Japan rugby coach John Kirwan is hoping for a good outing in this year's IRB Pacific Nations Cup competition.

They will play all their four matches in Fiji and Kirwan believes his team received a major boost after they won the Asian Five Nations tournament last month.

He said the PNC will be much tougher this year although Australia A pulled out but the Junior All Blacks, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga are all big teams and have big names in their squads.

Japan will be in Australia next week to play a build-up match against the Queensland Reds side before heading to Fiji.

The brave Cherry Blossoms play their opening match in the Pacific Nations Cup against Samoa on June 18th at Lawaqa Park.