The renewed commitment was highlighted on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, when the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, received a high-level Japanese delegation led by Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Kunimitsu Ayano.

Discussions during the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral trade relations, promoting investment and expanding cooperation in key economic sectors.

Hon. Ofosu-Adjare underscored Ghana’s improving economic outlook, pointing to enhanced macroeconomic stability, increased agricultural output and renewed investor confidence in 2025. She expressed optimism about stronger growth prospects in 2026 under the government’s Resetting for Growth, Jobs and Economic Transformation Agenda.

The Minister reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to maintaining a stable and business-friendly environment, acknowledging Japan’s longstanding support through institutions such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan Organization (JO) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

She encouraged deeper institutional presence to better support Japanese businesses operating in Ghana and identified priority areas for expanded cooperation, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) development, manufacturing, agro-processing and infrastructure development.

The Japanese delegation, which included Japan’s Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yodhimoto, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to Ghana’s development agenda.

They commended the government’s ongoing economic reforms and improving investment climate, and expressed readiness to work closely with Ghana to advance mutually beneficial economic relations.

The meeting is expected to further strengthen Ghana–Japan ties and open new opportunities for trade, investment and industrial development.

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The move means Miura could play in the J.League – the top three divisions of Japanese football – for the first time in five years.

The former Japan striker, who started his career with Brazilian side Santos in 1986, failed to score in 69 minutes across seven appearances last season on loan at fourth-tier club Atletico Suzuka.

“My passion for football hasn’t changed, no matter how old I get,” he said as he prepares for a 41st season as a professional footballer.

“I’m very grateful to be given this opportunity. I promise I will play with everything I have to make a contribution. Let’s make history together!”

Known as ‘King Kazu’ in Japan, this will be Miura’s fourth loan since 2022 from J2 League side Yokohama FC.

Miura, who has also played club football in Italy, Croatia and Australia, signed for the club in 2005 but has not played a minute for them since 2020.

He scored 55 goals in 89 games in an international career that ended in 2000, two years after his notable omission from the squad for Japan’s first World Cup finals appearance.

Miura, who has talked of playing until he is 60, said he was ready to “take on a new challenge” after being relegated last season to Japan’s regional leagues.

Fukushima finished 10th in the 20-team third division last season.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Miura played against England at Wembley in 1995

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Kazuyoshi Miura playing in former Yokohama FC team-mate Yuta Minami’s testimonial in 2024

The incident was caused by a crash between two trucks, sparking a chain reaction that set at least 10 vehicles on fire, local police said.

A 77-year-old woman from Tokyo was killed, and another body was discovered in the driver’s seat of a burnt-out truck. Five people were seriously injured and 21 suffered minor injuries, police said.

There was a heavy snow warning in place at the time of the crash. Police believe icy road surfaces likely caused the trucks to skid.

The crash happened on the Kan-etsu Expressway in Minakami, Gunma prefecture, about 160km (100 miles) north-west of Tokyo, at about 19:30 local time (10:30 GMT) on 26 December.

It took about 7.5 hours to put out the fire, police said.

Following the incident, a section of the highway was closed, with a long line of vehicles, many charred beyond recognition, stuck in the outbound lane. Work is under way to tow them away.

A man in his 60s, whose vehicle was involved in the accident, told local media outlet NHK he heard a loud explosion from the far end of the pile-up and saw fire during the crash. The blaze then spread to other vehicles, he said.

He said he was evacuated to a nearby toll gate with about 50 other people and spent the night in the hallway there.

Nexco, which operates the road, said checks were needed to see if the surface was damaged by the fire.

The company is warning travellers not to use the highway.

The quake occurred at 23:15 (14:15 GMT) at a depth of 50km (31mi), about 80km off the coast of the Aomori region, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. It prompted tsunami warnings which have now been lifted, while waves of 70cm (27in) were seen.

Some train services have been suspended and thousands of homes have been left without power as a result.

Authorities have also warned that a stronger tremor could occur in the coming days – urging the public to remain on high alert for at least a week, according to local media reports.

Addressing citizens affected by the earthquake, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said: “Reconfirm your daily earthquake preparedness, such as ensuring that you secure furniture, and prepare to evacuate immediately if you feel shaking.”

Orders were issued for about 90,000 residents to evacuate, according to Reuters news agency.

The Aomori prefectural government said around 2,700 homes have been left without power. East Japan Railway has also suspended some services along the north-eastern coast.

The Japanese government has set up a response office within the prime minister’s crisis management centre and convened an emergency team, chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara has said.

“We are making every effort to assess the damage and implement emergency disaster response measures, including rescue and relief operations,” he added.

Following the tremors, Japanese electric company Tohoku Electric Power said no irregularities were reported at its Higashidori and Onagawa nuclear power plants as a result of the quake, Tohoku Electric Power said.

None were detected either at the disabled Fukushima nuclear power station site, the Japanese authorities told the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Fukushima was damaged when a magnitude 9.0 quake struck off the country’s eastern coast on 11 March 2011.

That quake, the most powerful ever recorded in Japan, triggered a tsunami which swept over the main island of Honshu, killing more than 18,000 people and wiping entire towns off the map.

The delayed releases include Cells at Work! and Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot! The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers, Chinese state media CCTV said.

Cinema tickets are still available in China for the hit Japanese animation Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, the BBC has confirmed, but CCTV said sales had fallen in recent days as the row deepened.

Takaichi, who has been a vocal critic of China and its activities in the region, suggested earlier this month that Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan.

Film distributors and importers have decided to postpone the releases after assessing the overall outlook of Japanese films in China and the sentiment among Chinese audiences, said CCTV on Monday.

Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot! The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers, which is an animated comedy about the adventures of a young boy and his friends, was due to be released in the coming weeks.

Cells at Work! – which has also seen its release postponed – is a live-action movie based on a manga about human blood cells fighting off viruses.

CCTV did not say how long the films’ releases will be delayed for.

The state-controlled media outlet said Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has faced “strong dissatisfaction among Chinese audiences” in the wake Takaichi’s remarks.

The BBC has contacted the films’ distributors, including Japanese media giant Toho.

Takaichi said in the Japanese parliament on 7 November: “If there are battleships and the use of force, no matter how you think about it, it could constitute a survival-threatening situation.”

Beijing has since urged its citizens to avoid travel to Japan and told students to reconsider studying there, citing safety risks.

Japanese tourism, airline and retail stocks fell sharply as investors weighed the impact of China’s response.

China is a key source of tourists travelling to Japan, with almost 7.5m visitors in the first nine months of this year.

Beijing sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will, in time, be part of the country. China has not ruled out the use of force to achieve this goal.

But many Taiwanese consider themselves to be part of a separate nation – although most are in support of keeping the status quo in which Taiwan neither declares independence from China nor unites with it.

Abu, who plays for Toulouse, was stretchered off during Ghana’s clash with Japan at Toyota Stadium on Friday after suffering what appeared to be a broken ankle in the second half. Alidu Seidu came on to replace him.

In a statement, the GFA confirmed that Abu is now in stable condition after being rushed to Toyota Memorial Hospital for emergency care.

“The Ghana Football Association wishes to inform the public that Francis Abu is in a stable condition following his injury in the Kirin Challenge Cup against Japan on Friday. Abu was fouled by Tanaka Ao early in the second half and received emergency treatment at the stadium before being transported to Toyota Memorial Hospital,” the statement read.

