the penalty! She confidently steps up the spot and sends the goalkeeper the wrong way as she passes the ball into the back of the net. 2-0 Japan!
88' A very poor pass from Ichise is played straight to Clelland who is in a lot of space just outside the box. She has time to take a touch before she finds the back of the net with a brilliant long-range strike that gives the keeper no chance.
