hello this is bbc news, with mejoanna gosling. the headlines: england prepares to take on ukraine later in the hope of winning a place in the euro semi—finals

for the first time in 25 years. england fans have been told not to travel to italy for the match but for those already in the country, the excitement is building up. supermarket chain morrisons accepts a multi—billion pound takeover bid by a us investment group led by the owner of majestic wine. britain's main doctors�* union urges the government to keep some measures in place after the 19th ofjuly when all covid restrictions are due to be removed. officials injapan say two people have died and at least 20 people are missing after a landslide sent mud cascading down a hillside smashing into homes and sweeping away cars. now on bbc news... witness history presented from japan introduces us to five important moments injapan�*s history including the royal wedding that broke over 2,600 years of tradition. a warning the programme contains images some viewers may find distressing.

hello. thank you forjoining me here hello. thank you for “oining me here in ja an's hello. thank you for “oining me here injapan's capital. _ hello. thank you forjoining me here in japan's capital, tokyo _ hello. thank you forjoining me here in japan's capital, tokyo for- hello. thank you forjoining me here in japan's capital, tokyo for this - injapan�*s capital, tokyo for this special edition of witness history, celebrating five extraordinary moments injapanese history as told to us by people where they are. coming up, the trees that survived the atomic bombing in hiroshima and stand as beacons of hope. the campaign to make the contraceptive pill available injapan. and an imperial wedding that broke with tradition. but first we head back to 1964, ahead of the first olympic games here in tokyo when the faster strain the world had ever seen was launched. the bullet train ran between tokyo and osaka and reached a top speed of 210 kilometres an

hour. witness history spoke to one of the train�*s first drivers. it of the train's first drivers. it looks like a bullet, this super express. it runs on rail links a mile long on which it has reached 150 miles an hour on a trial run. even then it was not flat out. translation: nobody had gone that fast, maybe on a plane taking off but no one had experienced it on land. it was incredible, i cannot explain it. well, when i got a job atjapan railways, it was sort of a dream

come true because before that i did not really have a job so once i started working there, i thought it meant i could become part of society. after a few years, the president ofjapan railways society. after a few years, the president of japan railways started the bullet train project and asked the bullet train project and asked the government to move me to hokkaido which was the bullet train line so i could be a driver. of course i remember the first time i saw it. i went wow! and i got to drive it on one of the test journeys. i leaned forward towards the windscreen and i took the controls up to maximum, 160 kilometres an hour. and on that test drive the train wasn't sealed properly so the window was making a noise. and then it was up to 200 kilometres an hour. there were five or six of us drivers in the cabin taking turns on the test drive and we were saying to each other, this is amazing. the

we were saying to each other, this is amazing-— we were saying to each other, this is amazing. we were saying to each other, this is amazin. ., ., .,, is amazing. the new hokkaido line as its route controlled _ is amazing. the new hokkaido line as its route controlled and _ is amazing. the new hokkaido line as its route controlled and programmed| its route controlled and programmed by computer. it between tokyo and osaka _ by computer. it between tokyo and osaka it _ by computer. it between tokyo and osaka. it sets a new standard in passenger— osaka. it sets a new standard in passenger comfort.— passenger comfort. there were children waving _ passenger comfort. there were children waving to _ passenger comfort. there were children waving to us _ passenger comfort. there were children waving to us along - passenger comfort. there were children waving to us along the j children waving to us along the route and that really gave us an amazing feeling. you know, for regular trains, amazing feeling. you know, for regulartrains, people amazing feeling. you know, for regular trains, people do not come out to a wave. it regular trains, people do not come out to a wave-— out to a wave. it held a lot of expectation _ out to a wave. it held a lot of expectation from _ out to a wave. it held a lot of expectation from people. - out to a wave. it held a lot of| expectation from people. the out to a wave. it held a lot of- expectation from people. the arrival time is _ expectation from people. the arrival time is guaranteed. if it is late, pari— time is guaranteed. if it is late, part of— time is guaranteed. if it is late, part of the _ time is guaranteed. if it is late, part of the fair is returned. the money— part of the fair is returned. the money spent on the route is already helping _ money spent on the route is already helping to— money spent on the route is already helping to relieve overcrowded adjoining routes where the traffic is expected to double within the next ten — is expected to double within the next ten years. translation: yes, i do feel proud of it. translation: yes, i do feel roud of it. �* yes, i do feel proud of it. and the wa that yes, i do feel proud of it. and the way that everyone _ yes, i do feel proud of it. and the way that everyone in _ yes, i do feel proud of it. and the way that everyone in society - yes, i do feel proud of it. and the way that everyone in society has l way that everyone in society has recognised an accomplishment.