The GFA added that the Black Stars’ medical team, in coordination with Toulouse FC’s team doctor and hospital staff, has developed a comprehensive management plan for Abu’s care.

“The Association thanks Ghanaians for their support and solidarity during this difficult time. Updates regarding Abu’s surgery and recovery plan will be provided in the coming hours. We wish him a speedy recovery,” the statement concluded.

On the pitch, Ghana fell 2-0 to Japan and will now prepare for their next friendly against South Korea on Tuesday, November 18, in Seoul, with kick-off set for 10:00 a.m. local time.

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Takumi Minamino and Ritsu Doan scored on either side of halftime, capping a commanding display from the hosts, who controlled the tempo for much of the match.

Speaking after the game, Addo admitted his side struggled to match Japan’s energy and precision.

“Overall, we lost to Japan in terms of the number of shots they took,” the 50-year-old said. “Japan also started the second half very well. They controlled the game better and created clearer chances. We have to admit that they deserved the win.”

He added that Ghana’s plan to stay organised was undone by Japan’s swift transitions and clinical finishing.

“This is the level of intensity we must be prepared for. Japan were very efficient, very aggressive, and they punished our mistakes,” Addo said.

The Black Stars will conclude their November fixtures on Tuesday against Korea Republic.

The 24-year-old sustained a broken ankle while attempting to block a shot around ten minutes into the second half. He was immediately stretchered off, leaving teammates visibly shaken.

Francis, who had started the match, was substituted in the 56th minute for Alidu Seidu. He had recently earned a spot in the Black Stars squad for the Japan and South Korea friendlies after missing the September and October World Cup qualifiers.

The severity of the injury indicates he could be sidelined for an extended period.

Japan won the match 2-0, thanks to goals from Takumi Minamino and Ritsu Doan. Ghana now shift focus to their friendly against South Korea on Tuesday, November 18, as preparations continue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Coach Otto Addo handed first-time appearances to Derrick Kohn and Joseph Annan, while Antoine Semenyo captained the side in Jordan Ayew’s absence.

Japan settled quickly and dominated early play, eventually taking the lead in the 16th minute through Takumi Minamino. Ghana nearly responded, but Brandon Thomas-Asante dragged his effort wide.

Both teams shared possession for long periods, yet the Japanese went into the break with their narrow advantage intact.

The second half began with Japan again threatening to extend their lead. Ghana suffered a setback when Abu Francis picked up a serious injury and was stretchered off, prompting Alidu Seidu’s introduction. Prince Kwabena Adu also replaced Semenyo.

Ritsu Doan then delivered a brilliant curling strike in the 60th minute to double the Samurai Blue’s advantage, tightening their grip on the contest.

Addo made further substitutions, bringing on Gideon Mensah for Jerome Opoku and Christopher Baah Bonsu for Thomas-Asante, but Japan maintained control to secure the victory.

The Black Stars now turn their focus to their final friendly of the international window, a meeting with South Korea on Tuesday, November 18, as they continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Centre-back Mohammed Salisu of AS Monaco and goalkeeper Benjamin Asare joined the squad on Wednesday, just two days before Ghana’s Kirin Cup opener against Japan at Toyota Stadium on Friday, November 14.

Speaking to the Ghana FA, Addo explained that Salisu had yet to train with the team due to a minor injury sustained in his last Ligue 1 match.

“We will see today. Surely, we have to fight with the time difference; then, we have some issues here and there,” Addo said. “Salisu suffered an injury after his last match in France, so he was getting some treatment, which is why he came late. We’ll see today if he can train. We have some other issues here and there, but I think he’s very healthy. Due to the time difference and the long travel, we have to see how he feels to determine if he can play.”

After facing Japan, the Black Stars will conclude their Asian tour with a friendly against South Korea in Seoul on Tuesday, November 18.

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The team is set to face the Samurai Blue at Toyota Stadium on Friday, November 14, in the Kirin Cup, with kick-off at 10:20 a.m.

Speaking ahead of the match, the 50-year-old coach recognised Japan’s quality while affirming that Ghana can prevail despite the absence of several key players.

“We are very, very pleased to be here. This is not our first time; we know the Japanese Federation has a very strong team,” Addo said.

“I think so far everything has gone well with the organisation, and we are looking forward to the match. It will be difficult for us, but I know we also have the strength to beat Japan. We started very well, and like I said, it’s going to be a tight match, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Friday’s clash forms part of Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer, after which the Black Stars will travel to Seoul to face South Korea on Tuesday, November 18.

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The matches form part of Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The Black Stars will face Japan in the Kirin Cup on Friday, November 14, at Toyota Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 10:20 a.m., before travelling to Seoul to take on South Korea on Tuesday, November 18.

Despite the absence of several key players, Asante Twum emphasized that the team remains fully focused.

“The games against Japan and South Korea will be tough, and we’re not taking them lightly at all,” he told Sporty FM. “We want to see players who are hungry and will fight for the Black Stars.”

All invited players are currently in camp and are scheduled for their final training session today ahead of Friday’s clash.

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GFA confirms government did not fund Black Stars’ Japan, South Korea friendlies

The senior national team is currently in Asia as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup scheduled for next summer. Ghana will face Japan in the Kirin Cup on Friday, November 14, before travelling to Seoul to take on South Korea four days later.

In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Asante Twum explained that while the GFA informed the Ministry of Sports and Recreation about the matches, no funds were allocated for the trip.
“The games will be funded by the two teams that invited the Black Stars; we didn’t take any money from the ministry,” he said.

“Even though I know the GFA President [Kurt Okraku] has informed the sector minister of these two matches, there is no funding from their end. They gave us their blessing to go ahead with the games, but with no funding,” he added.

Regarding player compensation, Asante Twum clarified that there would be no winning bonuses for the matches.
“Yes, there will be no winning bonuses; it will just be the per diem agreed between the GFA and the players,” he said.

Nineteen players took part in the team’s first training session on Wednesday, with the remaining call-ups now joining the camp. Kick-off for Friday’s encounter against Japan is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. GMT.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Asante Twum explained that the players will receive only their per diems, noting that the matches are not competitive fixtures.

“There will be no winning bonuses for the Black Stars players for the Japan and South Korea friendly games — only per diems,” he stated.

He further revealed that the host nations are bearing the full cost of the friendlies.

“These games for the Black Stars are funded by the host countries — Japan and South Korea,” he added.

The national team is currently in Asia as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ghana will face Japan on Friday, November 14, before playing South Korea on November 18.

Head coach Otto Addo has named a 22-man squad for the tour, with 18 players already in camp in Nagoya, while the remaining invitees are expected to join later today.

The Black Stars are also set to hold their first training session today, November 12, ahead of their Kirin Cup clash against Japan.

Head coach Otto Addo left out notable names such as Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey, and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, opting instead to give opportunities to emerging talents including Kelvin Nkrumah, Prince Kwabena Adu, and Prince Osei Owusu.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Asante Twum explained that the decision was based on legitimate considerations rather than the long travel distance to Asia.

“Absentees from the Black Stars squad for the Japan and South Korea friendly games are due to legitimate reasons and not the travelling distance,” he said.

“We all came to an agreement that some players will need to rest while others are nursing injuries, so we had to let them stay behind. The new faces in the squad have been on the radar of the technical team for some time now, and this is an opportunity for them to prove their worth in these games.”

He further noted that the friendlies form part of a broader development plan aimed at building a strong team for future competitions.

“These friendly games are aimed at working on something within the Black Stars setup and among the players. We just want to make use of the best talents for the future,” he added.

