Japan hosted France in Tokyo who proved too strong winning 42-15 while Fiji pushed Scotland in Edinburgh but came up short 17-33.
That leaves Japan with one win from its three Southern Series matches with Fiji failing to secure victory in July as the focus of the Nations Championship moves to November in Europe for the Northern Series. Three further matches against northern hemisphere opposition before the Finals Weekend at the end of November.
France scored six tries against a Japan side that never gave in but were ultimately outclassed by the Six Nations champions.
The game kicked off in 28 degree-Celsius heat and high humidity in front of more than 50,000 fans at Japan’s National Stadium, although the forecast rain did not arrive.
Matthieu Jalibert and Maxime Lamothe scored two tries each for France, with Alexandre Roumat and captain Maxime Lucu bagging the others.
Kippei Ishida and Sojiro Otsuka scored in the first half for Japan.
Both teams started with completely different front rows from their previous games, in anticipation of a fierce physical contest.
France scored the opening try in the second minute after winning a line-out and rumbling over the Japan line for Lamothe to touch down.
France was hit with a setback when flanker Lenni Nouchi and lock Florian Verhaege both had to leave the field for concussion checks.
Japan took advantage by scoring a penalty and a try in quick succession, Ishida turning on the afterburners to streak home in the 15th minute.
France hit back with a Jalibert try, with Japan lock Harry Hockings sin-binned in the immediate aftermath.
Roumat, who was making his first international appearance since February 2025, added another try four minutes later to put France in firm control.
Lucu dashed over for France’s fourth of the game, but Japan gave themselves a lifeline when Otsuka scored a try four minutes before halftime.
Jalibert scored once more two minutes into the second half, before Lamothe also got his second of the game less than 10 minutes later.
Jalibert was sin-binned midway through the second half for an illegal tackle.
The TMO (television match official) denied Japan another try when substitute Tiennan Costly crossed the line just moments after coming on.
Japan 15 (Tries: Ishida, Otsuka; Con: Matsunaga; Pen: Matsunaga) France 42 (Tries: Lamothe, Jalibert 2, Roumat 2, Lucu; Cons: Lucu 5, Jalibert)
Japan: 15 Takuro Matsunaga, 14 Kazuma Ueda, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Samisoni Tua, 11 Kippei Ishida, 10 Ryunosuke Ito, 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Jack Cornelsen, 7 Ben Gunter, 6 Esei Haangana, 5 Warner Dearns (captain), 4 Harry Hockings, 3 Keijiro Tamefusa, 2 Hayate Era, 1 Sojiro Otsuka
Replacements: 16 Kenji Sato, 17 Takato Okabe, 18 Izi Sword, 19 Michael Stolberg, 20 Michael Leitch, 21 Tiennan Costley, 22 Taira Main, 23 Shunsuke Uenobo
France: 15 Matthieu Jalibert, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Aaron Grandidier-Nkakang, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Maxime Lucu (captain), 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Marko Gazzotti, 6 Lenni Nouchi, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Regis Montagne, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Killian Tixeront, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Kalvin Gourgues
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Luke Pearce (England)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Scotland survived a scare from Fiji in Edinburgh as Scotland’s much-changed side were in danger of a shock defeat after falling 7-17 behind at the interval.
But Scotland stormed back in the second half to clinch a 33-17 bonus-point win.
Two tries to repalcement Dobie after the break sparked Scotland’s revival, while fellow replacements Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings also crossed over.
Scotland coach Townsend’s decision to make 14 changes looked like coming back to bite him as Fiji dominated the first half.
Jonny Gray’s close-range try and George Horne’s conversion gave Scotland an early lead, but Fiji were unfazed.
Tevita Ikanivere touched down following a maul to cap an immediate response from Fiji, who struck again through Selestino Ravutaumada’s sensational effort.
Taking possession wide on the flank, Ravutaumada kicked ahead and recovered the ball before racing away to score.
Elia Canakaivata pounced on the loose ball after a breakdown and jumped over the line for another Fiji try, with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula adding the conversion.
But Scotland were revived by Townsend’s switches in the second half. Playing with renewed intensity, they battered Fiji into submission as the visitors gradually faded.
Fiji 17 (Tries: Ikanivere, Ravutaumada, Canakaivata; Con: Armstrong-Ravula) Scotland 33 (Tries: J Gray, Schoeman, Dobie 2, Cummings; Cons: G Horne, Burke 3)
Fiji: 15 Isaiah Armstrong Ravula, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Jiuta Waniqolo, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 6 Pita Gus Sowakula, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanavere (captain), 1 Eroni Mawi.
Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Sam Wye, 22 Isikeli Rabitu, 23 Salesi Rayasi.
Scotland: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Stafford McDowall (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 George Horne, 8 Gregor Brown, 7 Freddy Douglas, 6 Josh Bayliss, 5 Max Williamson, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Rory Sutherland.
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 Liam McConnell, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Sione Tuipulotu.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)