Japan opened their Nations Championship campaign with a convincing 27-10 victory over Italy in Tokyo on Saturday. The match marked a strong start for the host nation despite the absence of head coach Eddie Jones, who was serving the final game of a four-match suspension imposed by the Japan Rugby Football Union after an incident involving match officials during a tour of Australia earlier this year.

Italy, coming off a notable Six Nations Championship that included their first-ever win over England, initially took the lead but were soon overtaken by a determined Japanese side. Under the guidance of forwards coach Neal Hatley, who stepped in for Jones, Japan displayed a confident and cohesive performance in front of a crowd exceeding 20,000 spectators.

Japan scored two tries in the first half and added a third after the break, effectively controlling the tempo and keeping Italy at bay throughout the match. The victory provided a positive momentum boost for Japan as they prepare to face Ireland in their next Nations Championship fixture, which will take place in Australia.