The Japanese women's sevens development squad have recovered from the 17-hour journey to Fiji for the Fiji Coral Coast Sevens and are ready to improve on last year's runners-up performance.

Makoto Inada's side -- many of whom are hoping to graduate to the senior side for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 -- trained shortly after arriving Tuesday and again early Wednesday morning before arriving at Lawaqa Park to take part in the team parade through Sigatoka, which is known as "Rugby Town."

"We were a little bit tired but we have trained well and are now in good condition," Inada told Kyodo News on Wednesday.

"We focused a lot on our one-on-one attack and defense and all the players have a key role to play."

Following the walk through the town that produced a number of the Fiji team that won gold at the Rio Olympics, former New Zealand captain DJ Forbes was inducted into the Sigatoka Town Rugby Walk of Fame.

The 35-year-old unveiled his plaque alongside some of the game's greatest players such as Fijian legend Waisale Serevi, who won the Japan Sevens with the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club three times, former All Black and New Zealand sevens superstar Jonah Lomu and Wallabies great David Campese.

Other players already honored include Suntory Sungoliath and Wallabies legend George Gregan, former New Zealand sevens captain Karl Te Nana, who spent a number of years with IBM Big Blue, and England's Ben Gollings, who played in Japan for Toyota Industries Shuttles.

"It's very humbling," said Forbes, who added he is currently doing some commentary work in New Zealand with the aim of eventually getting into coaching.

"It's one thing to be in a foreign country and be acknowledged by people. But by people who know so much about the sport and are so passionate about it, it's very humbling and a moment I shall never forget."

"This is the spiritual country of sevens and that's shown by the fans who know everything there is to know about the sport. I am proud to be among legends I looked up to, and still look up to."

If the reaction from the crowd on and off the field Wednesday is anything to go by, the Junior Sakura Sevens will get a noisy, good-natured reception when they take on local side Hotspring Savusavu in their first game Thursday.

"The crowd are really powerful and noisy and I know the team are really looking forward to playing here," said Inada.

The first day of the four-day event at Lawaqa Park involved 22 youth teams from Fiji and two guest sides from New Zealand and Hong Kong. On Thursday, the men and women take center stage with Japan and a number of other sides that made the trip to take on the best the South Pacific island has to offer.

A good performance from Hong Kong Youth saw them soon become fan favorites, while a team of Fijian boys from Wesley College -- Lomu's old school in South Auckland -- also attracted a good following.

Ben Ryan, who coached Fiji to gold at the Rio Olympics will be one of the guests when the men's tournament kicks off on Friday. And while he is no longer coaching the national team, the legacy he helped create will be very evident.

As former Australian rugby union and league international Lote Tuqiri -- who had to cancel his trip to the land of his birth at the last minute -- told Kyodo via Twitter, "You'll see why Fiji are so good at sevens with how the local teams play."