Japan will play a test match against Samoa in Tokyo on May 30, the Japan Rugby Football Union announced Monday.
The match will be the ideal bridge between the Asian 5 Nations and the Pacific Nations Cup, and will be a dress rehearsal for next year's Rugby World Cup at which Japan, providing its qualifies, will play South Africa, Scotland, Samoa and the United States or Uruguay.
"We believe that to win a game at the Rugby World Cup and then reach the quarterfinals, we need 15 tests a year for three years," national team general manager Kensuke Iwabuchi said in a statement. "I am convinced this will be a huge experience playing a test against Samoa, who we will face at next year's Rugby World Cup."
The two countries could meet again later in the year, if the revamped PNC has a final.
Kyodo News has learned the International Rugby Board is still undecided whether the winners of the Pacific island group will play the winners of the Japan, the United States, Canada group in Europe in November, as was originally planned.
A source at the IRB said that a decision would be made in June when the pool stage is completed.
Japan's summer test season kicks off in Osaka on April 26 when a Japan XV plays the Asia Pacific Dragons and closes on June 21 in Tokyo against Italy.
The JRFU also confirmed Monday that it had entered into a partnership with the Scottish Rugby Union and that Scotland would tour Japan in June 2016.