Kirwan predicts bright future in Japan
Catching up: Japan are chasing a place in the top eight
Japan's national coach John Kirwan is predicting major progress from the country's rugby team over the coming two years.
Kirwan, who was formerly Head Coach with Italy, lead Japan in the 2007 World Cup and is looking to build on recent good showings.
"I think in the next two years you're going to see a huge transformation," the former New Zealand international said.
Japan easily won the inaugural Asian Five Nations rugby tournament earlier this month, pulverising Kazakhstan 82-6 and the Arabian Gulf 114-6 along the way.
The level of competition did little to help Japan's 'Brave Blossoms' close the gap on the world's top sides but Kirwan was supportive of the new tournament.
"It is a very important tournament," he said.
"In 20 years Japan can look back and say 'We won the first one' but hopefully then it will be a very difficult cup to win."
"Rugby has a responsibility to go global and Asia is definitely the future of the game. Four million people pass through Tokyo's Shibuya station every day - that's the population of New Zealand!"
Japan have made significant strides since Kirwan's appointment early last year, bowing out of the 2007 World Cup with their pride intact after a 12-12 draw with Canada in their final Pool B game.
Although trounced 91-3 by Australia and 72-18 by Wales, Kirwan's side were unlucky not to beat Fiji, losing 35-31 in a frantic game.
"Our goal at the World Cup was to win two games but we didn't do that and we were very disappointed," Kirwan said.
"But I think it's important to do things in phases.
"At the moment Japan are 16th in the world. Next we want to get to 11 and then to number eight. Our goal is Tonga, Fiji and Samoa and then to keep working."
Japan will face each of those three countries in next month's Pacific Nations Cup, with home games against Tonga on June 15 and Fiji on June 22 and a visit to Samoa on July 5.
Kirwan has Tongan-born wing Christian Loamanu and New Zealand-born lock Luke Thompson back from injury and made no apologies for continuing to select overseas talent.
"Ideally we would like to have an all-Japanese team in ten years time," Kirwan added.
"But it's very important to use what we have at the moment to get success in the short-term, as long as we're working towards growing the game here."