remembering the bullet train. next we head back to 1999 whenjapanese women finally got the right to control the number of children they had by using the oral contraceptive pill. in contrast, the male impotency drug viagra was approved for use injapan and legalised before the pill for women. witness history has been speaking to a woman who has made it her life's work to fight for the life japanese women to access contraception. —— right. translation: the reason why i started wishing for the legalisation of the royal was

because — the legalisation of the royal was because before i became an mp i ran what i _ because before i became an mp i ran what i called a happy divorce class for women — what i called a happy divorce class forwomen. i what i called a happy divorce class for women. i wasn't a professional counseiior— for women. i wasn't a professional counsellor or anything, i was a journalist _ counsellor or anything, i was a journalist that i volunteered to help _ journalist that i volunteered to help people going through a divorce. many women wanted to talk a lot about_ many women wanted to talk a lot about their emotions, divorce and abortion_ about their emotions, divorce and abortion are actually closely reiaied~ _ abortion are actually closely related. if you have poor communication with your husband you can say, _ communication with your husband you can say, i— communication with your husband you can say, i don't want to have sex can say, idon't want to have sex today— can say, i don't want to have sex today or— can say, i don't want to have sex today or i'd — can say, i don't want to have sex today or i'd like to use contraception. at many women told me they were _ contraception. at many women told me they were not having any conversations like that with their husbands— conversations like that with their husbands at all. so they ended up becoming — husbands at all. so they ended up becoming pregnant and not wanting to be, and _ becoming pregnant and not wanting to be, and so _ becoming pregnant and not wanting to be, and so then having abortions. and this _ be, and so then having abortions. and this won'tjust be, and so then having abortions. and this won't just be be, and so then having abortions. and this won'tjust be once but twice, — and this won'tjust be once but twice, even three times. it puts a lot of— twice, even three times. it puts a lot of stress — twice, even three times. it puts a lot of stress on a marriage. i thought— lot of stress on a marriage. i thought women have got to be able to

control— thought women have got to be able to control their own ref reduction, not rely on _ control their own ref reduction, not rely on men — control their own ref reduction, not rely on men for contraception. women should _ rely on men for contraception. women should be _ rely on men for contraception. women should be able to decide when they want children. but japanese women have been— want children. but japanese women have been taught for generations that it _ have been taught for generations that it is — have been taught for generations that it is better to know nothing about _ that it is better to know nothing about sex — that it is better to know nothing about sex or even about their own bodies _ about sex or even about their own bodies it— about sex or even about their own bodies. it was all considered shameful. even now, some women don't believe _ shameful. even now, some women don't believe contraception is a female issue _ in the 80s i became an mp and changing— in the 80s i became an mp and changing the law to allow the contraceptive pill became a big issue — contraceptive pill became a big issue i— contraceptive pill became a big issue. i couldn't understand why it still wasn't — issue. i couldn't understand why it still wasn't allowed. sol issue. i couldn't understand why it still wasn't allowed. so i wrote to the health— still wasn't allowed. so i wrote to the health minister i said it's time to legalise the pill. but he told

