Japan are defending champions at the ISU World Team Trophy ©Getty Images

Hosts Japan will begin their title defence of the International Skating Union (ISU) World Team Trophy which is due to begin tomorrow in Fukuoka.

The biennial tournament invites the six top nations to send a team consisting of two men, two women, one pair and one dance team.

This year, teams from Russia, the United States, Japan, France, Italy and Canada will compete at the Marine Messe Fukuoka in the Japanese city of Fukuoka. 

With the Japan Skating Federation always hosting the event, it has moved away from Tokyo for the first time in its 10-year history. 

The hosts enter this year's edition as defending champions, having in 2017.

They will be challenged by a French team featuring world and European ice dance champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron.

World champion Nathan Chen of the United States will compete at the ISU World Team Trophy ©Getty Images
World champion Nathan Chen of the United States will compete at the ISU World Team Trophy ©Getty Images

They are joined by European pair skating champions Vanessa James and Morgan Ciprès.

Among the American team is men's world champion Nathan Chen, while Russia boast the women's European champion, Sofia Samodurova. 

The competition is scheduled to begin tomorrow with the first ice dance, women and men's events.

The ice dance and men's competition conclude on Friday (April 12), with the pairs event beginning.

Saturday (April 13) will then see medals awarded in the pairs and women's competition.

A gala is set to conclude the event on Sunday (April 14).