Olivia Merry, Gemma Flynn and Kayla Whitelock, early in the third quarter, were the scorers to inflict the first defeat on the physically smaller but speedy Japanese.
Japan captain Miyuki Nakagawa pulled one back for the runners-up, 3-1, from a goalmouth melee in the 55th minute and another goal followed not long after, courtesy of Mie Nakashima, but it was too little, too late.
"We just kind of panicked a little bit and they definitely put more pressure on us so that's something we really need to look at going forward," Neal said as a near-capacity crowd cherished the historic occasion with the onset of a persistent drizzle from the third quarter.
"In the attacking end we got three goals out of it so I guess to have that buffer was quite good at the other end."
Having conceded two quick early goals to Australia in the second semifinal 3-2 win on Saturday, Neal said the intention was always to come out all cylinders firing in the opening quarter last night.
"We wanted to get out there and get that lead early so it would take that pressure off because, obviously, final is a different ball game."
Hager had a minimal involvement from the dugout last night after the warm-up session and joined the women for the pep talk and celebrations afterwards.
"He's not the happiest about how we ended it because, obviously, it would have been nice not to have any goals scored against us but he'll be pleased about the win," she said of the Aussie coach.
Having gleaned the confidence in the semifinal, the Black Sticks will take that across the Ditch with the four-nation Darwin series next month leading to the Champions Trophy in Britain in June.
While Merry had consistently shown the mongrel required to sniff out goals in the tourney and clinically put them into the net she preferred to play the collective card.
"I guess goals are often scored by the team but you just happen to be the one at the end of the train that puts it in the goal, so I wouldn't say it's my goal but a team one," she said, confirming pre-tourney she was happy with her form.
"Beating Australia in the semifinal was a first here and ditto winning the crown so that was good heading to Rio," said the Cantabrian.
"This tournament's perfect preparation for the Olympics to play against some of those teams."
World No10 Japan made a couple of initial raids into the circle but it was Merry who made it look easy at the other end for a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute.
Charlotte Harrison offered a couple of "oooh" moments but Flynn took the matter into her own hands with a field goal in the ninth minute to make it 2-0.
The second quarter was conspicuous in the sides' armwrestle for possession and territory but no ascendancy.
In the second minute of the third quarter former skipper/defender Whitelock showed why she would be an asset for some much-needed impetus with a solid finish to make it 3-0.
It was great to see defender Emily Gaddum surge up to the attacking circle almost in football wing-attack fashion.
Final standings: Canada 8th, South Korea 7th, India 6th, Ireland 5th, China 4th, Australia 3rd, Japan 2nd, New Zealand champions.
