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Japan has stunned the United States, the defending Olympic champions, by winning the gold medal in women’s softball.

Softball has the same rules as baseball, except that the ball is thrown underhand.

Softball will not be played at the London Olympics in 2012.

Words

to stun: to shock, to surprise.
defending champion: the person or team which won an event the last time it was held.
underhand: below the shoulder.

Photos were kindly provided by the Tokyo Zoological Park.

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Riyo Mori, a 20-year-old dancer from Japan, is Miss Universe 2007.

Riyo won the competition on Monday evening in Mexico City.

She said she hopes to open an international dance school in Tokyo in the future.

Riyo is from a small town called Shizuoka, near Mount Fuji.

She speaks excellent English

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Stocks in Tokyo have closed at their highest point since May 2, 2000.

The Nikkei index finished at 18,261 points.

The rise in Japanese stocks is connected to large growth in electrical goods, according to some reports.