Scotland have survived two second-half scares to get their November test campaign off to a winning start against a plucky Japanese side at Murrayfield with a 42-17 victory.
The Scots led 11-3 at half time, but tries by left wing Kenki Fukuuoka twice pegged back the gap to a single point before the hosts pulled clear with four tries in the final 25 minutes.
Scotland bagged six tries in all, wing Tommy Seymour claiming a brace on his home debut and Greig Laidlaw, Alasdair Dickinson, Duncan Weir and Sean Lamont also crossing the opposition whitewash.
Seymour, born in Tennessee, was making his first home start for his mother’s native country, as was his Glasgow team-mate, lock Tim Swinson, both having been blooded on the summer tour to South Africa.
It was the Scots who made the better start, putting the Brave Blossoms on the back foot from the off by taking a seventh-minute lead after the Japanese front row were punished for failing to bind correctly.
Scotland took half an hour to fully get into the attacking groove but did so with a vengeance, Maitland making a half break on the left before play was switched to the right and drives by Swinson and David Denton set up Seymour for a score in the corner.
Japan full back Ayumu Goromaru nailed a 37th minute penalty for Japan, and Scotland had to settle for an 11-3 half-time lead, which the visitors cut to 11-10 three minutes into the second half.
Fukuoka scored in the left corner, finishing off a move launched by scrum-half Fuimaka Tanaka and Goromaru converted.
There were sighs of relief when Laidlaw dived over to score from a close range ruck four minutes later. His successful conversion made it 18-10 to Scotland.
Again, Japan hit back, Goromaru punching a hole in the home defence and Fukuoka scooting over for his second try on the right. Goromaru’s conversion closed the gap to 18-17.
Then it was Scotland’s turn again. Jackson sent a long looping pass out to the right and Seymour crossed for his second try.
Laidlaw missed the conversion but Scotland maintained their momentum, replacement prop Dickinson scoring under the posts in the 64th minute and Laidlaw adding the conversion to make it 30-17.
Five minutes later replacement fly-half Weir squeezed over to score in the left corner.
Then, with two minutes remaining, Lamont touched down a loose kick and Weir converted to complete an ultimately comfortable victory