The team event in the Australian city was unveiled earlier this month and will feature six teams of 24 athletes - consisting of 12 men and 12 women.

Already confirmed for action at the Lakeside Stadium in the Australian city were the "Bolt All-Stars" - captained by Jamaican sprinting legend Usain, a high-profile supporter of the event.

Host nation Australia will also compete at next year's competition with one more team still to be confirmed.

Nitro Athletics ambassador John Steffensen welcomed the addition of the two Asian nations, as well as England, who will resume their traditional sporting rivalry with the Australians.

"Both the Chinese and Japanese fans love their athletics and both have a lot of emerging young athletes who love to entertain and will be well suited to Nitro Athletics," Steffensen said.

"Having one team in Asia is good, but having two really strong Asian based teams in China and Japan participating is fantastic.

"Both nations have big track and field supporter bases and we see this as an incredibly great growth opportunity to market Nitro Athletics into Asia."

Steffensen, a double Commonwealth Games gold medallist at Melbourne 2006, added: "There will be six teams on the start line in Melbourne, but the mini-battle between Australia and England will always fascinate Aussie sports fans.

"It’s a great rivalry that has stood the test of time, even going back to the days of Roger Bannister and John Landy. 

"And it will be ignited again in Melbourne next year, and no doubt continue through to the World Athletics Championships in London in 2017, and onto our home soil at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games."

Organisers claim that Nitro Athletics will "be like no athletics competition seen before" with the schedule not just featuring "traditional events".

Competition is due to be held on February 4 and 9, before a final on February 11.

Further details on the teams, events and schedule will be announced in the weeks leading up to the action.

Nine-times Olympic champion Bolt was present at the launch of the event in Melbourne on November 4.

"This will be track and field as it’s never been seen before and that’s why I’m involved, not only as a competitor, but also as a team captain," said Bolt, the world record holder over 100 and 200 metres, who completed a "triple-triple" of Olympic golds - including the 4x100m relay - at Rio 2016 in August.

England Athletics chief executive Chris Jones welcomed the addition of his country.

"We are always looking for exciting and innovative ways to create new opportunities in our sport, whether for those taking their first steps into athletics and running or to offer unique challenges to those who have reached the very highest levels," he said.

"Travelling to Australia for Nitro Athletics also affords us the opportunity to familiarise ourselves with Australian conditions ahead of our athletes’ appearance at the Commonwealth Games in 2018."