Mai Iida //
Japanese shares ended the morning session higher on short covering, as investors' hopes for the implementation of structural reforms grew after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday he would draw up a concrete timetable for the process in August. Major gainers included high tech shares following recent steep losses. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 198.96 points, or 1.7%, to 11,778.23.