Latest news with #Sano
Japan Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Sano gets first Japan call-up since sexual assault investigation closed
Mainz midfielder Kaishu Sano has been called up for Japan's World Cup qualifiers against Australia and Indonesia soccer Mainz midfielder Kaishu Sano was called up by Japan on Friday for the first time since a public prosecutor closed a sexual assault investigation against him in July last year. The 24-year-old, who last played for his country over a year ago, was included in Hajime Moriyasu's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Australia and Indonesia next month. Sano was arrested in July 2024 for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at a Tokyo hotel but the probe was closed two weeks later, leaving the player free to join Germany's Mainz from Kashima Antlers. Japan coach Moriyasu, whose team have already qualified for next year's World Cup, said Sano gave him the impression that he had "reflected deeply" on the episode. "He is now playing in Germany and taking his game very seriously and we decided that we would like him to join the national team and make a contribution to society," Moriyasu said. Sano has four international caps and was part of the Japan squad that played at the Asian Cup in Qatar at the start of last year. He made 34 league appearances this season for Mainz, who finished sixth in the Bundesliga. "Should someone who was part of the family of the team be cast out of society and out of football for making a mistake?" Moriyasu said. Japan became the first team to qualify for next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico when they beat Bahrain at home in March. Moriyasu named an experimental squad featuring eight uncapped players for the games against Australia in Perth on June 5 and Indonesia in Osaka five days later. Captain Wataru Endo, who won the Premier League with Liverpool, and midfielder Daichi Kamada, who lifted the FA Cup with Crystal Palace, were included. © 2025 AFP
Glasgow Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Sano Pizza to open new branch in Glasgow's West End
The restaurant, which will be the brand's third Glasgow location, is set to open on Thursday, May 22, in Ashton Lane, directly above Jinty McGuinty's, in the former home of The Wee Curry Shop. Sano is run by twin brothers Raymond and Tony MacHugh, who launched the brand in Dublin in 2018 after a trip to Naples inspired them to recreate the city's fresh, affordable Neapolitan pizzas, reports Glasgow Word. READ MORE: Popular Southside pub announces closure until 'further notice' They expanded to Glasgow in May 2022 with a branch in Finnieston, followed by another in the Merchant City last summer. Speaking to Glasgow World, co-owner Ray MacHugh said: 'It seemed logical to bring something affordable to Ashton Lane. "As you know, Ashton Lane can be expensive. "Jinty's is very well priced, so I think it was quite a good match.' The new restaurant will seat 36 to 38 people and will feature a brand-new kitchen. While it won't have a full bar, there will be one beer on draught, a selection of wines, and bottled beer, with Guinness supplied from the pub downstairs. READ MORE: Famous rapper tries Scottish snacks and drops a shocking comparison Ray also hinted at a unique idea in development: 'We actually considered doing a Guinness pizza—mixing it through our dough. "That's being tested just now, but we've got to perfect it before rolling it out. "We'd love to make that link.' To keep up with demand, prep work will be shared between the Finnieston and Candleriggs branches, supported by a new electric van for daily pickups. Despite this, desserts like tiramisu and cannoli will be freshly made on-site. Ray added: 'Everything we make is fresh. 'Sano is Italian for healthy, which is the purpose behind it.' The space will be walk-in only, with no reservations taken, and the team has restored a lightbox sign outside—once used by The Wee Curry Shop—to give a nod to the site's history. READ MORE: Glasgow's newest food and drink hub opens space for local talent Ray said: 'We've mirrored a bit of the look of our Merchant City restaurant. "We've got to make sure we're up to par with Jinty's, which is a Glasgow institution.' Sano also aims to give back to the community with student deals and charity partnerships. He said: 'We want to put something back. 'It's not just about stacking them high and selling them cheap. "We want to make it affordable for everyone.'
