Tag: Japan

  • Biden, Scholz land in Japan for G7 amid ramped up security measures

    Biden, Scholz land in Japan for G7 amid ramped up security measures

    U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Japan on Thursday ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) summit of leading democratic industrial nations.

    Biden’s plane touched down at a military airport to the south of the host city, Hiroshima, in southern Japan.

    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also arrived on Thursday, before the official start of talks on Friday.

    In addition to the United States and Germany, the G7 includes France, Italy, Britain, Japan and Canada.

    Representatives of the European Union will also be at the meeting.

    The war in Ukraine, the state of the global economy and the West’s relationship with China are set to top the agenda of the leaders’ discussions.

    The talks are being accompanied by extensive security measures.

    According to the police, some 24,000 security personnel from all over Japan are on duty during the meeting, which runs until Sunday.

    The Peace Memorial Park, which the heads of state and government are visiting for the opening ceremony, has been cordoned off with a two metre-high fence.

    Access to the atomic bomb dome is also blocked.

    The burnt-out building was damaged when the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on the city in 1945 at the end of World War II, and is now a symbol of peace and a testament to the horror of nuclear weapons.

    Boats were patrolling up and down the river around the Peace Park on Thursday.

    Around 140 schools were closed in the face of severe traffic restrictions.

    The tightened security measures come against the backdrop of a recent attack on Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in which he was unharmed.

    His predecessor Shinzo Abe had been shot dead at an election rally a few months earlier.

  • What you need to know about pachinko and how to play it

    What you need to know about pachinko and how to play it

    Pachinko games are very popular among Japanese people, which explains why you can find them in many gaming arcades throughout the country. It is no longer surprising that this game has somehow ingrained itself into Japanese culture given the abundance of parlours devoted to them.

    Playing pachinko is simple. You just need to pull the lever and a ball is launched. You watch it fall and bounce around the machine’s various spaces. The game uses small steel balls instead of the typical coins most games use. Due to their distinctive looks, pachinko machines come in a great variety of style and theme.

    Pachinko’s popularity reached the online casino gaming market as well, so you might come across this game one of these days. Here is a beginners guide to pachinko on things you should be aware of regarding this entertaining game in case you haven’t tried playing it yet:

    What is pachinko?
    One of the best games in Japan, pachinko combines gambling, art, and arcade games. You’ll notice how much it resembles a slot machine when viewed from a distance. Slots and pachinko are both equally exciting in their unique ways despite looking similar.

    Some players tend to treat this thrilling game like gambling because it offers so many winning opportunities. This game has truly taken over the nation because Japanese people enjoy trying their luck and seeing what lies ahead for them.

    Pachinko in Japan
    Across the nation, pachinko is widely accepted and permitted. Contrary to what many people think, this game is not associated with gambling. There are no issues with pachinko’s legality because it is more of an arcade game than a gambling activity. Only when players decide to put in more money to buy more balls and try their luck with them could it be compared to gambling.

    How to play Pachinko
    The main highlight of a pachinko game is tiny metal balls. Obtaining your pachinko balls is the first step in playing pachinko. The word ‘pachinko’, which refers to the metallic sound made by the balls as they move inside the pachinko machine, is derived from the Japanese word ‘panchin’.

    Contrary to some older Japanese pachinko parlours that still require you to exchange your coins for balls, many contemporary pachinko establishments allow you to sit down in front of a pachinko machine right away and insert your coin. Once you have your pachinko balls, you can start loading the pachinko machine’s tray.

    The main goal of pachinko is to collect as many balls as you can and then exchange them for unique rewards. To achieve this, you must aim for the thrower that can win a jackpot and start payouts. To do this, drop as many balls into the loading tray of your machine as you can.

    Pachinko themes to try out
    Pachinko offers a variety of unique themes to accommodate the preferences of various players. In reality, every pachinko is uniquely designed to suit the player’s style of play and gameplay. The following are some of the most well-liked pachinko themes:

    Mediaeval
    You’ll experience a sense of time travel thanks to pachinko machines that take you back to the Middle Ages. In pachinko machines with a mediaeval theme, you can lose yourself in a game setup with regal details, mighty knights, and swords.

    Anime
    Many pachinko machines have anime themes with an LED screen on them to help players fully immerse themselves in the story that the machine features. Most pachinko machines are influenced by various anime series, which makes the game more engaging and relatable.

    Try out pachinko
    Before playing pachinko, don’t forget what you have learned in this beginners guide to pachinko. To increase your chances of winning, employ known and tested strategies. Try the game in free mode to become familiar with its mechanics. Besides this, good luck with your pachinko games!

  • Qatar 2022: Croatia cruise into quarter-finals after penalty shootout

    Qatar 2022: Croatia cruise into quarter-finals after penalty shootout

    Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was the hero, saving three penalties in the shootout, as Croatia edged past Japan after a 1-1 draw to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

    Livakovic kept out the first two efforts before stopping Maya Yoshida’s kick, then Mario Pasalic converted the vital effort 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.

