TOKYO: Japan booked their place at next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand with an emphatic 94-5 victory over Hong Kong in the Asian Five Nations on Saturday.

The Brave Blossoms just needed one point to ensure they won the third version of the continental tournament and clinch Asia's only direct qualifying spot and that never looked in doubt.

They led 45-0 at halftime with the crucial four-try bonus point already in the bag and rammed home their superiority in the second half to maintain their 100 percent record in the three years of Asian Five Nations competition.

Japan, who have played in all six previous versions of the World Cup and will host the tournament in 2019, will be in Pool A with the hosts, France, Tonga and Canada in the opening round next September and October. Hong Kong's hopes of finishing second in the Asian Five Nations and remaining in the hunt for a World Cup spot through the repechage were dashed when Kazakhstan beat South Korea 32-25 in Saturday's other match in Incheon.

The Kazakhs face a tough task, however, if they are to claim the 20th and final place at the tournament.

First they must get past Uruguay in July and, if successful, would face either Romania, Tunisia or Ukraine in a playoff for a berth in Pool B alongside Argentina, England, Scotland and Georgia.