The Aussie frontman, who has been battling a back complaint, nodded in a Mu Kanazaki cross from close-range to give Nagoya the lead after seven minutes.

Tomotaka Kitamara equalized late in the first-half, before Nagoya's Marcus Tulio Tanaka got on the end of Alessandro Santos' cross for a stoppage-time winner.

Kennedy's strike takes his season tally for Grampus to five goals.

Elsewhere in the J.League, Eddy Bosnar's Shimizu S-Pulse remain top of the division after a 2-1 win over Matthew Spiranovic's Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1.

Bosnar put in a full shift for Shimizu, while Spiranovic was an unused sub for Urawa.

In China's Super League, Chris Coyne's Liaoning Whowin lost 1-0 to Changsha Ginde, with a brilliant free-kick proving the difference.

In China's League One, John Tambouras' Guangzhou FC defeated Anhui Jiufang 1-0 to move up to fifth.