    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.

    BBC

  • Qatar 2022: FIFA clears air on Japan’s controversial goal against Spain

    Qatar 2022: FIFA clears air on Japan’s controversial goal against Spain

    The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)  has explained why Japan’s second goal against Spain was given against Spain albeit controversially.

    FIFA shown revealed the criteria used to award the goal to Japan when it seemed the ball rolled out of play for a corner kick.

    The goal proved to be the only reason the Germans left early in the competition after losing out to Japan on goal difference.

    Japan’s victory meant that Germany’s 4-2 win over Costa Rica was ineffective and meaningless.

    Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma prevented the ball from going out of play, although initial replays suggested the ball had crossed the byline and his cross met Tanaka, who fired in from a close range.

    It has taken the football governing body nearly 24 hours to produce images and video of the angles they used to determine that a goal should have been awarded, vindicating the video assistant referee who ordered that the on field decision be reversed.

    However different camera angles showed that buldk of the ball had already crossed the line.

    Meanwhile, the rule says the whole of the ball must cross the line .

  • Qatar 2022: Germany crashes out, Japan, Spain zoom into second round

    Qatar 2022: Germany crashes out, Japan, Spain zoom into second round

    The Blue Samurai of Japan came back from a goal down to score two important goals that ensured their qualification to the second round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign in their most cherished 2-1 win over the La Furia Roja of Spain.

    The win for Japan was the reason Germany crashed out of the competition at the group stage, despite pummeling Costa Rica by 4-2 in the other group E encounter.

    Japan eventually top Group E to book a Round-of-16 date with Group F runners-up Croatia, while Spain will face Morocco in the first knockout stage.

    There was a little drama surrounding Japan;s second goal when it appeared that Kaoru Mitoma had taken the ball over the left byline before cutting it back for Tanaka to tap home.

    However, after a lengthy check by Video Assistant Referee, (VAR), the goal was surprisingly awarded and effort by Spain to level things up proved abortive in the thrilling encounter.

    La Roja were in cruise control at the break after Alvaro Morata headed home Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross for his third goal in three group games.

    But half-time substitute Doan transformed the momentum two minutes after coming on when he seized on a loose pass from Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon and drilled home the equalizer, before Tanaka’s close-range strike earned Japan another stunning win after upsetting Germany in their opener.

    Meanwhile, in the other group E encounter, Germany somehow managed to remove themselves from the World Cup by narrowly winning a game which they initially seemed set to win by more Spain’s 7-0 margin.

    Jamal Musiala ran the show for the most part of the game, but  the flaws at the heart of the German engine revealed themselves on a night of monumental drama which left this place drowning in permutations.

    Just when the Costa Ricans appears like they will be roasted by the Germans they found a way to reduce the tally and made the scoreline respectable.

    In all, after three matches in group E the Germans and the Costa Ricans will head to different directions to their various destinations.

  • Qatar 2022: Costa Rica down Japan 1-0 to throw group E open

    Qatar 2022: Costa Rica down Japan 1-0 to throw group E open

    The Samurai Blue of Japan couldn’t replicate the fine form that saw them come from behind to beat the German team 2-1 in their group E encounter last week.

    The Japanese were stunned 1-0 by Costa Rica courtesy of an 81st-minute goal from Keysher Fuller.

    Costa Rica were drubbed 7-0 in their opening game against Spain and they have already been dubbed the whooping boys of the group, however, they were able to bounce back from the disappointment  and secure a lifeline against the Japanese.

    Meanwhile after the goal the Costa Ricans pretty much had everyone behind the ball inside their own half. forcing Japan to face a red wall that they struggled to break.

    After 90 minutes of football plus additional time, Costa Rica were run away winners of the encounter and thus throw the group wide open.

    The other members of the group Germany faces elimination battle in what seem like a feisty encounter versus Spain tonight.

    Group leader will be looking to book a spot in the round of 16 today versus Germany, the match promises to be entertaining and suspense filled.

     

     

     

  • Qatar 2022: Japan stun Germany in comeback win

    Qatar 2022: Japan stun Germany in comeback win

    A stunning late comeback from Japan saw four-time winners Germany fall to a shock defeat in their opening World Cup game in Qatar.

    Germany dominated a frenetic match for large spells but failed to capitalise on their pressure – before Japan caused the Khalifa International Stadium to erupt into a mix of mixed celebration and surprise.

    Substitute Takuma Asano squeezed in a thumping strike from a tight angle to make it 2-1 to Japan and ran over to the photographers in the corner of the stadium in sheer delight.

    There was a collective pause in the arena as the ball rolled down from the roof of the net before supporters realised it had gone in.

    Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan had given Germany the lead from the penalty spot in the first half, before Japan substitute Ritsu Doan equalised in the 75th minute.