me, _ to legalise the pill. but he told me. the — to legalise the pill. but he told me, the bill is allowed in western countries, — me, the bill is allowed in western countries, not here because the body of a japanese woman is different to a westerh— of a japanese woman is different to a western woman. and i wanted to say, are _ a western woman. and i wanted to say. are you — a western woman. and i wanted to say, are you crazy?! then in the late _ say, are you crazy?! then in the late 90s, — say, are you crazy?! then in the late 90s, viagra arrived. the bill to kill_ late 90s, viagra arrived. the bill to kill impotency in men. it was approved — to kill impotency in men. it was approved injapan withinjust six months — approved injapan withinjust six months. that made as women angry. of course, _ months. that made as women angry. of course, the _ months. that made as women angry. of course, the japanese parliament is dominated — course, the japanese parliament is dominated by men, that's why a medication for impotency was approved straightaway and why we had to fight— approved straightaway and why we had to fight for— approved straightaway and why we had to fight for decades for the pill.

japan's population is shrinking. the birth rate is amongst the lowest in the world. translation: the government says we have a low birth rate _ the government says we have a low birth rate and we need to have more babies— birth rate and we need to have more babies but— birth rate and we need to have more babies but the japanese system still doesn't _ babies but the japanese system still doesn't support women to have babies — doesn't support women to have babies it — doesn't support women to have babies. it is directly related. people — babies. it is directly related. people don't want more children because — people don't want more children because they can't afford them. it is so _ because they can't afford them. it is so expensive for education. i went— is so expensive for education. i went into — is so expensive for education. i went into politics because i wanted to change — went into politics because i wanted to change the lock because a woman can live _ to change the lock because a woman can live a _ to change the lock because a woman can live a life she wants. anne marie — can live a life she wants. anne marie who _ can live a life she wants. anne marie who she loves and raises the children— marie who she loves and raises the children she wants to have and be financially — children she wants to have and be financially independent. there not enough _ financially independent. there not enough women in politics, but better representation is the only way to make _ representation is the only way to make sure — representation is the only way to make sure women's issues get addressed. make sure women's issues get

addressed-— make sure women's issues get addressed. ., addressed. highlighting the need for more women — addressed. highlighting the need for more women in _ addressed. highlighting the need for more women in japanese _ addressed. highlighting the need for more women in japanese politics. i more women injapanese politics. let's head to 1945 now and the second world war when an atomic bomb was detonated over the japanese city of hiroshima and hundreds of thousands of people were killed and injured. despite many survivors thinking that nothing would grow in the city for decades, 170 trees survived and they are still growing. green legacy harish, is a project that sends seedlings from these trees all around the world spreading a message of hope. a co—founder of this project has spoken to us about its history. —— hiroshima. translation: these are the real witnesses. these trees have seen everything.

at 815 in the morning on august six 1945, and no leggy the american bomber plane dropped an atomic bomb on hiroshima. it exploded 600 metres above the hospital. it didn't explode on the ground that in the air, i have heard that there bomb was dropped from this height to kill as many people as possible. the radiation burned all living things in hiroshima. particularly in the two kilometre radius at the epicentre. people were burnt alive. this garden is about 1.5 kilometres from the epicentre of the bomb. i

heard from many people that at the time there was no colour in hiroshima. there was only black, white or grey. some people say that no plants would grow here for the next 75 years and everybody believed that rumour. they thought this town was dead. at the time, the trees look like charcoal, a stick of charcoal like this. but on some of the trees, birds emerged. when people saw that the green buds had come out, they thought that they could survive as well. it was comforting. i canjust imagine the vividness of the tiny green bad in that colourless world. it must have given people some comfort and hope.

my my friend established the green legacy her omission my project as co—founders. i am so grateful to nazarene. —— green legacy hiroshima. i was born and raised in hiroshima but i lived here without really seeing these trees because they were so normal and nothing special to me. thanks to an outsider�*s perspective i was able to see them properly for the first time. the trees taught me many things. i began to love them and wanted to tell other people and the next generation about them. green legacy hiroshima tries to plant the seedlings of these trees in places with nuclear power. places and other nuclear umbrella in those places that have experienced various natural disasters. we hope the trees

