A thoroughly dominant second half display enabled the Maori to comfortably win the their first-ever clash against Japan -- though the inventiveness of John Kirwan's squad caused some anxiety before they disintegrated after the break.
The Maori scored 48 unanswered points after the break to bank the maximum five points and improve to 17.
However, a Wallabies-reinforced Australia A, on 14, are favoured to regain the lead when they host Fiji in Brisbane tomorrow.
Replacement wing Hosea Gear completed a second half treble -- the first the product of a series of high pressure drives when Maori were still to assert their superiority.
Gear burrowed over from close range but the expansive nature of his next two touchdowns adequately signalled the momentum shift as Japan wilted dramatically.
Fellow wing Zar Lawrence, who opened the Maori scoring in the ninth minute, also bagged a double while pivot Callum Bruce also added a brace -- and 15 points via the boot.
The Japanese led 22-17 at the break after New Zealand-born blindside flanker Luke Thompson rounded off a breakout from halfway by fellow ex-pat Shaun Webb.
Japan's Kiwi contingent were prominent during the first spell with Webb and Bryce Robins playing pivotal roles in Japan's two other five-pointers.
Webb was expertly put into a hole by Robins to round off an excellent backline move from a 5-metre scrum and then two minutes later the scorer turned provider to put Tongan-born wing Christian Loamanu outside Shannnon Paku and over in the left hand corner.
Justifiably concerned at the break, the Maori side upped the intensity in the second spell, as instructed by head coach Donny Stevenson.
"We had faith we could open it up," co-captain Tamati Ellison said.
"Once we freed up the arms it was all right." New Zealand Maori had not managed a four-try bonus point since the opening round defeat of Tonga but ran in seven to set up a championship decider against Australia A in Sydney next week.
All Blacks head coach Graham Henry was an interested observer and would have been impressed with a clutch of potential replacements for the All Blacks' Tri-Nations squad.
Jason Eaton, who needed to pass a late fitness test, and fellow lock Ross Filipo had strong games indicating they might be ready if Ali Williams' ankle sprain does not heal on schedule.
Openside flanker Tanerau Latimer, a possible replacement for Richie McCaw, was also prominent though Chiefs teammate and co-captain Liam Messam was arguably the most effective loose forward on display.
Henry will announce any personnel changes when the All Blacks assemble in Wellington tomorrow, ahead of the Tri-Nations opener against South Africa in the capital on Saturday.
