Thank you for reading, not to mention emailing and tweeting, during that entertaining curtain-raiser to the 2019 Rugby World Cup. I will be back for more tomorrow, when champions New Zealand kick off their title defence with a nice easy opener against South Africa in Pool B. See you then!

Don’t forget to bookmark this - our comprehensive guide to the 2019 Rugby World Cup pools and results, for your reading pleasure between now and Saturday 2 November, when the final will take place in Yokohama:

Japan skipper Michael Leitch: “With their gameplan and their physicality, Russia really tested us today.”

Not quite Brighton 2015 - but then again what is, these days?

After a spirited display, Russia captain Vasily Artemyev thanks the fans - he was educated with Brian O’Driscoll at Blackrock College in Dublin, which you may be able to detect from his accent ...

Japan coach Jamie Joseph talks about the pressure his players felt:

And Shane Williams pays tribute to Russia: “Russia gave everything for 80 minutes. At one point they looked out on their feet, after 25 or 30 minutes, but they dug in ... they really made it uncomfortable for Japan ... I spoke to Lyn Jones [Russia’s Welsh coach] and their tactic was to get in Japan’s faces, and they did that.”

Bryan Habana assesses Japan’s night: “There’s not much that will worry the bigger nations ... they’ll go back, see where they went wrong, there were two many errors in the first 20 minutes. They will need to rectify that if they want to make a quarter-final.”

And here is Robert Kitson’s match report from Tokyo:

Oh, more light reading. Robert Kitson on the absolutely mouth-watering clash between New Zealand and South Africa tomorrow:

I think we’ll just have to agree to differ on the Mexican Wave.

Meanwhile here is Warren Van Der Mescht: “I would love to hear the football commentators try and pronounce Labuschagne correctly! Labus-caj(cajk) nee.”

C Hodgetts is simply not having it, as for the ‘Mexican Wave’:

“Sorry but we were doing that in America long before the 86 World Cup. We were doing it at high school football games and concerts. I don’t even think Mexicans call it the Mexican Wave.”

Here is some light reading to take you through today:

Ireland v Scotland preview by Paul Rees:

Ugo Monye on England v Tonga:

A piece about Sergio Parisse and his FIFTH World Cup with Italy:

80min: Ryan on The Mexican Wave. Or The Wave:

“The Wave was not invented by Seattle Seahawks fans. ESPN had a short 30 for 30 documentary on it, and it was some baseball team in the early 1980s, with the credit either going to the team’s PA announcer or this one crazy fan. I think the team was the San Francisco Giants.”

79 min: Look, I’ve probably missed a couple of these second-half replacements, but Japan are winning by 20 points, and man of the match Kotaro Matsushima has scored a hat-trick for the hosts. Those are the headlines.

77 min: Dave McKenna has been in touch:

“I have to say, as an Irishman with Scottish roots who has made his career and started a family in Japan, this Group A is going to be like Sophie’s Choice! Dave, Tokyo”

Dave, you are guaranteed at least one, and probably two, teams in the quarters! Enjoy it.

75 min: Into the final five minutes and with a 20-point lead, it’s party time for the fans in Tokyo. New Zealand v South Africa tomorrow is going to be a seriously high-quality encounter, but tonight’s opener hasn’t lacked either entertainment or quality.

73 min: Thanks to Paul Tuplin for emailing: “With the name Labuschagne being predominant in cricket and now rugby, do you think the FA need to be searching for a footballer with that name to get us over that difficult quarter final / semi-final barrier.”

Great point, Paul. Marnus Labuschagne was seriously impressive with the bat for Australia in the recent Ashes series and now we have Pieter Labuschagne starring for Japan’s rugby team. Where is the third star Labuschagne coming from? Can Gareth Southgate recruit him?

68 min: Gaisin, Sychev, Matveev, Polivalov and Sozonov are all on for Russia. The inevitable bench-emptying.

67 min: A thought-provoking email from C. Hodgetts, with regard to the party atmos in Tokyo this evening:

“The Wave was started in the USA. Washington state to be exact. Mexico saw it on televised Seattle Seahawks football games and started doing it at (soccer) matches.”

Now that may well be true, but in the UK I think we first saw it at the FIFA World Cup in 1986, in Mexico, and it has henceforth been called the Mexican Wave as far as we are concerned. I think it’s too late to change now - sorry!

63 min: Japan have made 453 attacking metres with ball in hand, Russia have made 236. That seems a fairer reflection of the match so far than the tackle count.

61 min: Thompson and Tanaka on for Japan. Nagare and Van Der Walt off. “Release!!! ... Good man!” shouts Nigel Owens at a Japan player. You have to love his style.

59 min: Artemyev, who is neither a nearly-man nor a has-been, claims a Garryowen in the Japan 22, but he is isolated. Then Russia win a penalty!

58 min: Phillip Haran emails: “Hope they [Russia] sneak a win somewhere because that is real growth of the game and not just more places for nearly-men and has-beens to earn a crust!!”

Russia have looked very good, in patches, but the consensus seems to be that their fitness is not good enough to match the best. I guess we will know for sure in about 25 minutes ...

57 min: Russia come strongly again, with Gadzhiev nearly crossing in the left-hand corner, but they are penalised for going off their feet at the ruck. That was a golden chance for Russia to get right back into this.

56 min: Inagi and Valu off for Japan, with Iseleli Nakajima and Jiwon Koo coming on.

55 min: According to the stats on the official tournament site, Japan have made 90 tackles so far and Russia have made 93. So it’s very close on that score, even if Japan are well ahead on the scoreboard.

54 min: Russia aren’t finished just yet, and spend a couple of minutes camped within yards of the Japan try line, trying to drive the ball over for their second try of the match. They win a penalty.

49 min: Russia No 8 Nikita Vavilin makes a very strong carry but again it’s stolen by the on-rushing Japan defenders, who are not giving Russia an inch. Now Russia have the put-in at a defensive scrum. They appear to be running out of options fast. Meanwhile, the first Mexican Wave of the tournament is rolling around Tokyo Stadium.

43 min: Thank you Andy Bradshaw for your half-time email:

“This is a great game, although I’m terrified at what Ireland and Samoa are going to do to Russia if they’re this blown in the first half.”

A scary thought, indeed.

42 min: Right from the kick-off, Japan are right in Russia’s faces, and it’s only some quality defensive work by Dorofeev in the left-hand corner that snuffs out a potential try.

37 min: Japan come again and they have a penalty advantage inside the final four minutes of the first half. They run it left, then right, but the Russia tackling is still excellent as they try to maintain that slender lead.

36 min: It’s no try - Matsushima lost the ball forward. It was partly down to a brilliant bit of defensive work by Artemyev, with a last-ditch tackle in the corner. If Russia can get in for half-time with their two-point lead in tact, they will be pretty thrilled.

35 min: Is it the second of the match for pacy winger Matsushima after another good attack by the hosts? He is in, in the right-hand corner, and dives over, but his left hand is flirting with the touchline added to which there is a question mark about whether or not he has the ball under control ...

35 min: Russia scrum-half Vasily Dorofeev is off for a head injury assessment. Meanwhile, the fly-half Kushnarev overcooks a kick to touch, and looks to the heavens in frustration.

33 min: Here’s the reaction in the Tokyo fan zone to that first try by Japan:

32 min: Inside the final 10 minutes of what has been a whirlwind of a first half so far, with both of these Tier 2 nations doing themselves proud and showcasing their skills. But there are a few Russia players who are blowing hard already. It looks certain that their coach, Lyn Jones, will need to empty his bench in the second half.

29 min: Russia win the line-out - just - and again show their attacking prowess. Kushnarev spots some space behind the defensive line, and puts a lovely little kick over in midfield, which is grabbed by a team-mate and Russia are right on the front foot again. After a spell of pressure by the hosts, they are under considerable pressure in defence again now.

25 min: Japan come again, but an excellent turnover by Russia No 8 Nikita Vavilin sees him storming down the middle of the pitch. It’s kicked ahead, into the Japan 22, and Russia have an attacking line-out in a very promising position. Yutaka Nagare clears for Japan and it’s another line-out for Russia - who will be pretty happy with the scoreboard.

23 min: Yet another wave of attacking from Japan and they are over the try line. The ball is touched down, just, by Moore but referee Nigel Owens brings it back for a forward pass. Time for the director to focus on the fans for a few seconds, and it does look like a real party atmosphere in Tokyo.

21 min: A lovely step by Japan fly-half Yu Tamura and he breaks two tackles, and wins a penalty. Japan kick for territory inside the Russia half.

20 min: The match has indeed settled slightly with a couple of breaks in play after that breathless first 15. Shane Williams in the commentary box says it’s suiting to Japan to keep the ball in play, and keep a high tempo. Russia aren’t short of attacking threat but you would fancy Japan to be the better conditioned of the two sides, especially after the Eddie Jones era.

19 min: Dominic O’Reilly emails: “Russia look early contenders for the ‘most emotional singing of an anthem’.” Well, Artemyev did say ‘there will be enough adrenaline to raise the dead’. Russia have certainly started strongly and are not here to make up the numbers.

16 min: Japan fly-half Tamura collects a cross-kick, and then there’s a big hit in midfield by Vitaliy Zhivatov on James Moore. It’s been a seriously high-tempo start and no matter how well these teams are conditioned, they surely can’t keep this kind of pace up for 80 minutes or more. It’s great to watch though ...

11 min: Another wave of attacking by Japan and another good kick ahead is gathered by Davydov, the Russian winger. But Japan have an attacking line-out and are battering the Russia defence through the forwards now.

8 min: Great reply by Japan. A well-weighted kick to the try line is tidied up very well by the try-scorer, Golosnitsky, and Russia are able to clear. They then win a put-in to a scrum in the middle of the pitch after Nigel Owens saw a knock-on.

4min: Russia get the line-out wrong and it’s overthrown. Japan have a chance to clear but a brilliant charge down sees the ball loose in the in-goal area! It’s touched down and they are going to have a quick look on the video, but it looks like no try ... Scrum five to Japan and it’s still scoreless but lots of early pressure on Japan.

2 min: An early attacking line-out for Russia after a mistake from the kick-off by the hosts. Centre Vladimir Ostroushko runs on to a good short pass and makes it to within five metres. They move the ball left, but then it’s taken back for a penalty, and they choose to kick for the corner ...

Captains Leitch and Artemyev lead their teams out on to the pitch in Tokyo, past the Webb Ellis trophy. Japan are favourites, but could first-night nerves mean they perform below their best? Here come the anthems ...

The lighting team are still having to their money in a mostly-darkened stadium. There’s now a shot of the Japan and Russia team huddles, just a couple of minutes before kick-off.

Here is the Russia team guide:

Here’s our Japan team guide:

Thank you to Alastair McKenzie for emailing to point out that Richie McCaw is not, in fact, a ‘Sir’. He will henceforth be known as plain old Richie McCaw. (He did receive the Order of New Zealand, or ONZ, in 2015). I’m sure he was introduced as Sir Richie during the opening ceremony a few minutes back, but there you go.

Here is our full guide to Rugby World Cup pools and fixtures. Bookmark it!

The inspirational Michael Leitch captains Japan again at this tournament. Let’s take a moment (OK, about four minutes) to remember that frankly unbelievable win against South Africa in Brighton in 2015:

The opening match is a little over 20 minutes away. Here are the teams:

Japan: Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie, Asaeli Ai Valu, Wimpie Van Der Walt, James Moore, Michael Leitch (c), Pieter Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno, Yutaka Nagare, Yu Tamura, Lomano Lemeki, Ryoto Nakamura , Timothy Lafaele, Kotaro Matsushima, William Tupou.

Subs: Atsushi Sakate, Isileli Nakajima, Jiwon Koo, Luke Thompson, Hendrik Tui, Fumiaki Tanaka, Rikiya Matsuda, Ryohei Yamanaka

Russia: Valery Morozov, Stanislav Selskii, Kirill Gotovstev, Andrey Ostrikov, Bogan Fedotko, Vitaly Zhivatov, Tagir Gadzhiev, Nikita Vavilin, Vasily Dorofeev, Yury Kushnarev, Kirill Golosnitskiy, Dmitry Gerasimov, Vladimir Ostroushko, German Daydov, Vasily Artemyev (c)

Subs: Evgeny Matveev, Andrei Polivalov, Azamat Bitiev, Andrey Garbuzov, Anton Sychev, Dmitry Perov, Ramil Gaisin, Vladislav Sozonov

Wales enjoyed those welcome headlines about the 15,000 fans at training, but were soon rocked by their assistant coach Rob Howley being sent home following an alleged breach of World Rugby’s gambling regulations.

Warren Gatland’s men begin their tournament on Monday against Georgia, and while the Howley saga will rumble on, they have to focus on the task at hand:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/sep/19/wales-focus-returns-to-pitch-with-brutal-training-session-before-georgia-match

Russia are up for this, by the way. Captain Vasily Artemyev said this week: “We will be so up for it there will be enough adrenaline in our bodies to raise the dead.”

Here is Paul Rees:

Meanwhile over in the ITV studio, they are discussing the new directive from World Rugby on tackling. Essentially, World Rugby are trying to make things safer for the tackle-ee by getting tacklers to aim lower. But could that in turn potentially make things more dangerous for the tackler? Hopefully we won’t have a tournament blighted by tonnes of red cards, anyway. What do you think? Let me know via email or Twitter, as above.

Bryan Habana and Shane Williams, the ex-international wingers for South Africa and Wales respectively, are on pundit duty.

“People have been queuing for hours just to get in,” says Williams, and it does sound and look like a wonderful atmosphere in the Tokyo Stadium.

You may have seen the headlines the other day about 15,000 fans turning up to watch a Wales training session. It certainly seems the locals are embracing the tournament. Now they need their team to kick off with a win ...

How many rugby matches do you reckon you can watch on telly in the next two months or so (needless to say while enjoying the Guardian’s unrivalled online coverage)?

Barry Glendenning is here with his armchair guide to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan:

Here is the aforementioned Sir Richie of McCaw, delivering the Webb Ellis Cup:

So there you have it. The Rugby World Cup is declared open and the trophy has officially been handed over to the hosts, by Sir Richie McCaw, whose All Blacks won the last two editions, at home in New Zealand (2011) and in England and Wales (2015). Can they get their mitts on it again in 2019? We are about to find out! (In seven weeks)

“The waiting is over,” says Beaumont. He must be reading this MBM on his phone.

World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont is on the mic first. He opened with a couple of words of Japanese, but his microphone wasn’t turned up loud enough for me to hear what he said. Plus, I don’t speak Japanese. But the home crowd seemed to appreciate it.

Here is Sir Richie McCaw, and he’s holding the trophy the All Blacks won under his leadership in 2011 and 2015. Miles Harrison, on commentary duty for ITV, says there are some speeches coming up.

Groups of children representing each competing team are now ringed around Mount Fuji. And they are singing ‘World in Union’ very beautifully indeed. This is a great show.

Robert Kitson, one of our correspondents in Tokyo, is enjoying the show so far:

A model of Mount Fuji has now sprung up in the middle of the pitch.

How is your Japanese geography? You can get the lowdown on all the stadiums right here:

The opening ceremony has begun, and the stadium is plunged mostly into darkness so we can enjoy the light show out on the pitch. There is some dancing going on, and definitely some taiko drumming. Now they are running through the host cities while the drumming continues.

Let’s get straight down to business with our writers’ predictions for the tournament:

Who is your money on? Do get in touch and let me know.