Olympic champions Germany and the Netherlands on Sunday started their campaign in style with convincing wins against South Africa and Argentina, respectively at the Kyocera Stadium here.
Germany, beaten by Australia in the final in 2010 at New Delhi, were winners of successive World Cup titles in 2002 and 2006, defeated South Africa 4-0 while hosts the Netherlands won 3-1.
South Africa kept the German strikers at bay until they conceded a penalty stroke in the 27th minute that was converted by Christopher Zeller.
Thilo Stralkowski increased the lead just seconds before half-time with a strike in the open play.
The South African goal fell twice in the space of four minutes in the second session with Mats Grambusch (56th minute) and Oliver Korn (59th) firing on target to launch the German campaign with pull points in the first Group B outing.
For the Dutch team, Valetin Verga (26th), Mink van der Weerden (40th) and Rogier Hofman (50th) while Gonzalo Peiliat (33th) scored for Argentia.
USAeves stun England
United States pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory over England in a Group B match at the women's hockey World Cup.
The lone goal for world no. 3 England came from the sticks of captain Kate Walsh, who slammed home a penalty corner in the 56th minute.
USA had failed to feature in the 12-team World Cup in 2010 where England got a bronze.
The American girls had finished at the bottom in the 2012 Olympics.