Japan may have been bitterly disappointed to have narrowly lost out on hosting the 2011 rugby World Cup but they have certainly learnt from any mistakes made during that process and are moving in the right direction to host the 2015 renewal.
Greg Thomas, director of communications for the sport's ruling body the International Rugby Board (IRB), believes the development of rugby in Asia is vital to the sport and will be boosted by Japan hosting the showpiece event.
"Losing the vote to host the World Cup isn't the be all and end all of things," Thomas said. "It's the four year cycle in between. The international form of the game hasn't been the focus in Japan, it has been the corporate clubs and the university structure. Japan has a long history of rugby and has an IRB council member. We have strong ties with Japan."
He added: "The Japanese Rugby Football Union (JRFU) is small but at the same time I don't think that the Japanese have done enough to promote rugby across the continent."
However, Thomas believes that a page may have been turned following the defeat to New Zealand in the vote for the 2011 World Cup and that after recovering from the huge disappointment they have taken on board why they did not prevail.
"The clubs and the JRFU are talking for the first time which is great. The release of players for international tests is vital as it is this form of the sport that drives the game.
"We have encouraged Japan to go again for hosting the World Cup. They are making strides and taking on board advice from outside," he added.
Thomas said that Japan as a tier two side would receive vital funding from the ?30 million (US$44 million) earned from the past World Cup and this year's renewal.
And he added that Japan would gain vital experience from competing regularly in the annual Pacific Cup which also involves the Pacific Islands of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga as well as Australia A for the first time and for the first time the Junior All Blacks.
"That is the level that Japan are at and they know that," said Thomas, a former center for Swansea and London Welsh. "It will give them a chance to see if they can match the All Blacks Junior side and the Aussies."
"However at the moment Japan [who are now coached by former All Black playing great John Kirwan] are a little bit behind the likes of Fiji and Samoa because of their club structure," he added.
While Thomas admits that the game has stagnated in Korea (who play-off for a place in the World Cup against Tonga in February) he believes there is huge potential to come from China.
"China is showing interest in the game and we have a regional director [one of eight round the world] based in Hong Kong who is looking at China," he said.
However Thomas acknowledges that Asia is not set to rock the boat at international level for a while to come.
"We are not talking about turning Asian rugby round immediately. It is a long term project. But I would reiterate that Asia is hugely important for us," he said.
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