Japan beat Russia 30-10 in opening match of 2019 World Cup
Hosts seal bonus point with four tries at sold-out Tokyo Stadium
Japan wing Kotaro Matsushima scores hat-trick
Flanker Pieter Labuschagne runs clear for Japan's other try
Russia's Kirill Golosnitskiy notched tournament's first try in fifth minute
Rugby World Cup opening ceremonies
Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Tokyo Stadium
The crowd loved the bit where they named all the host cities. Are they cheering for their home town or just big supporters of all Japanese locations?
A quick montage of the various stadiums and host cities was beamed onto the stadium floor.
Rugby World Cup opening ceremony
Image source, ReutersAnd they have got it going a little earlier than expected.
The house lights dim and a spotlight picks out a crouching man at the centre of the pitch.
He is one of 15 gods representing elements such as sea, mountain, earth - who launch into an elaborate dance and drum routine.
Before kick-off today there will be an opening ceremony.
What will Japanese organisers have up their sleeves? Will they trip the light fantastic and give us a double barrel blast of technology and tradition?
Or will they be keeping some of their powder dry for the Olympics next summer?
For comparison, this is what England cooked up four years ago.
A bit like the opening scene of the London 2012 shindig, a rugby ball erupted from the Twickenham pitch.
Image source, GettyBefore Prince Harry welcomed the world...
Image source, Gettyand Laura Wright gave the crowd a blast of the windpipes,
Image source, Getty ImagesRugby World Cup opening ceremony
Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Tokyo Stadium
Image source, BBC SportNot sure if this picture properly captures it but a Japanese rugby crowd is kind of like the opposite of Where’s Wally. Try and spot someone not in a red and white shirt...
Image source, GettyThe organisers have front-loaded the schedule with a stellar spectacular opening weekend.
Look upon their fixture-list works and weep with joy...
Today:
Japan v Russia 11:45 BST
Saturday:
Australia v Fiji 05:45 BST
France v Argentina 08:15 BST
New Zealand v South Africa 10:45 BST
Sunday:
Italy v Namibia 06:15 BST
Ireland v Scotland 08:45 BST
England v Tonga 11:15 BST
Japan v Russia (11:45 BST)
Every kick, coughed-up ball and split eyebrow of Japan 2019 will be live on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Sounds.
The team are already in place, riding the Japanese metro to Tokyo Stadium ready for commentary on Japan v Russia.
Join them from 11:00 BST for coverage of the tournament opener.
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Rugby World Cup opening ceremony
Image source, ReutersMore than a decade in the planning, but it feels like we have been waiting a lifetime for this.
Rugby union takes it's big trip east for the first-ever World Cup in Asia and the first to be staged outside a Tier One nation.
Can the All Blacks complete an unprecedented three-peat?
Can Rassie Erasmus steer a rejuvenated South Africa all the way to glory?
Has Eddie Jones brought England to the boil at just the right time? Are Ireland coming off the heat just at the wrong time? Is this Wales best ever chance at the big pot? Will Scotland learn the Japanese for 'jouez, jouez', throw caution to the wind, some wild passes to the wing and shock a superpower?
So many questions, this is where the answers start to arrive.
Rugby World Cup opening ceremony
Hello Kitty.
Hello Billy.
Image source, AFPHello Japan 2019.
Image source, Getty Images