Japan

Major sporting nations Australia and Canada had already withdrawn as organisers came under global pressure to postpone the event for the first time in the Olympics' 124-year modern history.

"On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided," Pound was quoted as saying by USA Today. "The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know."

Forty years on, the upcoming Tokyo Games are the "cursed Olympics" once again, Japan's finance minister said, in remarks that could stir controversy at a time when his government is scrambling to quash speculation that the coronavirus epidemic could derail the world's biggest sporting event this year.

"It's a problem that's happened every 40 years - it's the cursed Olympics - and that's a fact," Taro Aso, who also serves as deputy prime minister, said in a parliamentary committee.

For the better part of thirty years, the Land of the Rising Sun has attracted some of the best athletes from around the world.

Japan’s culture has always been a massive pull-factor and the money on offer for even semi-professional standard players far trumps what’s been available in other countries.

For men who aren’t quite good enough to become full-time professionals in New Zealand, for example, but are still exceptional athletes, Japan has offered a legitimate career pathway.

At the signing ceremony, opened and conducted by Vania Scotty as MoC, Secretary for Health and Fiji-based Embassy of Japan deputy chief of mission Hada Tsuguyoshi signed the MOU for a Toyota Hiace van-style ambulance, including spare parts and consumables and an equipment training package valued at AU$137,063.

Health Secretary Garabwan expressed her deep gratitude to the Government of Japan for the provision of the ambulance.

The broadcaster NHK said a conference in Tokyo in April was likely to discuss China's growing maritime presence in the region.

It said it would be the first time for Japan's defence ministry to host such a conference, which could also include representatives from the United States, Australia and France.

NHK said the participants would likely discuss security issues related to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

They are also expected to talk about co-operation between the countries in the event of natural disasters.

The boat washed ashore on Japan's Sado Island, northwest from the mainland, on Friday and authorities gained access on Saturday.

The heavily damaged vessel had Korean lettering painted on its side.

Police could not confirm whether the two heads belonged to the corpses but Japanese media said the remains were "partially skeletonised".

This could indicate the victims had been at sea for a long time.

"Ghost boats" believed to hail from North Korea are a fairly common discovery on Japanese shores.

Aminiasi Tuimaba and Napolioni Bolaca scored in the first half as Fiji led 14-5 at the break.

Isoa Tabu added another try in the second half to secure the win.

Fiji will play Japan SDS today while Australia play Samoa in the Men's Olympic Qualifier Final.

The Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s Team will take on Samoa in the first semifinal of the Women's Olympic Qualifier while Papua New Guinea take on Solomon Islands in the second semifinal at 12.34pm.

Australia will take on New Zealand in the Women's Oceania International Final.

Anolyn Lulu and Stephanie Qwea flew out of the country Monday to join Priscilla Tommy, who is currently training in Japan.

It was a positive news for Vanuatu following the withdrawal of Australia’s women’s team from the competition which gave Vanuatu the opportunity to represent the continent at the much anticipated World Cup.

There will be a total 38 matches (19 men + 19 women) and seeding for the teams will be based on the latest available Team World Ranking List on November 5.

In what was a first World Cup quarter-final for the Japanese, neither an entire nation seemingly now besotted by rugby, nor a raucous 50,000 crowd packed into Tokyo Stadium, could carry the hosts to victory on Sunday.

"Test match rugby is all about creating opportunities and capitalising, but unfortunately they kept us out and with their set-piece... they played well," Japan skipper Michael Leitch said.

"Credit to them."

Former Japan captain and head coach Hirao – nicknamed "Mr Rugby" in his homeland – died three years ago this Sunday aged 53 after a battle with cancer.

Full-back Ryohei Yamanaka played under Hirao, who represented the Brave Blossoms at the 1987, 1991 and 1995 World Cup, at Kobe Steelers.

"[The quarter-final] is the date he passed away, so there'll be a game on an important day for me as well," he said.

Japan's scrum coach Shin Hasegawa was handed his international breakthough by Hirao during his playing days.