JAPAN is hosting the first Rugby World Cup held on Asian soil.

So here, SunSport's JONNY FORDHAM serves up a sushi-inspired, A to Z guide to everything you need to know …

ARIGATO. England's stars have been learning the language for months so that they can say "thank you" to their fans and hosts in Japanese.

BRAVE BLOSSOMS. The Japan team's nickname — after cherry blossom trees that are the unofficial national flower of the country.

CAP. All players get a Rugby World Cup 2019 cap, while the entire team, including coaches and management, will get a participation medal.

DROP GOAL. Yes, Jonny Wilkinson's iconic kick that won England their first World Cup in 2003 in Sydney.

South Africa's Jannie de Beer boasts the tournament record after slotting FIVE against England in one game in 1995.

EDDIE JONES — England's half-Japanese, half-Aussie boss.

He is a national treasure in Japan after 2015's win against South Africa. This is his last chance to lift the World Cup after Oz heartbreak against England in 2003.

FAREWELL. This is Wales boss Warren Gatland's last hurrah and after reaching the semi-final in 2011, the Kiwi will look to sign off in style.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen and Ireland's Joe Schmidt are doing the same.

GODZILLA — England's hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo, was set upon by Japan's most famous fictional monster in 1984 film The Return of Godzilla and was attacked again in 1991 film Godzilla vs King Ghidorah.

HUB. Red Rose fans will be flocking to English pub chain, Hub, in Tokyo for cheap beers and their happy hours.

Expect to see them packed out for every game this tournament.

ITOJE. Forget about Japan being the home of Super Mario, England have Super Maro (left). Saracens star Itoje can cement his status as the world's best second-row.

JAPAN are the first tier-two nation to host this tournament.

This is the ninth World Cup in all — but first played in Asia.

KAMIKAZE KIDS — Tom Curry and Sam Underhill were dubbed the 'Kamikaze Kids' by Red Rose boss Eddie Jones, for the way they fly into opponents and hit anything that moves.

LOMU — Remains the game's global icon.

Late, great All Blacks star Jonah Lomu erupted on the scene in 1995 by crushing England and is joint top tryscorer with Bryan Habana on 15.

MEAT — Kobe and Miyazaki cows will be running scared at the prospect of 620 rugby players arriving.

England stars got a taste for the meat by grilling steaks with local dignitaries.

NIPPON is Japan's real name, which can also be pronounced 'Nihon'. It means origin of the sun, or where the sun rises.

This is where nickname Land of the Rising Sun comes from.

OITA — the city on the island of Kyushu where England and Wales are on target for a possible quarterfinal dust-up. Wales' Pool D rivals Australia will also be hoping to have a say in the knockout stages.

PUT THEM AWAY! Tattoos are a massive taboo in Japan and players have been told to cover up as they are associated with the organised crime gangs of the Yakuza.

QUAKES. Rugby chiefs have earthquake contingency plans, with stadiums booked in other cities in the event of tremors.

The city of Kamaishi will use the Recovery Memorial Stadium — built after the devastating tsunami of 2011.

ROBOTS — Japan is the home of the robot. And Eddie Jones feels his Red Rose side have finally shaken off their own robotic approach to the game.

SUSHI England had regular sushi delivery drops to their Bagshot base in the run-up to flying out to Japan. That way their players could get used to eating Japan's famous raw-fish cuisine.

TYPHOONS. An almighty 15 hurricanes have ripped into the islands this year.

England and New Zealand both landed in the aftermath of storm Faxai and faced big delays on the ground in Tokyo.

Australia's management even delayed their arrival because of the weather bomb.

UNDERGROUND — Japan's Metro is the busiest network in the world, with 3.16billion people using it every year across nine million rides a day.

And that is THREE TIMES the number of people who use the Tube in London.

VUNIPOLA. The Tongan duo will be key to England's expected route to the final.

Big Billy and Magic Mako are the best players in the world in their position. Keeping both brothers injury free after a tricky run in 2019 will be crucial.

WILLIAM WEBB ELLIS CUP — the gold-plated trophy that England hope to lift on November 2.

It has been won three times by New Zealand, who are chasing a third win in a row.

X-RATED — shops in host cities have been hiding their top-shelf, pornographic material to clean up their image for an expected half-a-million rugby fans who are visiting.

YOKOHAMA is the spiritual home of rugby in Japan. The 72,327-seater International Stadium stages the Rugby World Cup final on November 2.

It is also where Ronaldo scored twice for Brazil to win football's World Cup against Germany in 2002.

ZZZZZ … England's World Cup base in Kamaishi was so luxurious, it even had its own PILLOW BAR. Our boys could try and buy a range of bedding for the perfect night's sleep.
But with a pillow setting you back an eye-watering £130, that is probably enough to give some guests a few nightmares.

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