Koji Yamase also struck twice at Nissan Stadium as the Marinos recorded a second win of the new season to sit just a point adrift of early pacesetters Shimizu S-Pulse, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Kashima Antlers after three games.

Substitute Yuya Osako scored with his first touch with seven minutes remaining as Kashima recorded a 1-0 win at Omiya Ardija and Shimizu also needed a late goal, from Eddy Bosnar, to edge out Vissel Kobe at home, while Sanfrecce recorded a 3-1 win at Shonan Bellmare.

In Yokohama, Nakamura opened the scoring after just eight minutes with a storming run and finish from outside the area.

Yamase doubled the advantage just four minutes later as the striker latched on to a fine through-ball from Kazuma Watanabe to beat the Kawasaki backline and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima before skilfully slotting home from inside the area.

Marinos midfielder Kenta Kano hit the Kawasaki bar 10 minutes before the break before Yamase fired home from just outside the area five minutes later after Watanabe's cross was only half-cleared.

Kawasaki, who were without midfielder Kengo Nakamura, striker Juninho and defenders Shuhei Terada and Kosuke Kikuchi due to injury, continued to struggle and Yuzo Kurihara headed home Nakamura's corner on the hour mark to seal the win.

"I feel so great," said Marinos manager Kazushi Kimura. "It was a perfect win. Our players did exactly what they had trained for."

In Omiya, striker Osako struck the winner just a minute after coming off the bench as defending champions Kashima maintained an unbeaten start to the new season.

Osako snuck in behind the Omiya defence to turn home Marquinhos' right-wing cross.

"I'm delighted to see Osako score the winner with his first touch," said Kashima manager Oswaldo Oliveira.

"As the Omiya players were losing their stamina, I thought a fresh player with good skills and finishing ability would finish the game for us."

In Hiratsuka, Japan striker Hisato Sato scored twice in the first half from crosses from Satoru Yamagishi, who got his name on the scoresheet in the second half, while in Shizuoka, Bosnar's 82nd-minute free-kick handed Shimizu all three points.

Elsewhere, Gamba Osaka and Albirex Niigata remain without a win this season after sharing a goalless draw at Expo '70 Commemoration Park Stadium.

Brazilian forward Diego struck the winner seven minutes before the hour mark as Kyoto Sanga beat Vegalta Sendai 2-1, while FC Tokyo were held to a 0-0 draw by Cerezo Osaka.