can deliver the message that we as a people have the power to recover and survive. trees have a magical power to tell each person what they need to tell each person what they need to hear. they speak to each human being as well as the whole of humankind across the world. from the pro'ect humankind across the world. from the project green — humankind across the world. from the project green legacy _ humankind across the world. from the project green legacy hiroshima. - project green legacy hiroshima. remember, you can watch witness history every month on the bbc news channel or you can catch up on all ourfilms channel or you can catch up on all our films with channel or you can catch up on all ourfilms with along channel or you can catch up on all our films with along radio programmes on our online archive. now the shocking damage that can be

caused by business. in the 19505, thousands of people were poisoned by industrial waste. a factory was pumping heavy metals into a river that led to the sea. witness history has been 5peaking that led to the sea. witness history has been speaking to a man who lost one daughter to what has been called —— woman. her second daughter was bowled 5everely —— woman. her second daughter was bowled severely disabled. translation: i can tell you exactly how much i hate _ i can tell you exactly how much i hate that — i can tell you exactly how much i hate that chemical factory. the corporation devastated our ocean and our people _ corporation devastated our ocean and our people. ijust hate it. people used _ our people. ijust hate it. people used to— our people. ijust hate it. people used to say— our people. ijust hate it. people used to say that life here was wonderful. the corporation was the only company in minna matter. we are still frightened by the awfulness of the chemical leaked by the factory.

it poisoned the fish and then people who ate _ it poisoned the fish and then people who ate the see fit —— seafood got the disease — who ate the see fit -- seafood got the disease-— the disease. there had been no oisonin: the disease. there had been no poisoning before _ the disease. there had been no poisoning before a _ the disease. there had been no poisoning before a chemical- the disease. there had been no - poisoning before a chemical factory poisoning before a chemicalfactory was built in the bay. but the company, the corporation denied all responsibility and continue to pump its waste into the sea. translation: cats got the disease before people, they went _ cats got the disease before people, they went blind and danced round and round _ they went blind and danced round and round like _ they went blind and danced round and round like they were crazy. soon they went blind and danced round and round like they were crazy.— round like they were crazy. soon it was clear people _ round like they were crazy. soon it was clear people were _ round like they were crazy. soon it was clear people were suffering i round like they were crazy. soon it was clear people were suffering as well. translation: my first daughter, she can eat fish well because she was only three years— well because she was only three years are — well because she was only three years are well —— three years old.

she lay— years are well —— three years old. she lay prone so we thought something might be wrong with her. we thought she might have the strange — we thought she might have the strange disease. when our hands started _ strange disease. when our hands started shaking, i realised she had the disease. she became unable to walk properly, unable to speak. doctors — walk properly, unable to speak. doctors from the local university doctor5 from the local university filmed the shaking fits. they suspected metal poisoning. translation: when i visited her in hospital, she had lost _ when i visited her in hospital, she had lost her— when i visited her in hospital, she had lost her sight. she could still hear _ had lost her sight. she could still hear i_ had lost her sight. she could still hear i said — had lost her sight. she could still hear. i said to her, your mummy is here, _ hear. i said to her, your mummy is here, you— hear. i said to her, your mummy is here, you don't have to cry any more — here, you don't have to cry any more she _ here, you don't have to cry any more. she gave me a sweet smile. it was her— more. she gave me a sweet smile. it was her last— more. she gave me a sweet smile. it was her last smile. onjanuary the 3rd of— was her last smile. onjanuary the 3rd of 1958, — was her last smile. onjanuary the 3rd of 1958, she died.

by by 1958, we knew it was caused by this chemical. we also knew it was caused _ this chemical. we also knew it was caused by— this chemical. we also knew it was caused by waste water pumped into the bay— caused by waste water pumped into the bay by— caused by waste water pumped into the bay by the factory. they tried to hide _ the bay by the factory. they tried to hide it — the bay by the factory. they tried to hide it. my second child... she contracted — to hide it. my second child... she contracted the disease in the womb. i contracted the disease in the womb. i didn't— contracted the disease in the womb. i didn't think it was possible. but three _ i didn't think it was possible. but three months after she was born, i noticed _ three months after she was born, i noticed that something was wrong with her — noticed that something was wrong with her. she is now 59 years old. in with her. she is now 59 years old. in 1959, _ with her. she is now 59 years old. in 1959, they offer some consolation money~ _ in 1959, they offer some consolation money. human life cannot be replaced by money _

