The world No 9 pair, who were semi-finalists at last year’s championships, fell 17-21, 13-21 to world No 21 Yuichi-Sayaka in a 38-minute match at Prefectural Gymnasium, Kumamoto.

Despite the loss, the husband-wife duo’s qualification for next month’s RM12.5 million season-ending World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, remains unaffected.

Meanwhile, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, who are returning to action after skipping the last five tournaments due to an injury, advanced to the last 16.

The world No 20 pair was made to sweat by Taiwan’s world No 80 pair Wu Hsuan Yi-Yang Chu Yun before defeating them 21-18, 18-21, 21-19 in a 54-minute match.

In the women’s singles, K Letshanaa was given an early scare by Azerbaijan’s Azzahra Keisha Fatimah before prevailing 25-23, 21-8 in 38 minutes to reach the last 16.

Men’s singles player Justin Hoh, however, bowed out in the first round to the much lower-ranked Japanese shuttler Shogo Ogawa 21-14, 21-10.