    The equaliser came after a string of stunning saves at each end – Japan’s Shuichi Gonda pulling off a double stop to deny Serge Gnabry and Jonas Hofmann, before Germany’s Manuel Neuer got his fingertips to Junya Ito’s effort.

    Germany, who finished bottom of their group in Russia in 2018, had missed several chances to extend their lead when the score was 1-0.

    They face stiff opposition in Group E with 2010 winners Spain to come on Sunday, then a final group game against Costa Rica.

    Before kick-off, Germany’s players put their hands over their mouths during a team photo and in the stands a German government minister, Nancy Faeser, wore the OneLove armband.

    It comes after news the German football federation is investigating whether it is legal for Fifa to threaten players with sanction for wearing the OneLove armband in Qatar.

    The Germany team later tweeted that human rights are “non-negotiable” and “we stand by our position”.

    BBC

  • International Friendly: Japan beat Super Falcons in Kobe

    International Friendly: Japan beat Super Falcons in Kobe

    Nigeria’s Super Falcons fell  to a 2-0  defeat in the hands of the Nadeshiko of Japan in an international friendly match at the Noevir Stadium in Kobe on Thursday.

    Two second-half goals by Japan’s Mina Tanaka condemned the Super Falcons to five straight defeats.

    Nigerian senior women’s national football team could not keep up with the pace of the Japanese side in the game.

    A string of brilliant saves by first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie kept Nigeria in the game in the first half.

    But Randy Waldrum ladies almost took a surprise lead when defender Ashleigh Plumptre struck the woodwork from a free-kick.

    Japan opened scoring in the 65th minute when forward Tanaka received a pass from a team mate in the penalty area, she chested it and blasted a shot past Nnadozie in the goalpost.

    Her second goal came three minutes later, from the penalty  spot, after a harsh challenge from Osinachi Ohale on an advancing Japanese forward in the Nigeria area.

    Both teams used the game as part of their preparations for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand.

    In September, the Super Falcons had lost in a double header friendly to the American senior female national team.

  • International Friendly: 19 Super Falcons players hit Kobe camp for Japan encounter

    International Friendly: 19 Super Falcons players hit Kobe camp for Japan encounter

    19 Super Falcons players have hit the training camp ahead of the International friendly match with the Nadeshiko of Japan.

    The Super Falcons camp was opened on Monday in the city of Kobe.

    The friendly will take place at the Noevir Stadium, Kobe on Thursday

    The quartet of Amanda Mbadi, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Uchenna Kanu and Vivian Ikechukwu were the latest arrivals in camp on Wednesday afternoon.

    More players are still being expected in camp before the game.

    Recall that the Super Falcons played two friendly games with the American senior female team recently as a means to prepare for the 2023 Female World Cup that will hold in Australia.

    Below is the list of players already in camp.

    *Chiamaka Nnadozie

    Deborah Abiodun
    Esther Onyenezide
    Ashleigh Plumptre
    Rasheedat Ajibade
    *Peace Efih
    Osinachi Ohale
    Michelle Alozie
    Ifeoma Onumonu
    Flourish Sabastine
    Christy Ucheibe
    Amanda Mbadi
    Ngozi Okobi- Okeoghene
    Uchenna Kanu
    Vivian Ikechukwu*Nkiruka Obidinma
    Glory Ogbonna
    Akudo Ogbonna
    Jumoke Alani

  • Int’l Friendly: Waldrum calls Ajibade, 21 others for clash with Japan

    Int’l Friendly: Waldrum calls Ajibade, 21 others for clash with Japan

    Head Coach Randy Waldrum has called up 22 players of the Super Falcons, among them Rasheedat Ajibade and Asisat Oshoala, for next month’s international friendly match against the Senior Women National Team of Japan, Nadeshiko, in Kobe.

    The team is dominated by the usual suspects but also welcomes four members of the U20 girls that reached the last eight at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica in August.

    There are first choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defenders Osinachi Ohale and Ashleigh Plumptre, midfielders Regina Otu, Halimatu Ayinde and Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, and forwards Uchenna Kanu, Gift Monday, Vivian Ikechukwu and Toni Payne.

    The match serves as continuation of the Super Falcons’ preparations for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand, and comes just weeks after a two-match tour of the United States of America, in which they lost 0-4 and 1-2 to the USWNT.

    The match holds at the Noevir Stadium, Kobe on Thursday, 6th October.

    ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

     Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie, Nkiruka Obidinma, Yewande Balogun

    Defenders: Osinachi Ohale, Ashleigh Plumptre, Oluwatosin Demehin, Glory Ogbonna, Rofiat Imuran, Michelle Alozie

    Midfielders: Regina Otu, Christy Ucheibe, Halimatu Ayinde, Peace Efih, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Deborah Abiodun

    Forwards: Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu, Ifeoma Onumonu, Gift Monday, Vivian Ikechukwu, Rasheedat Ajibade, Toni Payne