The Black Stars opened camp on Tuesday, November 11, and are expected to hold their first training session today.

Ghana will face Japan in the Kirin Cup on Friday, November 14, before taking on South Korea on November 18. The matches are part of the team’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The matches form part of Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with the team set to face Japan on November 14 before taking on South Korea on November 18.

New faces in the squad include Czech Republic-based forward Prince Kwabena Adu, Medeama SC winger Kelvin Nkrumah, and FC Montreal attacker Prince Osei Owusu.

Their inclusion follows the decision to rest some senior players, while others have been ruled out due to injuries.

The Black Stars are expected to hold their first training session in Nagoya on Wednesday, ahead of the Kirin Cup clash with Japan on Friday, November 14.

Squad below:

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The German-born defender is expected to make his debut as Ghana embarks on an Asian tour, taking on Japan and South Korea.

Kohn had previously been called up by coach Otto Addo but was unable to feature in competitive matches due to delays in completing his nationality switch. With that now resolved, he is set to play in the Black Stars’ preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has yet to release the official squad list for the matches.

Ghana will face Japan on Friday, November 14, in the Kirin Challenge Cup, before clashing with South Korea four days later.

These friendlies form part of the team’s build-up to the 2026 World Cup, following their absence from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

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Ghana will face Japan on 14 November before travelling to take on South Korea four days later, as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Tentatively, we are looking at the end of this week or the weekend to confirm the squad and the full complement of the team,” Twum said.

He added, “The plan is for the advanced team to depart Accra on Friday for Japan, followed by the rest of the technical team. I don’t yet know if there will be local players. Depending on their number, they will hopefully travel on Sunday to Japan. We will then receive the players after their respective matches on Tuesday.”

The Black Stars’ Asia tour comes as anticipation builds for the 2026 World Cup draw, scheduled for 5 December in Washington, where Ghana will learn its group-stage opponents.

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Having already secured qualification for the tournament, both countries will use this opportunity to polish their strategies.

Japan booked their spot in the World Cup in March with a 2-0 win over Bahrain, while beating Comoros 1-0 in Accra on Sunday to confirm their place at the competition.

Coach Otto Addo’s team will look to assess players and make necessary adjustments ahead of our fifth appearance in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America.

The match will provide a valuable chance for the Black Stars to test themselves against teams they might face at the World Cup.

The highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place at Toyota Stadium in Aichi, Japan, on Friday, November 14, 2025.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHAPOHA), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has departed Accra as the head of a delegation to Japan for the annual general meeting of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH).

This was contained in a statement released by Kakra Essamuah, Director of Communications of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), where Nketia also serves as National Chairman.

The meeting will take place in Kobe, with the delegation expected to return to Ghana on October 12, 2025.

In his absence, the NDC has announced that its Vice Chairman, Awudu Sofo Azorka, will serve as Acting National Chairman.

Source: Adomonline

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This is at the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan.

He co-chaired the session with former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, alongside interventions from Kenyan President William Ruto, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The UN Under-Secretary-General Cristina Duarte and Comoros President Azali Assoumani also delivered remarks.

In his concluding statement, President Mahama said TICAD-9 comes at a time of rapid shifts in the global order.

“The world’s largest economy, which should be the driver of global trade and investments, has become more insular and transactional in its relationship with the rest of the world,” he noted.

President Mahama urged African leaders to embrace reforms if the continent is to attract sustainable trade and investment.

“Africa is open for business. We wish to partner with any nation in the world on a win-win basis. But let’s not kid ourselves! Trade and investments will not come to Africa because we wish for it,” he stressed.

According to him, Africa must take the “hard but necessary” steps to make itself an attractive investment hub.

“That is why we must silence the guns and stop the fighting. That is why we must reform our economies and make them more stable and predictable.

“This is why we must reform our governance and make public service accountable and corruption-free,” he added.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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Voters went to the polls on Sunday for the tightly-contested election, being held at a time of frustration at the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito over rising prices and the threat of US tariffs.

Speaking after polls closed on Sunday, the prime minister said he “solemnly” accepts the “harsh result” but that his focus was on trade negotiations.

Having already lost its majority in Japan’s more powerful lower house last year, the defeat will undermine the coalition’s influence.

The ruling coalition needed 50 seats to retain control of the 248-seat upper chamber. It ended up with 47.

The Constitutional Democratic Party, the main opposition, came in second with 22 seats.

Half of the seats in the upper chamber were being voted on in Sunday’s election, with members elected for six-year terms.

Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer in Japanese Studies at Kanda University of International Studies, told BBC News support for more right wing parties had cut into the LDP’s conservative support base.

“Prime Minister Ishiba is considered not conservative enough by many supporters of the former Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe,” he said.

“They think that he just doesn’t have the nationalistic views on history, he doesn’t have the strong views against China that Abe had.”

Shinzo Abe was formerly the leader of the LDP and was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, in office twice between 2006 and 2007, and 2012 and 2020.

Mr Hall said some of the party’s support had gone towards the Sanseito party – who would now be saying things which “haven’t been said in public before by members of the upper house,” – noting the party’s pull towards “conspiracy theories, anti-foreign statements, [and] very strong revisionist views about history”.

Ishiba’s centre-right party has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955, albeit with frequent changes of leader.

The result underscores voters’ frustration with Ishiba, who has struggled to inspire confidence as Japan struggles against economic headwinds, a cost-of-living crisis and trade negotiations with the United States.

Many are also unhappy about inflation – particularly the price of rice – and a string of political scandals that have beleaguered the LDP in recent years.

The last three LDP premiers who lost a majority in the upper house stepped down within two months, and analysts had predicted that a significant loss in this election would yield a similar outcome.

This would open the field for a potential run at the leadership by other notable LDP members, including Sanae Takaichi, who finished second to Ishiba in last year’s leadership election; Takayuki Kobayashi, a former economic security minister; and Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

In any case, a change of leadership within the ruling party would almost certainly unleash political drama and destabilise Japan’s government at a pivotal moment in US-Japan trade negotiations.

On Monday, the Tokyo Stock Exchange was closed for a public holiday, but the yen strengthened on global markets against other major currencies as the results appeared to have been expected by investors.

Support for the ruling coalition appears to have been eroded by candidates from the small, right-leaning Sanseito party, led by Sohei Kamiya, who has been compared to Trump by some media outlets.

The party, which is known for its “Japanese First” policy, drew conservative votes with its anti-immigration rhetoric. On Sunday, it won 14 seats – a big addition to the single seat the party won in the last election.

Sanseito rose to prominence during the pandemic, as it peddled conspiracy theories on YouTube such as the “deep state” and warned people not to wear masks or vaccinate themselves.

The fringe party’s nativist rhetoric widened its appeal ahead of Sunday’s vote, as policies regarding foreign residents and immigration became a focal point of many parties’ campaigns.

Famous for its isolationist culture and strict immigration policies, the island nation has experienced a record surge in both tourists and foreign residents in recent years.

The influx has further driven up prices for Japanese people and fuelled a sentiment among some that foreigners are taking advantage of the country, aggravating discontent.

Against that same backdrop, Ishiba last week launched a task force aimed at tackling “crimes or nuisance behaviours committed by some foreign nationals”, including those relating to immigration, land acquisitions and unpaid social insurance.

Source: BBC

Prof. Akoriyea made this declaration during the official renewal ceremony of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between the KOKO Plus Foundation (KPF), the Ajinomoto Foundation (TAF), and the Ghana Health Service.

