1 9 9 8 ▁in ▁Tokyo , ▁Japan . ▁Teams ▁were ▁seed ed ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁two ▁positions ▁of ▁each ▁pool ▁following ▁the ▁Ser pent ine ▁system ▁according ▁to ▁their ▁F IV B ▁World ▁Rank ing . ▁F IV B ▁reserved ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁seed ▁the ▁hosts ▁as ▁head ▁of ▁Pool ▁A ▁regardless ▁of ▁the ▁World ▁Rank ing . ▁All ▁teams ▁not ▁seed ed ▁were ▁drawn ▁to ▁take ▁other ▁available ▁positions ▁in ▁the ▁remaining ▁lines . ▁The ▁number ▁after ▁the ▁team ' s ▁name ▁reflect ▁its ▁F IV B ▁World ▁Rank ing ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 9 8 . ▁ ▁Squad s ▁ ▁Ven ues ▁The ▁tournament ▁was ▁played ▁at ▁seven ▁ven ues ▁in ▁seven ▁cities . ▁ ▁First ▁round ▁▁ ▁All ▁times ▁are ▁Japan ▁Standard ▁Time ▁( UTC + 0 9 : 0 0 ). ▁ ▁Pool ▁A ▁ ▁ven ue : ▁National ▁Y oy og i ▁Stadium , ▁Tokyo ▁▁▁ ▁| } ▁ ▁| } ▁ ▁Pool ▁B ▁ ▁ven ue : ▁Tok uy ama ▁City ▁Sports ▁Center , ▁Tok uy ama ▁▁▁ ▁| } ▁ ▁| } ▁ ▁Pool ▁C ▁ ▁ven ue : ▁M ats um oto ▁City ▁G ymnasium , ▁M ats um oto ▁▁▁ ▁| } ▁ ▁| } ▁ ▁Pool ▁D ▁ ▁ven ue : ▁K ag osh ima ▁Arena , ▁K ag osh ima ▁▁▁ ▁| } ▁ ▁| } ▁ ▁Second ▁round ▁▁ ▁All ▁times ▁are ▁Japan ▁Standard ▁Time ▁( UTC + 0 9 : 0 0 ). ▁ ▁The ▁results ▁and ▁the