SHOWING PROMISE: Japan's Koji Taira rides the tackle of All Black Conrad Smith when the sides met during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The New Zealand Rugby Union have confirmed they are negotiating a test between the All Blacks and Japan in Tokyo en route to their November tour of Europe.

After Japanese sports daily Sankei Sports had initially reported that a November 2 test between the All Blacks and the Eddie Jones-coached Japan national team was set to be confirmed any day now, the NZRU confirmed that discussions around the proposed fixture were ongoing.

"New Zealand Rugby and All Blacks management have been considering the value of another test this year as part of a much wider strategy focusing on the team's development heading towards 2015," chief executive Steve Tew said today.

"As a result we have been exploring an option with the Japan Rugby Football Union for the All Blacks selected for the European tour to play Japan en route to Europe.

"There is nothing to confirm at this stage and discussions are continuing."

The All Blacks have never played an official test against Japan in Japan with the two nations having met only twice before, both at World Cups. The New Zealanders thumped the Cherry Blossoms 83-7 in Hamilton in 2011 and broke a host of records in a 145-17 shellacking at the 1995 tournament in South Africa.

In 1987 John Hart took an All Blacks team to Japan but the internationals were not afforded full test status.

In fact the fixture, if it goes ahead, would mark just the third time in All Blacks history that they have played a side outside the big 10 of world rugby in an away match. The last occasion was in 1981 when they played Romania in Bucharest.

But Tew denied the match was being looked at as a revenue generator, which has been the principal motivation for add-on tests in recent years.

"If we reach agreement, we see this as a very positive opportunity for the younger players in the squad as the All Blacks build for the future," said Tew.

"This is driven entirely by rugby reasons to meet the development needs of the team. This is also quite different from an extra European test. We are very mindful of the burdens on players.

"We made it clear earlier this year that we did not want to put the All Blacks under the pressure of an additional European test so nothing changes in that regard."

The All Blacks have previously played tests against the Wallabies in Hong Kong and Tokyo en route to their northern hemisphere November tours.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is on the record saying the burden on top players needs to be lessened, and the NZRU has also suggsted their multi-million dollar sponsorship from AIG had eased their need to boost their coffers with additional big-money fixtures.

The All Blacks will meet France (Nov 9), England (Nov 16) and Ireland (Nov 24) on their European tour.

One country which may be less than impressed with the NZRU's seemingly burgeoning relationship with Japan is Fiji which reportedly asked for a test against the All Blacks in Suva next month to mark their centenary celebrations.

The request was declined with the explanation that the All Blacks' schedule was too full.