South Korean team members celebrate their victory after winning the East Asian Cup final in Wuhan, China, Aug 9, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

Japan almost took the lead just 4 minutes into the game as Takashi Usami's banana kick out of the box hit the bar.

Wu Lei put the hosts ahead in the 10th minute when the Shanghai SIPG player sent his right-footed shot near the edge of the box into the net from a perfect pass of Wu Xi.

Japan hit the equalizer as Tomoaki Makino fed Yuki Muto from the left wing and he squared for Muto to drill home in a close-range.

In an early fixture, South Korea played to a scoreless match against DPR Korea to claim the title of the East Asian Cup.