It's breathless, wide open stuff at the moment as Scotland centre Matt Scott goes for a gallop but he lacks support and he's snaffled up at the edge of the home 22.

Tom English
BBC Sport Scotland in Japan

"The brilliance of these Japan players in evidence there, albeit some horrendously passive stuff from Scotland. Mafi and Tatekawa doing damage. Both outstanding players who Vern Cotter spoke about during the week."

As expected, Scotland are dominating the line-out and using the set-piece as a very useful springboard for attacks. The Japanese are up quickly in defence as the visitors start to see more of the ball.

Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw pops over the first points of the day as Japan are punished for not releasing.

Nice and safe first line-out for Stuart McInally but it's game over for Al Dickinson. Rory Sutherland is off the bench earlier than expected.

Some nice zippy passing from the hosts as they work the ball from side to side without gaining much ground.

An early worry for Scotland as prop Al Dickinson goes down clutching his hamstring. He's hobbling but looks good to carry on.

Yu Tamura gets the show up and running with a kick deep into Scotland territory.

Japan must look for a strong opening against a Scotland side that can often be a little slow out of the blocks.

The hosts warmed up with a win in Canada last weekend, while many of the Scots have been idle for a month or so.

However, there is not much depth on the home bench and that could be a factor if the visitors can adjust to the sticky conditions and find their feet as the game goes on.

Image source, SNS

Tom English
BBC Sport Scotland in Japan

"Balmy night at the Toyota Stadium. Jim Swinson on the bench for Scotland according to the PA announcer. You wouldn't catch us visiting journalists mispronouncing any of these Japanese names. No, no. About 15-20,000 here tonight. Kinda lost in such a magnificent stadium, capacity 45,000. Kick-off very soon now..."

One man who is in the home line up today is the formidable number eight Amanaki Mafi. 

He scored Japan's only try against Scotland at the World Cup and was the star of the show, with a series of barnstorming surges, until he picked up an injury early in the second half at Kingsholm.

Image source, Getty Images

Since the World Cup, Japan have lost head coach Eddie Jones to England, with Mark Hammett filling in until fellow Kiwi Jamie Joseph takes over in the autumn.

Today they are without nine of the men who featured on that momentous day against the Springboks last September.

Among those missing are captain Michael Leitch, full-back Ayumu Goromaru, winger Akihito Yamada and scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka.

Head coach Vern Cotter has a settled squad to pick from but there a few notable changes for Scotland today.

Edinburgh winger Damien Hoyland makes his first start and his club-mate Stuart McInally is given the chance to show what he can do at hooker.

Ruaridh Jackson takes over at fly-half in the absence of Finn Russell and it will be interesting to see how he gets on in his first international start at no.10 since November 2013.

Image source, SNS

"The key will be maintaining concentration. We need to be tough on ourselves and focus for 80 minutes."

Japan were very unlucky not to progress from the pool stage at the World Cup after winning three of their four matches.

That 45-10 loss to Scotland is their only defeat in 12 outings and it will still hurt that they had to play just four days after an energy-sapping victory over South Africa.

Japan: Kotaro Matsushima, Mifi Poseti Paea, Tim Bennetts, Harumichi Tatekawa, Yasutaka Sasakura, Yu Tamura, Kaito Shigeno, Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie (capt), Kensuke Hatakeyama, Hitoshi Ono, Naohiro Kotaki, Hendrik Tui, Shokei Ki, Amanaki Lelei Mafi.

Replacements: Takeshi Kizu, Masataka Mikami, Shinnosuke Kakinaga, Kotaro Yatabe, Hiroki Yamamoto, Keisuke Uchida, Kosei Ono, Rikiya Matsuda

Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Duncan Taylor, Matt Scott, Damien Hoyland, Ruaridh Jackson, Greig Laidlaw (capt), Alasdair Dickinson, Stuart McInally, Willem Nel, Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, John Barclay, John Hardie, Ryan Wilson.

Replacements: Fraser Brown, Rory Sutherland, Moray Low, Tim Swinson, David Denton, Henry Pyrgos, Peter Horne, Sean Maitland.

Japan became everyone's second favourite team after they shook up the World Cup with their thrilling win over South Africa.

Scotland ran in five tries to beat them in Gloucester a few days later but it was a close affair before the short turnaround took its toll on Japan.

The Brave Blossoms are missing a few key players but they are a rugby nation on the up and will fancy an upset today against a Scotland team that may well be a bit rusty and that has been on the other side of the world for less than a week.

The action starts soon in Toyota City...

Image source, SNS