The renewed agreement is part of ongoing collaborative efforts to tackle child malnutrition and improve health outcomes across Ghana.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Prof. Akoriyea expressed gratitude for Japan’s continued support and underscored Ghana’s readiness to learn from and work closely with Japanese partners to develop sustainable health solutions.

“We are ready to partner and learn with you to improve Ghana’s health sector,” he stated during the signing ceremony, addressing the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Yoshimoto Hiroshi.

Also present at the event was Dr. Kennedy Bomfeh, Director of Production, Project Management, and Academic Affairs for KOKO Plus and the Ajinomoto Foundation.

He reaffirmed the foundations’ commitment to supporting Ghana’s fight against child malnutrition.

Dr. Bomfeh highlighted that the renewed MoC would enable the foundations to scale their efforts, reach more children, and significantly enhance nutritional outcomes nationwide.

The partnership marks continued dedication to improving child health through sustainable, evidence-based interventions, further strengthening the longstanding relationship between Ghana and Japan in the health sector.

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Midfielder Kamada came off the bench to put Japan in front after 66 minutes and Kubo added the second three minutes from time to keep the Samurai Blue in pole position in Group C of Asia’s preliminaries.

The win guarantees Japan a top-two finish in the standings and sees them qualify for an eighth straight World Cup.

The first two in each of Asia’s three qualifying groups are certain to progress to the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year, with the third- and fourth-placed teams advancing to a further round of playoffs.

After an underwhelming first half, Moriyasu introduced Crystal Palace midfielder Kamada in the 63rd minute and within three minutes he had put his side in front.

The 28-year-old finished off a fine move that started with defender Hiroki Ito finding Ayase Ueda in the centre circle, and his pass released Kubo to set up Kamada to score.

Kubo had been Japan’s most potent threat and it was fitting that the Real Sociedad playmaker added the second, beating goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfallah at his near post to put the outcome beyond doubt.

AUSTRALIA CRUISE

The result means Japan continue to lead Group C by nine points from second-placed Australia, who overcame an early scare to thrash Indonesia 5-1 in Sydney in Patrick Kluivert’s first game in charge of the visitors.

Indonesia’s Kevin Diks hit the post with an eighth-minute penalty and the Socceroos took advantage.

Martin Boyle put Australia ahead from the spot and Jackson Irvine scored twice, with Nishan Velupillay and Lewis Miller also on target to enhance Australia’s qualification hopes.

Saudi Arabia host China in the remaining Group C game in Riyadh later on Thursday.

South Korea suffered a minor setback in Group B as Hong Myung-bo’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Oman in Goyang.

Hwang Hee-chan had given the home side the lead in the 41st minute but an 80th minute strike by Ali Al-Busaidi levelled for the Omanis against a Korean outfit that saw Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in leave the field with an ankle injury.

The Koreans remain in first place on 15 points, four ahead of Iraq who are at home to Kuwait later on Thursday, while Jordan host Palestine.

In Group A, leaders Iran entertain the United Arab Emirates while second-placed Uzbekistan, who are three points back, host Kyrgyzstan and Asian champions Qatar take on visitors North Korea.

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The bottlenose dolphin is believed to be behind 18 attacks near the town of Mihama so far this year, with one primary school-aged child’s finger needing at least 20 stitches.

At least six people were injured in attacks last year, leaving one swimmer with broken ribs. Another person was injured in a 2022 attack.

It has led officials to warn that not only can the mammals “bite you with their sharp teeth and cause you to bleed”, but they can also “drag you into the sea, which could be life-threatening”.

Despite their reputation as friendly animals, dolphin attacks can be fatal. In 1994, a dolphin in Brazil attacked two male swimmers who tried to ride it, killing one and injuring the other. The dolphin, nicknamed Tião, was believed to have injured at least 22 people before that.

Tadamichi Morisaka, a cetology professor at Japan’s Mie University, said the dorsal fin of a dolphin spotted biting a man’s fingers at a beach in Tsuruga – a port city next to Mihama – matched that of a 2.5m long dolphin observed off the coast of Fukui province last year.

The dorsal fin is like a dolphin’s fingerprint, as each has distinctive notches, ridges and pigmentation.

“It is reasonable to assume that it is the same individual, as the wounds on the tail fin are similar to those of the dolphins seen off the coast last year, and it is rare for dolphins, which normally move in groups, to be alone for such a long time,” Prof Morisaka told NHK.

He added that male bottlenose dolphins communicate by “play-biting each other”. “They are not trying to injure people, but are using the dolphins’ way of communication with people,” he said.

Others have suggested various theories on why the same creature may be behind these attacks – including a desire for sex.

“Bottlenose dolphins are highly social animals and this sociality can be expressed in very physical ways,” said Dr Simon Allen, a biologist and principal investigator with the Shark Bay Dolphin Research project.

“Just as in humans and other social animals, hormonal fluctuations, sexual frustration or the desire to dominate might drive the dolphin to injuring the people it interacts with. Since they are such powerful animals, this can lead to serious injury in humans.”

Dr Matthias Hoffmann-Kuhnt, a marine mammal expert at the National University of Singapore, said the dolphin could also be acting in its own defence.

“Most of the time, in my experience, this is more a defensive behaviour when humans get to close to these dolphins and do not know how to conduct themselves,” he said, referring to reports of people trying to ride the animals or sticking their fingers into the dolphins’ blowholes.

“Thus it is no wonder that the animals then turn aggressive or at least protective against humans in the water,” he said.

It could also be that the dolphin previously had a bad encounter with a human being and now projects that relationship onto other humans it encounters, Dr Hoffmann-Kuhnt said.

“They have good memory, similar to elephant who will remember who mistreated them before,” he said.

Source: BBC

Japan started the game aggressively, putting significant pressure on the Black Queens’ defense in the first quarter, which required extra effort from the Ghanaian side.

The Black Queens played most of the match with ten players after Captain Portia Boakye was sent off for fouling Japan’s Tanaka Mina.

Ghana’s first offensive attempt saw Doris Boaduwaa’s shot curl wide, as Japan continued to dominate. Goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan Findiib emerged as the standout performer for Ghana, making several top-class saves to keep the hosts at bay.

In the 52nd minute, Tanaka Mina scored from a penalty area scramble following a Nagano free-kick, putting Japan in the lead. Quick goals from Hanata and Fujino Aoba in the 64th and 67th minutes, respectively, further weakened Ghana’s defense. Kitagawa added another goal for Japan in the 80th minute.

Despite their best efforts, the Black Queens could not recover from the four-goal deficit by the end of the game.

The match provided the technical team with an opportunity to evaluate the squad against high-level competition as they prepare for upcoming international assignments.

The Ghanaian team will face Japan at the Go Go Curry Stadium in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, on Saturday.

Speaking to the press, the Swiss coach discussed her team’s readiness for the game while acknowledging Japan’s high calibre.

“We know Japan were World Champions in 2011, and are currently ranked number seven in the World and for us, this is a high-class team,” she said as reported by the Ghana FA website.

“The opposition they provide is exactly what we want so as to improve in different areas such as ball possession. We also need to be smart in defence because Japan is very excellent on the ball in good transitioning moments and they observe their opponents very well.”

Häuptle emphasized that the Black Queens will approach the game with a strategic and clever game plan.

“We will present a smart game plan by trying to surprise our opponents a little bit and we are really going to see how we end tomorrow’s game”, she added.

The match is set to kick off at 06:24 GMT.

