The first night match at the venue in 34 years saw Japan outscore their opponents – a mix of former Japanese internationals and players from China, Korea, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong – by 11 tries to one in humid conditions to triumph 69-10.

Japan started brightly with their star wing Daisuke Ohata marking his comeback to the national side with a try, the world’s leading try scorer having ruptured his Achilles tendon in January and undergone intensive rehabilitation in an effort to return in time for the Rugby World Cup.

Keiji Hirose – who played for Japan at the 1995, 1999 and 2003 World Cups – kicked a 12th minute penalty for the Asian Barbarians, before Japan responded with tries by flanker Takamichi Sasaki, wing Hirotoki Onozawa, centre Koji Taira and fullback Go Aruga.

The Asian Barbarians pulled a try back through Japanese second row Tomoaki Taniguchi under the posts, but they went in at half time trailing 31-10 and would not add to their tally in the second half as Japan ran in a further six tries.

Taira scored two of these to complete his hat-trick, with Aruga claiming his second and scrum half Yuki Yatomi, replacement back row Ryota Asano and second row Lautangi Samurai Vatuevi also crossing for tries.

After the match Japan Head Coach John Kirwan addressed the crowd in Japanese from prepared notes to thank the fans for coming to watch the team and to also seek their support during the World Cup, when his side face Australia, Wales, Canada and Fiji in Pool B.

Kirwan, a Rugby World Cup winner with the All Blacks in 1987, will have further Tests against Italy in St Vincent on August 18th and then Portugal in Venice a week later as he seeks to end Japan’s 10-match losing streak at the World Cup in France.

The match may have been convincingly won by Japan, but for the Asian Barbarians Head Coach Jarrad Gallagher the game achieved its aim and “was successful for the promotion of rugby in Asia”.