WILLLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania: Japan staged a remarkable comeback to win the Little League World Series baseball tournament on Sunday, rallying from an eight-run deficit to defeat Mid-Atlantic from Pennsylvania 18-11.

The Japanese youngsters, who had won through to the championship game after defeating Mexico on Sunday, appeared to have been caught cold by their American opponents early on after trailing 10-2 in the first inning.

But the Japanese hit back superbly to open up a 13-11 lead in the third inning.

After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, Japan then added five more runs to seal victory in the sixth.

The star of the show for the Japanese was Shingo Tomita, who contributed two home runs.

Tomita finished 3-4 in the game, with two RBIs and four runs scored, including homers in the second and third innings.

The Japanese pummeled 22 hits to their opponents eight.

The victory completed the 11th Little League World Series victory by a Japanese team, second only to Taiwan with 17.