The women’s senior national team will face the Asian side on July 13 in a high-profile friendly game for Nora Hauptle’s side.

The game will also serve as a preparatory test for Japan who are set to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

19 players left Accra for Japan on Sunday, July 7, with three more players expected to join in Kanazawa for the game.

The three players are Bay FC’s Princesses Dankwa Marfo. Linda Eshun and Grace Asantewaa who plays in Mexico.

The Queens held a four-day training session in Ghana before their departure for the game.

The contingent included 19 players, technical team and management members. Four more players are set to fly to join their colleagues for the tie.

The Black Queens have been training in Accra for the four days in readiness for the much anticipated friendly.

Nora Häuptle will use the game to assess her players for future competitions including the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Ghana will face the former World Champions at the Kanazawa Go-Go Curry Stadium on Saturday, July 13, 2024, as part of their build-up to the Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Below is Ghana’s squad:

The roster includes Bay FC’s Princess Marfo, Luton FC defender Bridget Adu, and former FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Boot winner Mukarama Abdulai.

Also invited are Wasila Diwura Soale, Nina Norshie, Mavis Owusu, Adama Alhassan, and Victoria Osei.

The Black Queens will use this match as preparation for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Japan, a dominant force in women’s football, views Ghana as an ideal competitor as they prepare for the Olympic Games in Paris.

This much-anticipated friendly will take place at the Kanazawa Go Go Curry Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday, July 13, 2024.

All selected players are expected to report to the Accra camp on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

Below is the full squad

Having secured their spot in the 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) by defeating Namibia in the final qualifying round, the Black Queens aims to maintain their form ahead of the tournament.

Head coach, Nora Häuptle sees this match as an opportunity to assess new additions to the team.

Meanwhile, the Japanese team is using this game to bolster their preparation for the Paris Olympics.

Ranked seventh in the world, Japan is looking to fine-tune their squad for the upcoming tournament.

Ghana’s Black Queens, currently ranked 64th globally and 4th in Africa, are eager to test their skills against a strong opponent like Japan.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is committed to providing the team with international exposure, having previously arranged friendlies against Senegal and Benin during FIFA Women’s international windows.

This match promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams gear up for their respective competitions.

Mitsuko Tottori, a senior managing executive officer who joined the airline in 1985, the year it suffered one of the worst crashes in airline history, will become president from April 1, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

The appointment comes as Japanese companies face increasing pressure to boost gender diversity and tackle a gender pay gap that is the worst among the Group of Seven nations and almost double the average of the OECD grouping of advanced economies.

“There are female employees out there who are struggling with their career steps or going through big life events,” Tottori told a news conference. “I hope my appointment as a president can encourage them, or give them the courage to take the next step.”

The change comes as the airline seeks to recover from the pandemic-era downturn and tourists flock back to Japan.

Airline safety is under a fresh spotlight after a collision between a JAL plane and a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft at Tokyo’s Haneda airport this month. All 379 people aboard the airliner escaped as it burst into flames.

JAL has said Tottori acquired a “high level of insight and field experience” in safety operations and service.

The current president, Yuji Akasaka, will become chairperson while continuing to hold a representative director title, the airline said in its statement.

Yoshiharu Ueki, the current chairman, will retire from his post in April and leave the director position upon shareholder approval in June.

Japan airline has set itself a target for women to make up 30% of managers across the group by the end of the fiscal year to March 2026.

Japan were seen as title contenders after gliding through the group stage and defeating Norway in the last 16.

Here, they fell behind to Amanda Ilestedt’s goal before Manchester City midfielder Filippa Angeldahl doubled Sweden’s lead from the penalty spot.

Japan were awarded a controversial penalty, but Riko Ueki’s 76th-minute attempt hit the bar, before West Ham’s Honoka Hayashi pulled a goal back in the 87th minute.

That lifeline came moments after Aoba Fujino hit the woodwork from a free-kick, but Sweden saw the game out to make it into the last four.

New Arsenal defender Ilestedt has emerged as one of the players of the tournament, and she now has four goals.

She struck from the edge of the six-yard box in the 32nd minute after Japan failed to clear.

Goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita kept Japan in the contest when she tipped an attempt by Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani onto the post, while Stina Blackstenius had earlier missed a glorious chance when the game was goalless.

There looked to be no coming back for Japan when Angeldahl doubled the lead from the spot after the video assistant referee (VAR) spotted a handball by Japan’s Liverpool midfielder Fuka Nagano.

Japan have shone at this World Cup, scoring 14 times in their previous four matches.

But they struggled to test Sweden keeper Zecira Musovic enough at Eden Park as Sweden moved to within one win of a first World Cup final since 2003 when they lost to Germany in the final in the United States.

The 2011 champions made the ideal start when Norway defender Ingrid Engen turned Hinata Miyazawa’s cross into her own net.

However, Norway equalised a few minutes later when Guro Reiten headed home.

Risa Shimizu’s heavily defected strike restored Japan’s lead before Hinata Miyazawa raced through to score a third and seal her side’s progress.

The goal cemented Japan’s place in the quarter-finals and kept Miyazawa on target for the Golden Boot – she leads the scoring charts in Australia and New Zealand on five.

Norway were second best for much of the game but almost set up an exciting finish when goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita superbly kept out Karina Saevik’s bullet header.

Japan will play either defending champions the United States or Sweden in the last eight.

The 2011 world champions made it look easy as they scored three times before half-time, with Hinata Miyazawa getting two to take her tally to four goals and become the tournament’s leading scorer.

The attacking midfielder put Japan ahead with a calm finish after Spain’s defence had been exposed, before Riko Uek doubled the lead with a deflected finish which looped into the net.

Miyazawa, who scored two in Japan’s opening group game against Zambia, made it 3-0 by firing across goal and into the net in front of a crowd of 20,957.

Substitute Mina Tanaka added to Spain’s pain with a fourth goal in the 83rd minute.

Japan started the third and final group game trailing Spain on goal difference after both teams had made 100% winning starts in New Zealand.

Japan will stay in Wellington, where they will meet Norway, the 1995 world champions, on Saturday at 09:00 BST.

Group runners-up Spain head to Auckland, where they will play Switzerland at Eden Park on Saturday at 06:00 BST.

Hikaru Naomoto and Aoba Fujino both scored in the space of three first-half minutes to ease the 2011 champions to three points.

Japan will be the first side to secure their place in the knockout stages if Spain earn at least a point against Zambia later.

Costa Rica will be eliminated from the World Cup if Spain avoid defeat.

Japan get the job done

Aoba Fujino scored her first senior goal for Japan to put them 2-0 ahead against Costa Rica

Since stunning the football world by beating the United States in the 2011 final, Japan have underwhelmed on the global stage.

But following the Tokyo Olympics – where Japan were eliminated in the quarter-finals on home soil – Futoshi Ikeda was appointed manager and has put together a side which has impressed with its attacking possession-focused football.

Japan will face much tougher tests than Costa Rica and Zambia in their opening game, and they will need to be more clinical than they were at Dunedin Stadium. However, two wins and seven goals cannot be ignored.

This game was settled by the 27th minute – first Naomoto found the far left corner with a low shot from the left of the box, before Fujino shrugged off a tackle on the right wing, cut into the box and beat keeper Daniela Solera at the near post for her first Japan goal.

It was a moment of redemption for Fujino following a bizarre incident on 15 minutes where she prevented team-mate Risa Shimizu scoring with an inadvertent sliding tackle as both went to finish a chance.