Int'l Cricket Council
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Japan triumph in EAP Qualifier to book U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 ticket
Convincing 115-run victory over Fiji on Monday caps unbeaten week in Sano Home team advance to their second U19 Men's CWC and become 14th nation confirmed for Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2026 An infographic detailing the qualification pathway for the event can be found on the ICC Online Media Zone Japan became the 14th nation to seal their place at the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 on Monday thanks to a dominant 115-run victory over Fiji, capping a scintillating, unbeaten week at the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in Sano. The home side began the week with impressive wins over PNG (by 106 runs and by 71 runs) and Fiji (6 wickets) and arrived at Monday's fixture knowing a second victory over the latter would see them advance to their second U19 Men's CWC. Winning the toss and electing to bat first without their usual captain Nikhil Pol, the opening pair of Hugo Tani-Kelly (38 runs) and Nihar Parmar (36) made a solid start, putting on 78 runs before Parmar fell, bowled by Liga Manara. The dismissal of Tani-Kelly with the scores at 91 for two prompted a mini-collapse for Japan but critical contributions from Charlie Hara-Hinze (21) and Kazuma Kato-Stafford (25) helped steer them to a competitive 167 all out in 43 overs. Joeli Moala and Manara were the pick of the bowlers for Fiji, recording three for 33 and two for 29 respectively. With the biggest chase of the competition on the cards, Fiji began with Maika Kamikamica and Peni Mawa aiming to see off the opening bowlers, but it only took until the end of the sixth over for their resistance to be broken, with both openers losing their wickets in successive balls to Kato-Stafford and Tani-Kelly. The wicket of Vakatawa Jone brought Manav Narayan to the crease, and despite a rearguard innings of 20 from 35 balls, Fiji were undone by the talented Japanese bowling lineup, losing wickets at regular intervals with Hara-Hinze (four for 13) and Parmar (three for no runs and a run out) tearing through their middle and lower order. Parmar picked up the final wicket with Fiji well short on the scorecards for Japan to seal a 115-run win and a World Cup place in front of jubilant home support. Reacting to their qualification, Japan captain Pol, said: 'We are so excited about qualifying for the World Cup. It's the biggest event on the U19 calendar and to follow in the footsteps of the team in 2020 makes us extremely proud. 'I can't wait to represent our country in Africa next year.' The final day of the event on Tuesday saw PNG get their first win, beating Fiji by seven wickets in a rain-affected match, and following the conclusion of the action, the Japanese duo of Hara-Hinze and Parmar were recognised as the standout performers across the week – Parmar taking home the Batter and Bowler of the Tournament awards (121 runs and 13 wickets from his four matches), while Hara-Hinze picked up the Player of the Tournament prize (92 runs and 12 wickets). Japan had more reason to celebrate soon after, with no fewer than five players included in the Team of the Tournament. Captain Pol was named alongside Parmar, Hara-Hinze, Tani-Kelly and Skyler Nakayama-Cook, with the remining spots filled by Narayan, Moala and Manara of Fiji, plus Gaba Frank, Vagi Vani and Anthony David of PNG. Nikhil Pol (c) (Japan) 2. Nihar Parmar (Japan) 3. Hugo Tani-Kelly (Japan) 4. Manav Narayan (Fiji) 5. Charlie Hara-Hinze (Japan) 6. Gaba Frank (PNG) 7. Vagi Vani (PNG) 8. Skyler Nakayama-Cook (WK) (Japan) 9. Joeli Moala (Fiji) 10. Liga Manara (Fiji) 11. Anthony David (PNG) Qualification for ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 16 teams will be competing at the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Ten teams automatically qualified for the event as the best-placed Full Member nations from the 2024 edition: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies. Full Member hosts of the World Cup in 2026, Zimbabwe have also secured automatic qualification. The remaining five spots are determined through regional qualification pathways, with only the winning team from each regional Qualifier advancing to the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026. Tanzania became the first team to qualify through this route last month with victory at the Africa Qualifier, while Afghanistan also booked their World Cup ticket after clinching the recent Asia Qualifier in Nepal. Victory in Sano means Japan are the 14th team to qualify, with Qualifiers in Europe and Americas still to follow in July and August where the final teams will be confirmed. An infographic detailing the qualification pathway for the event can be found on the ICC Online Media Zone.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- BBC News
Japan's 97-year-old cherry blossom guardian
