Japan regain top spot in Pool A with a bonus-point victory in Toyota
Kotaro Matsushima seals bonus-point fourth try in injury time
Replacement Fumiaki Tanaka scores third try for hosts
Kazuki Himeno and Timothy Lafaele claim earlier tries
Japan face Scotland for place in quarter-finals next weekend
Ireland face Samoa in the other remaining match in the group
Japan 26-12 Samoa
Line-out and rolling maul is the weapon of choice for Samoa, but they can't get the legs pumping.
Tusi Pisi sticks a diagonal kick into the opposite corner but it falls into opposition hands. Another penalty, another chance to execute the line-out-rolling maul combo.
Japan 26-12 Samoa
Philippa Tuttiett
Former Wales international on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
You've got to give credit to Samoa, they are absolutely battling for everything and I really did think that we'd start to see them drop off by this point, but they are maintaining that intensity and that is no mean feat against the Japanese who are renowned as one of the fittest teams at this tournament.
Japan 26-12 Samoa
Ten minutes for Japan to see this out and take one step closer to the quarter-finals, 10 minutes for Samoa to save their World Cup.
Henry Taefu bundles his way down the left. Samoa need to move it right, but it's back in Japan's possession.
The Pacific Islanders get the penalty. They'll have another go here...
Japan 26-12 Samoa
Oh, hello!
Japan flanker Pieter Labuschagne goes bobbing and weaving his way through a cluster of blue shirts like a sprightly outside back.
He's felled by the recovering Samoa defence who promptly turn the ball over and hammer it down field.
Image source, ReutersJapan 26-12 Samoa
Lomano Lemeki and Kotaro Matsushima double up to keep Samoa at bay and then scrum-half Dwayne Polataivao is bundled into touch by the hosts.
Samoa are struggling to build any momentum.
Image source, ReutersJapan 26-12 Samoa
It's like a Queen concert inside the City of Toyota Stadium at the moment - the crowd encouraged into a chorus of "Ey-Ohs".
Japan 26-12 Samoa
Not the greatest kick from Kotaro Matsushima as he lashes into touch, but it eases the pressure on the Japanese 22m line. They're creeping towards top spot in Pool A.
Japan 26-12 Samoa
Philippa Tuttiett
Former Wales international on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
It was like it was the opening 10 minutes - the amount of energy they brought to that set was admirable. Those rucks were a bit messy, some bodies were flying all over the place, but more importantly they were keeping it and that's built up the pressure and forced the penalty.
Japan 26-12 Samoa
The roar that meets a Japan turnover is almost as loud as their try moments earlier! Superb defence from the Brave Blossoms close to their own line, with Michael Leitch at the heart of it.
Image source, AFPJapan 26-12 Samoa
Immediate pressure from Samoa as they fling it left. The visitors have an advantage, and go left again only to find the wall of defence that is Lomano Lemeki.
Tusi Pisi boots back cross-field looking for a blue shirt, but that'll be called back for the penalty. No posts this time, the Pacific Islanders need a try...
Japan 26-12 Samoa
Philippa Tuttiett
Former Wales international on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
What confidence to go for the back ball - that's a massive throw and it's pinpoint accuracy. Because of that, when you get the rolling maul on there are fewer Samoan defenders there - if you go for middle ball you don't get that.
Kazuki Himeno
Brilliant!
Now that's how to execute a rolling maul from a line-out.
Ten metres out, the throw is perfect and Kazuki Himeno takes it to the back of a Japan maul that steamrolls its way over the Samoa line for the number eight to stick out an arm and plant the ball down.
And what a roar ringing out around the stadium. Yu Tamura tags on the extras.
Image source, Getty ImagesJapan 19-12 Samoa
Fresh legs for Japan - Asaeli Ai Valu, Isileli Nakajima and Shota Horie are now all on.
Yu Tamura
No mistake with this one from the Japan fly-half. The hosts edge seven points ahead.
Image source, ReutersJapan 16-12 Samoa
Philippa Tuttiett
Former Wales international on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
The chase from Japan looked a little lethargic to me. They have been defending a lot. They have been playing high tempo but when you're defending constantly, it's much, much harder than when you're in attack.
Japan 16-12 Samoa
Another penalty at the breakdown - great scrapping from Japan number eight Kazuki Himeno to get hands on the ball and a panicking Samoa defence are penalised.
Another shot at the sticks for Yu Tamura.
Japan 16-12 Samoa
Wide out, from distance... the normally reliable fly-half can't get the whip he needs and the ball slides the wrong side of the posts. A collective sigh around the City of Toyota Stadium.
Image source, Getty ImagesJapan 16-12 Samoa
You go, we go...
A sloppy, splitting maul from Samoa is blown up for obstruction and Yu Tamura will look to wipe out that Samoan penalty immediately.
Japan 16-12 Samoa
Philippa Tuttiett
Former Wales international on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
With that kicking game it was very interesting - it was almost like neither team wanted possession, like they wanted to defend. The kicks weren't really putting the opposition under too much pressure to turn and gather. It was like they were feeling one another out. Japan have ended up on the wrong end of it.
Henry Taefu
A slight fade on Henry Taefu's strike, but that straightens up to find the target. The centre's boot is keeping Samoa ticking over.
Image source, AFP