Solera shines but Costa Rica outclassed

Costa Rica were outclassed here just as they were in their opening loss to Spain.

Nervous in possession, they were not technically able enough to play out from the back and inaccurate with long balls, constantly ceding possession to their opponents.

Solera – who has now made a tournament-high 19 stops at this World Cup – was once again the only factor between Costa Rica and a truly embarrassing scoreline.

After a 1-1 draw at extra time, Livakovic kept out the first two efforts before stopping Maya Yoshida’s kick, then Mario Pasalic tucked his penalty into the corner to take his side through.

Zlatko Dalic’s side, beaten in the final by France four years ago, will face tournament favourites Brazil or South Korea in the next round on Friday (15:00 GMT).

Japan were the livelier side and took a deserved lead two minutes before half-time when Celtic forward Daizen Maeda converted from Yoshida’s knock down.

Croatia levelled in the second half courtesy of Ivan Perisic’s brilliant bullet header from Dejan Lovren’s cross, becoming his country’s all-time leading scorer at major tournaments with 10 goals.

Neither side could find a breakthrough and the game ticked into the additional 30 minutes, with Brighton midfielder Kaoru Mitoma’s spectacular strike pushed over by Livakovic.

At the other end, Marko Livaja’s flicked header looked to be looping in, but Shuichi Gonda managed to gather and Lovro Majer dragged a shot in the 120th minute.

The contest went to nerve-shredding penalties, where Livakovic emerged as the man to lead Croatia’s celebrations.

Alvaro Morata’s header gave La Roja the lead in the first half, but two quickfire goals from Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka after the break were enough for Hajime Moriyasu’s side to seal Japan’s place in the knockout stages.

Spain finish as group runners up on four points by virtue of their superior goal difference over Germany, who came from behind to beat Costa Rica 4-2, but had to settle for third.

Japan will play Croatia on December 5 while runners-up Spain will take on Morocco on December 6.

Spain dominated possession from the first minute with Japan struggling to make any inroads aside from Junya Ito’s driven strike which crashed into the side netting in the eighth minute.

So it was little surprise when Morata got his third World Cup goal of the campaign in the 12th minute. He nodded in a cross from Cesar Azpilicueta at point-blank range to get his 30th Spain goal.

Japan boss Moriyasu brought Doan and Kaoru Mitoma into the game at half-time and both were pivotal in their two goals.

In the 48th minute, Unai Simon’s poor clearance was intercepted by Japan before Doan’s piledriver from 25 yards out could only be batted into the top corner by the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper.

Five minutes later and Japan got a shock second when Mitoma just about kept the ball in play on the byline before squaring for Tanaka to prod into the net. The ball was originally adjudged to go out of play, but the decision was overturned by VAR.

Japan sat deeper as Spain looked to break down their compact defence. But Spain were guilty of overplaying and Japan were able to seal a historic victory over the 2010 World Cup winners.

Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi and midfielder Reo Hatate notably missed out on selection for the Samurai Blue, who will take on Germany in their Group E opener on November 23 before facing Costa Rica on the 27th and Spain on December 1.

Vissel Kobe forward Yuya Osako and Union Berlin midfielder Genki Haraguchi also went unnamed by Moriyasu, with Nagoya Grampus winger Yuki Soma getting a surprise call.

“I’ve made the best, comprehensive selection possible, placing importance on our activities thus far, the situations the players are facing (at their clubs) and with how we plan to play at the World Cup in mind,” Moriyasu said.

“There really are lots of players in all positions that could have been picked. It was extremely difficult.”

Japan has reached the knockout stage of the tournament three times, the most of any Asian nation, and Moriyasu reiterated Japan’s ambition is “reaching the last eight” for the first time in their seventh straight appearance.

Kamada and Kubo are among 19 first-time World Cup selections, also including attackers Junya Ito, Takumi Minamino and Kaoru Mitoma, as well as midfielder Hidemasa Morita and defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Captain Maya Yoshida and Hiroki Sakai will play their third straight World Cups at the back. Experienced defender Yuto Nagatomo, 36, will travel to his fourth straight finals along with 39-year-old goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.

Moriyasu kept faith in defender Ko Itakura and forward Takuma Asano, who have both been out since mid-September due to knee ligament injuries, but are expected to recover in time for the World Cup.

With Kubo, Morita and Ao Tanaka also picking up knocks in the past week, Moriyasu said he could be forced into making late changes, especially with games in European leagues taking place until a week before the Nov. 20 World Cup opening.

“We never know what might happen. Players (not picked) have equivalent abilities and I hope they retain their will to fight for Japan,” he said.

Moriyasu’s side will play a warm-up game against Canada on November 17 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Japan’s World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Strasbourg), Shuichi Gonda (Shimizu S-Pulse), Daniel Schmidt (Sint-Truiden)

Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Maya Yoshida (Schalke), Hiroki Sakai (Urawa Reds), Shogo Taniguchi (Kawasaki Frontale), Miki Yamane (Kawasaki Frontale), Ko Itakura (Borussia Monchengladbach), Yuta Nakayama (Huddersfield), Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal)

Midfielders/Forwards: Gaku Shibasaki (Leganes), Wataru Endo (Stuttgart), Junya Ito (Reims), Takuma Asano (Bochum), Takumi Minamino (Monaco), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting Lisbon), Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt), Yuki Soma (Nagoya Grampus), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ritsu Doan (Freiburg), Ayase Ueda (Cercle Brugge), Ao Tanaka (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad)

It prompted a warning from the Japanese government for people on the island of Hokkaido to take cover during its flight, and the temporary suspension of some train operations.

It is the first North Korean missile launch over Japan since 2017.

The UN prohibits North Korea from ballistic and nuclear weapons tests.

“North Korea appears to have launched a missile. Please evacuate into buildings or underground,” the Japanese government said in a rare alert issued at 07:29 local time on Tuesday (22:29 GMT Monday).

Officials said the missile fell into the Pacific Ocean about 3,000 km (1,860 miles) from Japan, and that no injuries had been reported in connection with it.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida strongly condemned the actions, describing the launch as “violent behaviour”, and the Japanese government has called a meeting of its National Security Council.

The launch appears to be a deliberate escalation designed to get the attention of Japan and the US, who have largely been ignoring North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un.

It is in complete contravention of international norms to fly missiles towards or over other countries without any pre-warning or consultation.

Most countries avoid doing it completely as it can easily be mistaken for an attack, and while it is not as a big as a nuclear test – which could be next – it is nevertheless hugely provocative.

The US has responded, with the top US diplomat for East Asia, Daniel Kritenbrink, describing North Korea’s decision as “unfortunate”.

It comes as Japan, the US and South Korea staged trilateral military exercises earlier last week, which have been known to provoke Pyongyang.

The missile launch is the fifth carried out by Pyongyang in a week. On Saturday, two rockets came down in waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

Many of North Korea’s missile tests are conducted on a high, lofted flight path – reaching a high altitude, avoiding flights over its neighbours.

But firing over or past Japan allowed North Korean scientists to test missiles under circumstances “that are more representative of the conditions they’d endure in real-world use”, analyst Ankit Panda told news agency Reuters.

Earlier this month, North Korea passed a law declaring itself to be a nuclear weapons state, with leader Kim Jong-un ruling out the possibility of talks on denuclearisation.

Pyongyang conducted six nuclear tests between 2006 and 2017, despite widespread sanctions.

The younger generation drinks less alcohol than their parents – a move that has hit taxes from beverages like sake (rice wine).

