SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Ryo Kanekubo hit a grand slam with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning to send Tokyo to the Little League World Series final with a 7-4 victory over Willemstad, Curacao.

Kanekubo raised his right arm in triumph as soon as he smacked the 2-2 pitch, an inside fastball, over the hedges beyond the left-center field fence.

It was Kanekubo's second homer of the afternoon, and the second straight game that Japan ended with a walk-off home run.

"I think our team slogan is never give up," manager Youichi Kubo said through a translator.

Kanekubo's teammates mobbed him at the plate before the smiling squad snapped pictures with the banner that proclaimed them Little League international champions.

Japan will play the U.S. champions Warner Robins, Ga., which defeated Lubbock, Texas, 5-2, to decide the World Series title today.

Japan loaded the bases after several hard-hit singles, including a smash to third that Masaya Ogino beat out to load the bases for Kanekubo.

Kubo said his 13-year-old slugger sometimes struggles with his confidence.

"Kanekubo can do it all the time but sometimes he thinks he cannot," Kubo said.

There was no doubt about Kanekubo's blast off reliever Rudson Pietersz that sent fans on the crowded hill behind the outfield scurrying for the ball.

Kanekubo's homer in the fifth tied the game at 3.

Curacao regained the lead in the top of the sixth when Ulrick Carmelia's two-out double scored Suenley Paulina from second before Kelvin Moesquit was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

David Umphreville, Jr. had a two-run single and Zane Conlon snared a line drive to end a rally in Warner Robins' victory over Lubbock.

With runners on second and third and Georgia leading 4-2, Conlon moved quickly to his left to catch a hard liner off the bat of Lubbock's Bryndan Arredondo to end the fifth inning.

A Georgia win today would give U.S. teams three straight World Series titles.

The past two Georgia teams to advance to South Williamsport have come away with the World Series trophy, including Columbus last year and East Marietta in 1983.