YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) -- Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura inspired Japan to a 2-0 home victory over troubled Peru in the Asian champions' opening match of 2007 on Saturday.

Nakamura whipped in a free kick from the left for striker Seiichiro Maki to head home after 19 minutes in drizzly Yokohama and produced a carbon-copy delivery for Japan's second goal.

Still wearing a bandage after breaking his left hand last month, Nakamura swept the ball into the danger zone for Naohiro Takahara to double Japan's lead nine minutes after the break.

Nakamura's free kick was lethal but Eintracht Frankfurt striker Takahara was given too much space by the Peru defence to turn and smash the ball into the roof of the net.

Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was underemployed on his 100th international appearance as the home side made a strong start to their preparations for the Asian Cup in July.

Defender Tulio almost made it 3-0 with a powerful header which thumped against the cross bar in the 90th minute as Japan underlined their dominance over a below-strength Peru side.

Japan coach Ivica Osim called up his European-based players for the first time since taking over after last year's World Cup in Germany.

"It was a clean trap and a nice feeling to put it away," Takahara told reporters after his 18th goal in 48 games for his country.

"We didn't have much time together before the match but we had some decent moments and it was nice way to start the year."

Julio Cesar Uribe's second spell as Peru coach began two weeks ago amid injury problems and a row between Bayern Munich striker Claudio Pizarro and the federation.

Four players pulled out of Uribe's first squad because of injury while Ukraine-based striker Andres Mendoza was unavailable for the friendly because of visa problems.

Pizarro, banned by the federation in October after missing the second of two friendlies against Chile, was also called up but refused to play.

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