So the national tax agency has stepped in with a national competition to come up with ideas to reverse the trend.

The “Sake Viva!” campaign hopes to come up with a plan to make drinking more attractive – and boost the industry.

The contest asks 20 to 39-year-olds to share their business ideas to kick-start demand among their peers – whether it’s for Japanese sake, shochu, whiskey, beer or wine.

The group running the competition for the tax authority says new habits – partly formed during the Covid pandemic – and an ageing population have led to a decline in alcohol sales.

It wants contestants to come up with promotions, branding, and even cutting-edge plans involving artificial intelligence.

Japanese media say the reaction has been mixed, with some criticism about the bid to promote an unhealthy habit. But others have posted quirky ideas online – such as famous actresses “performing” as virtual-reality hostesses in digital clubs.

Contestants have until the end of September to put forward their ideas. The best plans will then be developed with help from experts before the final proposals are presented in November.

The campaign’s website says Japan’s alcohol market is shrinking and the country’s older demographic – alongside declining birth rates – is a significant factor behind it.

Recent figures from the tax agency show that people were drinking less in 2020 than in 1995, with numbers plummeting from 100 litres (22 gallons) a year to 75 litres (16 gallons).

Tax revenue from taxes on alcohol has also shrunk over the years. According to The Japan Times newspaper, it made up 5% of total revenue in 1980, but in 2020 amounts to just 1.7%.

The World Bank estimates that nearly a third (29%) of Japan’s population is aged 65 and older – the highest proportion in the world.

Concerns about the future of sake is not the only problem that poses for Japan’s economy – there are worries about the supply of younger staff for certain types of jobs, and care for the elderly in the future.

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Known for his innovative styles and perfume, Miyake built a global fashion brand, which included designing Steve Jobs’ famous black turtle neck jumpers.

Miyake was known to work with traditional and modern fashion techniques during his long career.

He died of liver cancer on Friday, and a private funeral has already taken place, Japanese media is reporting.

Born in Hiroshima in 1938, Miyake was just seven years old when the city was devastated by an atomic bomb dropped by the United States.

He was reluctant to talk about it as an adult, and wrote in the New York Times in 2009 that he did not want to be known as “the designer who survived the atomic bomb”.

“When I close my eyes, I still see things no one should ever experience,” he wrote, adding that he prefers to think of things “that can be created, not destroyed, and that bring beauty and joy”.

Miyake wanted to be a dancer or athlete when he was young – but that changed after he read his sister’s fashion magazines.

He studied graphic design at a Tokyo art university and then moved to Paris in the 1960s, where he worked with lauded fashion designers Guy Laroche and Hubert de Givenchy.

He moved to New York for a short time, before heading back to Tokyo in 1970 to open the Miyake Design Studio.

By the 1980s he was celebrated as one of the world’s most pioneering designers as he worked with materials from plastic to metal – and also traditional Japanese materials, and paper.

Miyake developed a new way of pleating fabric by wrapping it between layers of paper in a heat press.

A phenomenal success after various tests proved the pleats stayed in place and didn’t wrinkle, it lead to his signature Pleats, Please line.

He became known for creating a style that was high-tech, yet practical and comfortable, and was a household name in not only Japan’s fashion industry – but on the global catwalk.

His fashion house developed highly sought-after clothes for men and women, as well as bags, watches and perfumes – a bottle of L’Eau d’Issey, launched in 1992, was rumoured to sell every 14 seconds.

His A-POC (A Piece of Clothing) line, which can now be seen in museums, used a special weaving machine that made outfits out of one continuous tube of fabric.

Miyake was asked by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs to design his iconic turtle neck jumpers and reportedly made 100 of them, at $175 each.

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Members of the Unification Church are sometimes referred to by a pejorative colloquialism derived from the name of the group’s founder — the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who considered himself to be the second coming of Christ.

Japanese police have said that Yamagami told them he was motivated by animosity toward the religious group he blamed for his mother’s financial ruin, while a Tokyo-based representative confirmed on Sunday that Yamagami’s mother was a member of the church.

Abe did not belong to the Unification Church, but he did give paid speeches at church-related events, and Unificationists formed a reliable voting bloc for Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party.

Abe appeared at an event hosted by an organisation affiliated with the church last September where he delivered a speech praising the affiliate’s work towards peace on the Korean peninsula, according to the church’s website.

Yamagami believed Abe had promoted the religious group to which his mother made a “huge donation”, Kyodo news agency has said, citing investigative sources.

Tomihiro Tanaka, president of the Japan branch of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, known as the Unification Church, told reporters at a briefing in Tokyo that Yamagami’s mother was a member of the church. He did not give her name.

Tanaka declined to comment on her donations, citing the ongoing police investigation.

The church has agreed to cooperate with police investigations.

Yamagami’s mother first joined the church around 1998 but stopped attending in a period between 2009 and 2017, Tanaka said.

About two to three years ago she re-established communication with church members and in the last half year or so has been attending church events at a frequency of about once a month, he said.

The Unification Church was founded in South Korea in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon, a self-declared messiah and strident anti-communist. It has gained global media attention for its mass weddings where it marries thousands of couples at a time.

Moon, who spoke fluent Japanese, launched an anti-communist political campaign in Japan from late 1960s and built relations with Japanese politicians, according to the church’s publications.

Moon died in 2012. The church has about 600,000 members in Japan, out of 10 million globally, Tanaka said.

Abe was shot at twice while he was giving a speech on a street in the city of Nara on Friday morning.

Security officials at the scene tackled the gunman and a 41-year-old suspect is now in police custody.

The suspect, named as Tetsuya Yamagami, admitted shooting Abe with a homemade gun, and said he had a grudge against a “specific organisation”, police said.

Several other handmade weapons, similar to those used in the attack, had been confiscated after a search of the suspect’s house, police officers told a news conference.

Explosives were also found at the home and police said they had advised residents to evacuate the area.

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The suspected shooter told officers he had a grudge against a specific group he believed Abe was connected to, police said, adding that they were investigating why the former PM was targeted out of other people related to the group.

Asked by a member of the Japanese media whether the gunman’s intention was to kill Abe, police say only that Mr Yamagami admitted to shooting the former PM.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the attack, saying: “It is barbaric and malicious and it cannot be tolerated.”

This attack was “an act of brutality that happened during the elections – the very foundation of our democracy – and is absolutely unforgivable,” Mr Kishida said, speaking before Abe’s death was confirmed.

Abe suffered two bullet wounds to his neck during the attack, and also suffered damage to his heart, doctors said.

He was said to be conscious and responsive in the minutes after the attack, but the 67-year-old’s condition deteriorated.

Doctors said no vital signs were detected by the time the former prime minister was transferred for treatment. Abe received more than 100 units of blood in transfusions over four hours, before he was pronounced dead at 5.03pm local time (0803 GMT).

The blistering heat has drawn official warnings of a looming power shortage, and led to calls for people to conserve energy where possible.

But the government is still advising people to use use air conditioning to avoid heatstroke as cases of hospitalisation rise with the heat.

Weather officials warn the heat is likely to continue in the coming days.

Heatwaves have become more frequent, more intense, and last longer because of human-induced climate change.

The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.

Tokyo charted temperatures above 35 degrees on Wednesday for a fifth straight day, marking the worst documented streak of hot weather in June since records started in 1875.

Meanwhile, the city of Isesaki, northwest of the capital, saw a record 40.2C – the highest temperature ever recorded in June for Japan.