For 16 generations, master gardeners in this one family have dedicated their lives to preserving one of the nation's most cherished – and highly sought-out – symbols. Each spring during sakura (cherry blossom) season, the Ninna-ji and Daikaku-ji temples in Kyoto's leafy Ukyo ward are overwhelmed by busloads of tourists who come to snap photos of the temples' blooming cherry trees. But little do they know that only a few kilometres away, there's a secret sakura garden hiding in plain sight. This 1.5-hectare public plot, known as the Sano family garden, is an oasis of calm; found just off an unassuming street near traditional wooden machiya townhouses. But this isn't just any ordinary cherry blossom tree grove; it's also the domain of 97-year-old Tōemon Sano: Japan's most renowned sakuramori (cherry blossom guardian). For more than a millennium, Japanese people have admired the delicate sakura petals as a symbol of transience and beauty. Today, this national pastime has blossomed into an international obsession, with millions of tourists from across the world descending on Japan to sip seasonal sakura-themed Starbucks drinks and participate in hanami (cherry blossom viewing) picnics and festivals from March to May. But while the world waits with bated breath for the cotton candy-coloured blossoms to burst each spring, one of the most important and least understood roles in the trees' maintenance lies with their behind-the-scenes caretakers. According to Naoko Abe, cherry blossom expert and author of The Sakura Obsession, skilled sakura arborists have existed in Japan since time immemorial. But thanks to the popularity of the 1970s novel Sakuramori about a sakura-infatuated tree expert, communities began bestowing this title to deserving specialists in the years that followed. Typically a professional gardener or tree surgeon, a sakuramori is a combination of Lorax, botanist and spiritual guide dedicated to studying sakura and promoting their preservation. As Asada Nobuyuki, the secretary general of the Japan Sakura Association, explained, there are roughly 100 sakuramori in Japan today, but one stands out. "It can be said that Tōemon Sano is most deserving of the title sakuramori," said Nobuyuki, crediting the breadth of Sano's long, productive career and his family's generational wisdom. On a Friday morning earlier this month, I crunched through gravel at this historic sanctuary to meet Sano himself. He is the 16th generation in a distinguished line of farmers who began cultivating the nearby land (known for its late-blooming dwarf cherry trees) in the mid-1600s. When his father died in 1981, he assumed the first name Tōemon, per family tradition, and took the reins of Uetō Zōen, the landscaping firm his family started in 1832 that is headquartered in the garden. For more than 80 years,Sano has utilised his specialised knowledge to steward the survival of sakura trees in gardens throughout Japan and the world – including at the Isamu Noguchi-designed Japanese garden at the Unesco headquarters in Paris. Sakura Taikan, his most famous book, is the definitive tome on the trees and the culmination of research begun by his grandfather during the Taishō period (1912–1926). But just before our visit, the nonagenarian became ill and was rushed to hospital. Still, he arranged for me to meet his son, Shinichi Sano, who oversees operations at Uetō Zōen and who will one day succeed his father and carry on the family legacy as the next Tōemon and sakuramori. As we strolled through the garden, Shinichi paused at an umbrella-like shidarezakura (weeping cherry), its swooping branches covered in geisha-blush blossoms. Shinichi said this 40-year-old tree was grown from the seeds of the most iconic sakura in Kyoto: the dramatic weeping cherry tree in Maruyama Park, which was originally grown in the Sano family garden and replanted in its current public spot by Tōemon's father, the 15th Tōemon Sano. Though sakura have attracted hanami lovers for generations, Shinichi said a major threat now looms over them: climate change. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, cherry blossoms have started to bloom 1.2 days earlier per decade since 1953. A recent study found that the peak bloom of Kyoto's cherry blossoms in 2020, 2021 and 2023 were the earliest in more than 1,200 years. "If global warming continues at this rate, I believe there will eventually be regions in Japan where cherry trees no longer bloom," Shinichi said, noting that winters with elevated temperatures could nip blooms in the bud entirely, as trees require a sustained chill to initiate the blossoming process. If this happens, a major part of Japan's springtime tourism appeal would be jeopardised – as well as an integral part of the nation's cultural identity. "The reason Japanese people are fond of cherry blossoms is because, after enduring a harsh winter, the vivid flowers bloom in the monochrome landscape as if to herald the long-awaited arrival of spring. This quiet presence is what draws people in and resonates deeply in our hearts," Tōemon later told me over email after being released from hospital. "Out of 365 days a year, the