MARTIN SAMUEL: Japan's triumph was forged from tragedy... this is a team in harmony with the nation

It was a triumph over adversity, a triumph of endurance, a triumph of wit, and resilience and imagination. Their mental strength was quite magnificent, too, considering the first major events of the game were a try by Scotland's Finn Russell, a conversion by Greig Laidlaw, and then a penalty from Japan's Yu Tamura that ran out of breath before it even reached the posts. Finn Russell had initially put Scotland in front after his seventh minute try but they soon faded Kotaro Matsushima got Japan back into the game with his fifth try of the tournament The instant fear was that Japan were beset by nerves. Kenki Fukuoka scored two fast-break tries to send Japan into a comfortable lead Scotland tried to get back into the game but they left themselves with too much work to do On it went. Tempers flared up late in the game as Jamie Ritchie squared up to Japanese star Yu Tamura Japan will now go on to face South Africa in the quarter finals of their home World Cup The news bulletins revealed just how disrespectful that would have been in a country that is still rescuing marooned citizens from the roofs of houses, and identifying those who were not so lucky.