Social media users took to Twitter to lament the soaring temperatures.

“It’s too hot outside and just being out … means I’m in a self-sauna. I want to bathe in the water,” remarked one user.

“I’ve been outside since morning, and almost melting from this extreme heat,” tweeted another.

A third user wrote “So hot that the fire alarm at our workplace got short-circuited,” with a clip of what appeared to be water sprinklers going off at a plant nursery.

暑すぎて職場の火災報知器がショートした?‍?? pic.twitter.com/swHA5ZsREZ

— 大野屋?石焼き芋? (@Oonoya919) June 29, 2022

June is usually considered the rainy season for Japan, but the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) declared an end to the season for Tokyo and its surrounding areas on Monday.

The announcement – which came 22 days earlier than normal – marks the earliest end to the rainy season since 1951.

Cases of heatstroke have also spiked amidst the sweltering heat, with emergency services saying on Wednesday at least 76 people had been taken to hospital.

On Tuesday, local officials issued calls for people to reduce their energy consumption amidst warnings of a power crunch.

But it advised to do so in moderation to lower the risk of heatstroke, especially amongst the country’s elderly.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry expects demand for power to be “severe” this afternoon local time.

It said people should switch off unnecessary lights but still use air conditioning to avoid heatstroke.

For weeks, officials have warned of a power crunch as temperatures rise.

Over the weekend, the temperature in central Tokyo rose above 35C, while the city of Isesaki, northwest of the capital, saw a record 40.2C. That was the highest temperature ever recorded in June for Japan.

June marks the start of summer in Japan, with temperatures typically staying below 30C during the month.

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In a statement on Sunday, the ministry said that excess generating capacity for electricity was expected to drop to 3.7% on Monday afternoon in Tokyo and eight surrounding prefectures. It views a buffer of 3% as necessary for stable power supply.

The government asked people to turn off unnecessary lights for three hours from 15:00 Tokyo time (07:00 BST) while “properly using air conditioning and hydrating during hot hours”.

Although electricity providers are working to increase supply, the ministry said the situation was “unpredictable” as temperatures climb.

“If there is an increase in demand and sudden supply troubles, the reserve margin will fall below the minimum required of 3%,” it said.

Japan’s power supply has been tight since an earthquake in its northeastern region in March forced some nuclear power plants to suspend operations.

Officials have also closed several aging fossil fuel plants in an attempt to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

These issues, along with a surge in demand for electricity, have resulted in a power squeeze.

Earlier this month, the Japanese government called on households and companies to save as much electricity as possible during the summer.

Meanwhile, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that 46 people in Tokyo had been taken to hospital for suspected heatstroke, as of Sunday afternoon.

It also said a 94-year-old man in the nearby Kawagoe city was suspected to have died from the condition.

The news comes after Australian officials urged households in New South Wales – a state which includes the country’s biggest city Sydney – to switch off their lights in the face of an energy crisis. Restrictions on the Australian wholesale energy market were lifted late last week.

A spokesperson told the BBC that bolts on the bZ4X’s wheels “can loosen to the point where the wheel can detach from the vehicle” after “low-mileage use”.

The recall comes less than two months after the car was launched in Japan.

Car maker Subaru also says that for the same reason it will recall 2,600 electric cars it developed with Toyota.

On Friday, Toyota said in a statement that it had issued a safety recall for 2,700 bZ4X SUVs in the US, Europe, Canada and Japan.

“If a wheel detaches from the vehicle while driving, it could result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash,” a spokesperson said.

“No one should drive these vehicles until the remedy is performed,” they added.

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The BBC understands that some bZ4X models have not been recalled. However, a Toyota spokesperson declined to comment on how many of the vehicle the company had manufactured.

Toyota said it had notified Japanese safety regulators about the defect on Thursday and the cause of the issue was “still under investigation”.

Another Japanese car manufacturer, Subaru also said it was recalling 2,600 units of the Solterra, its first all-electric car jointly developed with Toyota, because of concerns over loose bolts. The firm did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the BBC.

Toyota is viewed as a relative latecomer to the electric vehicle market, as compared to rival manufacturers like Tesla, which launched its first electric car 14 years ago.

It launched the bZ4X in Japan last month. The car was only available on lease “to eliminate customer concerns regarding residual battery performance, maintenance and residual value,” Toyota said earlier this year.

This week, the company said it would cut the number of vehicles it plans to produce next month by 50,000 to 800,000 because of a shortage of computer chips and supply disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Although Toyota currently aims to manufacture a total of 9.7m vehicles around the world this year, it has signalled that it may be forced to lower that number.

The ruling dealt a blow to gay couples and rights activists, after another district court in Sapporo ruled in 2021 that the failure to recognise same-sex marriage was “unconstitutional”.

Japan’s constitution defines marriage as one between “both sexes”.

It is the only country in the G7 group of developed nations that doesn’t allow people of the same gender to marry.

Opinion polls show a majority of the general public is in favour of allowing same-sex marriage in Japan.

Several areas – including Tokyo – have begun issuing partnership certificates, to help same-sex couples rent properties and gain hospital visitation rights.

The Osaka case was filed by three same-sex couples, two of them male and one female. The case is only the second of its kind to be heard in the country, where conservative attitudes towards homosexuality remain.

In addition to rejecting their claim that being unable to marry was unconstitutional, the court also dismissed demands for 1 million yen ($7,414; £6,058) in damages for each couple who argued they had suffered “unjust discrimination” by not being allowed to marry.

But the court also noted there had not been enough public debate about same-sex marriage and that “it may be possible to create a new system” recognising the interests of same-sex couples.

“From the perspective of individual dignity, it can be said that it is necessary to realise the benefits of same-sex couples being publicly recognised through official recognition,” the court said in its ruling.

“Public debate on what kind of system is appropriate for this has not been thoroughly carried out.”

The court’s decision is seen as a setback for gay rights activists and couples, who were hoping to ratchet up pressure on the Japanese government to address same-sex unions.

“This is awful, just awful,” an unidentified female plaintiff said to reporters outside the courthouse in footage aired on public broadcaster NHK after the ruling.

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An LGBTQ activist based in Tokyo told the Reuters news agency that the ruling was “disappointing”.

“After the Sapporo ruling, we were hoping for the same ruling or something even better,” Gon Matsunaka said.

The plaintiffs plan to appeal against the decision, Kyodo news agency reports.

Japan’s constitution, put in place after the end of World War Two, defines marriage as one of “mutual consent between both sexes”.

Under the current rules, same-sex couples are not allowed to legally marry, can’t inherit their partner’s assets, and have no parental rights over their partner’s children.

Though partnership certificates issued by some individual municipalities help same-sex couples to rent a place together and have hospital visitation rights, they do not grant them the full legal rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples.

Activists also say conservative attitudes towards homosexuality mean many LGBTQ Japanese still do not dare to come out to their friends and family.

Ghana suffered a 4-1 defeat in Kobe as they fail to reach the final of the four-nation tournament.

Many fans, who were eager to see the team perform some miracles in the opening game, were stunned at the turn of events.

Otto Addo’s side went to the tournament with a depleted side, with just 18 players at his disposal.

The Black Stars had been phenomenal in recent campaigns including games against Nigeria and the two AFCON qualifiers.

This counts as the first defeat to Otto Addo as head coach of Ghana after five games.

The Black Stars will face Chile, who lost 2-0 to Tunisia earlier on Friday, in their next game of the competition.

Check out some funny comments after the game: