The defending Pacific Nations Cup champions have made an ignominious start to their 2019 campaign, being upset by Japan 34-21 in Kamaishi.
The opening round of the competition also saw Samoa overcome a Tongan side handicapped by two yellow cards 25-17 in Apia.
But it was the result at the new Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium which raised the most eyebrows after Fiji had begun the month with a couple of strong showings against the Maori All Blacks potentially providing a platform to rise up the world rankings.
However it was Japan who took the honours at the ground built in an area previously devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Starting smartly with a Kenki Fukuoka try and Yu Tamura penalty, Japan never looked back.
Levani Botia and a Sam Matavesi double provided the impetus for the Flying Fijians' efforts but the Lappies Labuschagne-led Brave Blossoms ended the deserved victors.