cherry blossoms endure wind and snow for 360 days, only to bloom gloriously for five days before gracefully scattering. I believe this fleeting yet dignified cycle reflects the Japanese perspective on life. There may be a sense of personification in the way we view the cherry blossom, as if it embodies a spiritual or moral belief that, through patience and perseverance, one will eventually bloom." More than just trees Cherry blossoms are integral to the Japanese psyche and soul. In ancient Japan, kami (deities) were said to reside in the trees. Beginning in the 800s, Emperor Saga (whose former residence is up the road from the Sano family garden at Daikaku-ji) ushered in the practice of hanami with official cherry blossom viewing parties. For samurai during the Kamakura period (1185-1333), sakura became a unifying military symbol for the warriors to fall with dignity and grace – a message echoed during World War Two for kamikaze pilots. In light of this national importance, protecting sakura and ensuring their sustainability is something Japan takes seriously. Today, according to Abe, many of the most famous places travellers go to see sakura in Japan, such as Mount Yoshino in Nara and Matsumae Park in Hokkaido, each have a dedicated sakuramori. Interestingly, Tōemon and his family's unbroken line of Japanese gardeners may not have risen to the level of sakuramori were it not for a British botanist. In 1902, English naturalist Collingwood "Cherry" Ingram became fascinated by Japanese cherry trees during his first visit to the nation, but he lamented how industrialisation and cloning had led to a decline in their diversity. In an effort to protect them, he sent 50 endangered varieties back to England and planted them in his garden. When he eventually tried to propagate the varieties back in Japan come the 1930s, including the rare Taihaku cherry that had ceased to be cultivated in Japan, the trees didn't survive long. Given the Sano family's generational expertise, Ingram sought out Tōemon's grandfather, who developed a way to transport the trees successfully so they wouldn't sprout before arriving in Japan. From that little shipment of Taihaku trees, it is thought that tens of thousands of Tahihaku now flourish across Japan and were saved from national extinction. Tōemon's grandfather became something of a Johnny Appleseed for sakura – taking grafts and growing saplings, venturing to far-flung places like the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin before he died in 1934. Tōemon's father then took up the mantle while training his son to continue the family legacy. Today, travellers enjoying the mesmerising weeping cherry in Maruyama Park have Tōemon to thank, as the city asks him to care for the tree throughout the year. Visitors can also admire Tōemon's work at the Ruriko-in estate, where sakura stand in stunning harmony on the property close to the Golden Pavilion of Kinkakuji; the Katsura Imperial Villa; the Shukaguin Imperial Villa; Ninna-ji Temple garden; and, of course, at the nearby Sano family property. Even at 97, Tōemon still collects information on different types of sakura and makes detailed drawings of the blossoms' anatomy from the stamen and pistils to the bracts and peduncles – all to better understand how to help sakura flourish. "My feelings toward cherry blossoms are something that has been ingrained in my daily life," Tōemon said. "My daily life follows the old Japanese way of life seikō-udoku, 'working in the fields when it's sunny and reading when it rains'… If I am asked to preserve rare cherry blossoms, I respond by grafting or sowing seeds." More like this:• The 96-year-old painter who saved a village • The 89-year-old woman who is still travelling the world solo• Japan's unusual way to view the world To that end, he has successfully propagated cherry trees in the atomic bomb-ravaged soil of Hiroshima and saved a 150-year-old Oshima cherry tree in Yokohama that was destined to be cut down. In that instance, when the local community enlisted him to relocate the storied sakura 100m away to preserve an iconic view of Mt Fuji, he took careful stock of the three layers of soil surrounding the tree. Before digging, Tōemon ceremonially placed sake and rice crackers in the dirt as an apology for the disruption, added charcoal and provided an octopus offering. Also known to hug trees, Tōemon embraced the trunk tightly upon its successful replanting. Rooted in the future As I toured the Sano family garden, falling cherry petals fluttered to the ground like snowflakes, a phenomenon called sakura fubuki. In addition to kami, the souls of ancestors are also said to reside in the flowering cherry blossoms, connecting the Sano family to their forebearers and representing the fleeting nature of each generation. Amid this transient beauty, the Japanese concept of "mono no aware" (the wistful recognition of life's ephemerality and the beauty in that impermanence) feels especially present. "Cherry blossoms reflect the way of life of the samurai in the old days: beautiful in the way they