money. human life cannot be replaced b mone . , . , by money. remembering the tragedy. for our final — by money. remembering the tragedy. for our final film _ by money. remembering the tragedy. for our final film today _ by money. remembering the tragedy. for our final film today we _ by money. remembering the tragedy. for our final film today we are - for our final film today we are staying with postwarjapan and in 1959, breaking with over 2000 years of tradition, japan's crown prince akihito manny and norman royal bride. the wedding was broadcast live on tv and millions watch from home while hundreds of thousands lined the streets of tokyo on the wedding day. witness history spoke to a former director of tokyo broadcasting system who oversaw the live broadcast.— live broadcast. crown prince akihito has married — live broadcast. crown prince akihito has married a _ live broadcast. crown prince akihito has married a commoner— live broadcast. crown prince akihito has married a commoner so - live broadcast. crown prince akihito. has married a commoner so breaking japanese tradition of more than 2600 years. translation:

the marriage ceremony, lasting only 15 minutes took place in a word in a wooden slat shrine. there was no hint of any western influence in the ritual. the crown prince and his bride were made man and wife. burden by no fewer than 12 kimonos, it took the princess three hours to dress. the total weight was £33.

the total weight was 33lbs. shares accompanied them all the way as they continued their drive

through tokyo.

remembering a turning point in japanese society. that's it for their specialjapan edition of witness history. we will be back very soon with some more first—hand accounts of extraordinary stories from the past, but for now from me and the rest of the witness history team, goodbye. time for your latest live date now,

showers and thunderstorms across many parts of the uk at the moment. thunderstorms will break out widely. clouds around today but some spots are brightening up. if you're close to this weather bringing outbreaks of rain to northern england and parts of scotland, it is soggy out there. heavy bursts of rain to contend with, northern scotland seeing sunshine but one or two shows a red as they are in northern ireland. forthe a red as they are in northern ireland. for the rest of england and wales, sunny spells becoming more enthusiastic, but we will see some bright colours dotted about, heavy and thundery downpours breaking out more widely through the next few hours and into this evening. a humid feeling day out there. there is a chance of catching a shower at wimbledon but it is more likely to stay largely dry now for the rest of the day with broken cloud and warm sunny spells coming through. it is as hot prospect for the england players in rome compared to the last game they played in wembley where

temperatures only at the mid 205 as that day goes on. the thundery downpours could be quite nasty through parts of cornwall, devon, somerset and into the cotswolds this evening. they may ease for a time and develop again as we go to the later stages of the night. elsewhere, outbreaks of rain in scotland, it is a warm and muggy night to come. tomorrow, plenty of shows from the word go in southern areas. they will break out a bit more widely during the day. not everybody will see them, if you do you can get a good deal of rain in a short time, a risk of flash flooding and lightning as hail stones as well. if you have outdoor travel plans, keep checking the local weather forecast near you and keep in touch with weather warnings. some of these downpours will be around well on into sunday morning and then by monday we are left with an area

of cloud and rain clearing from northern ireland and northern england, but feeding across scotland. forthe england, but feeding across scotland. for the rest of england, wales and northern ireland, there is a chance of a shower, quite a bit of dry weather. you will notice this next area of rain bearing down in south wales and england as the day comes to a close. that is the wet and windy weather moving in, monday night and into tuesday. more online.

this is bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak with the latest headlines. england prepare to take on ukraine in the hope of winning a place in the euro semi—finals for the first time in a quarter of a century. the opportunity is there, the confidence is there, and the belief. and i think they are looking forward to the challenge. meanwhile, england fans have been told not to travel to italy for the match. but for those already in the country, the excitement is building. for the future of england, it will be european champions 2020, it will be european champions 2020, it will be world champions 2022 in qatar, we will be there in dubai as well. come on, england! come on, the boys! i’m

on, england! come on, the boys! i'm john watson in rome as we edge ever