fall with grace and dignity," Shinichi said. Shinichi's 38-year-old son, Tomoaki, who has started to take over day-to-day responsibilities in the family business, has one child – a daughter. It would then be possible to have the first female sakuramori in this line. "It will depend on her decision," Shinichi said. For now, though, the family is allowing the 16th Tōemon Sano to focus his attentions on what he does best. "While my father is healthy, he will be the one to take care of the sakura," Shinichi said. I then asked if he felt he would one day be ready to assume the role of Tōemon Sano and sakuramori. "I won't really know until I actually become the 17th generation," Shinichi said. "I think I will truly feel the responsibility for the first time when I actually inherit the name… I'll do what I'm asked to." -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Gulf Today
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Sano confident Il Miracolo ready to deliver, DRC announces schedule change for WC
Florida-based conditioner Antonio Sano is set to saddle a horse in the $12 million Dubai World Cup for the third time in the form of the hard-knocking Il Miracolo. A son of top US sire Gun Runner — second behind the remarkable Arrogate in the 2017 World Cup — Il Miracolo is a Grade 3 winner at ages three and four and was last seen finishing down the field behind the re-opposing Mixto in the G1 Pacific Classic (2000m) at Del Mar last September. Sano believes his charge is ready to fire a big shot. 'He has settled in very well and I am very happy with him,' said Sano, one of the all-time winningest trainers in Venezuela. 'After his last race, we gave him three months on the farm and he's a different horse.' Owner Eduardo Soto said it was 'an honour' to be invited to compete in the World Cup, but that Il Miracolo isn't here just for the scenery. 'I think he's going to run well,' he said. 'And I believe that the stars have aligned for us. We will see on Saturday.' Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who rode the recently deceased Roses In May to win the World Cup at old Nad Al Sheba some two decades ago, is at the controls on Saturday. Sano was also the trainer of Gunnevera, who finished eighth to Thunder Snow in the 2018 renewal before improving to third to the same rival, beaten just two and a half lengths, 12 months later. Ryusei Sakai was a man in demand during the first hour of trackwork and among his big-race mounts for Saturday, none carries more weight of expectation than Forever Young. After working for five furlongs upsides with Dubai Golden Shaheen runner American Stage, Sakai said of Forever Young: 'He breezed in a good rhythm. He reacted well on the bridle.' Forever Young was third in both the G1 Kentucky Derby (2000m) and the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic (2000m) last season and comes here off the back of an epic defeat of Romantic Warrior in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m). Sakai was also in the plate on recent G3 Neom Turf (2100m) winner Shin Emperor for a five-furlong spin on the main dirt track, and observed: 'He moved and reacted well.' Japan boasts four legitimate Group/Grade 1 horses among a crack lineup of nine provisionally declared for the biggest turf prize of Dubai World Cup night. Cervinia and Shin Emperor are the two Japanese contenders in Longines Dubai Sheema Classic Arguably a more consequential piece of work was that of G1 Tokyo Yushun winner Danon Decile, who managed to stay just ahead of Al Quoz Sprint challenger Puro Magic in a breeze around the turn and up the home straight on the turf track under jockey Keita Tosaki. 'He was in very good form,' said Tosaki. 'He stretched his legs well when I asked him on the home straight. 'The turf track suits him and we have responsibility here as a Japanese Derby winner.' Meanwhile, Dubai Racing Club has announced that due to unforeseen weather forecast, and in an effort to ensure the comfort of all jockeys and the safety of the horses participating in the 2025 Dubai World Cup, on Saturday, as well as the well-being of all guests attending this landmark event, a minor adjustment to the day's schedule has been made, to a later start time. Gates to Meydan Racecourse will now open at 2:30pm, with the first race — the G1 Dubai Kahayla Classic — set for 4:35pm. The highly anticipated main event, the Dubai World Cup, will take place at 9:30 PM, followed by a spectacular closing ceremony worthy of the occasion. Sheikh Rashed Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Racing Club, said: 'Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of horses, jockeys and guests is our top priority, the decision has been made to adjust the start time of the Dubai World Cup day. We remain fully committed to delivering an exceptional event filled with thrilling horseracing, world class hospitality, and a truly magical atmosphere befitting the Dubai World Cup.' The Dubai World Cup is the world's most spectacular race day and one of region's biggest sporting and social occasions.
