New Photo - World Cup aftershow host James Corden ranks Britain's top 4 Harrys: 'This show is only an hour long'

Prince Harry didn't get any special treatment for being a royal. World Cup aftershow host James Corden ranks Britain's top 4 Harrys: 'This show is only an hour long' Prince Harry didn't get any special treatment for being a royal. By Raechal Shewfelt :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RaechalShewfeltauthorphotoc49d3a3b6aa442f588f2bbc0de804e09.jpg) Raechal Shewfelt Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at . She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American Journalism Review and The Shreveport Times. EW's editorial guidelines June 30, 2026 6:49 p.m.

Prince Harry didn't get any special treatment for being a royal.

World Cup aftershow host James Corden ranks Britain's top 4 Harrys: 'This show is only an hour long'

Prince Harry didn't get any special treatment for being a royal.

By Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt is a news writer at

Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American *Journalism Review* and *The Shreveport Times*.

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World Cup aftershow host James Corden ranks Britain's top 4 Harrys: 'This show is only an hour long'

Prince Harry didn't get any special treatment for being a royal. World Cup aftershow host James Corden ranks Britain's to...

Zooey Deschanel went blonde to play pop star ‘like Britney Spears’ in unmade film before landing “Elf ”role Ryan ColemanWed, July 8, 2026 at 3:39 AM UTC 0 Zooey Deschanel in ‘Elf’; Britney Spears in 2002Credit: New Line/ Everett; Evan Agostini/GettyKey Points Zooey Deschanel explained why she went blonde for Elf. The actress was cast as “a pop star that was like Britney Spears” before the holiday classic, and her hair was bleached for the role, she revealed on The Zach Sang Show. The film was never made, and because of the “long process” to become a brunette again, the blonde stayed for Elf.

Zooey Deschanel went blonde to play pop star ‘like Britney Spears’ in unmade film before landing “Elf ”role

Ryan ColemanWed, July 8, 2026 at 3:39 AM UTC

Zooey Deschanel in ‘Elf’; Britney Spears in 2002Credit: New Line/ Everett; Evan Agostini/GettyKey Points -

Zooey Deschanel explained why she went blonde for Elf.

The actress was cast as “a pop star that was like Britney Spears” before the holiday classic, and her hair was bleached for the role, she revealed on The Zach Sang Show.

The film was never made, and because of the “long process” to become a brunette again, the blonde stayed for Elf.

We can thank Britney Spears for Zooey Deschanel’s one-and-only journey out of brunette-land.

Known for her thick, raven-dark locks, the 500 Days of Summer and New Girl star shocked fans the one time she went blonde: to play Will Ferrell’s love interest, Jovie, in the 2003 holiday classic Elf.

“I did a screen test for a movie that never ended up going about like a pop star that was like Britney Spears,” the actress revealed on Monday’s episode of The Zach Sang Show. “It didn’t ever happen, but yeah, it was a pop star that was like Britney Spears, who then — it’s like Roman Holiday, where she has a day where she’s not a pop star.”

For her screen test, the film’s producers were “trying to prove — because I didn’t look to them what a pop star looks like — so they were like, ‘We’re going to make you into a pop star.’” Then came a bleaching process so laborious, it ended up sticking around for Elf.

“They dyed my hair blonde, and they put these extensions in, and they gave me a tan and a whole thing,” Deschanel recalled. “I did look as much like a pop star as I can. But then the movie never happened, but then here I was with this blonde hair.”

According to Deschanel, it would have been “hard to just go right back, because it takes a real — my hair is almost black. To go from really dark brown hair to light blonde is a long process... It was right after that screen test that I went in for Elf. Once I got cast, I was like, ‘Well, can I dye my hair back brown?’ And they were like, ‘No, you need to look how you looked in the audition.’”

“So that’s how I ended up blonde in Elf,” Deschanel cheerily concluded. “Not because I was like, ‘I need to be blonde.’ It was really random.”

Deschanel has looked back on the Elf casting process before — even on producers digging their heels in over there being hair-color continuity from screen test to final cut.

Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel in ‘Elf’Credit: New Line/ Everett

The other major role went to Deschanel, a relative newcomer who had turned heads in the 2003 indie drama “All the Real Girls” and had first hit the scene playing Patrick Fugit’s older sister in 2000’s “Almost Famous.” Her performance as Jovie, the department store employee who struggles to get into the Yuletide frame of mind, was her big break. Deschanel and Ferrell have a sweet chemistry on screen, but they almost didn’t get a chance to work with each other. The actress wasn’t the first choice for the role.

Zooey Deschanel in New York City on April 26Credit: John Nacion/FilmMagic

Despite almost being cast in a film inspired by the biggest pop star on the planet at the time, Deschanel was still a relative newcomer, having received her best notices for her 2000 turn in Almost Famous.

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“I went in as a backup,” she recalled to Varietyin 2018, for the 15th anniversary of the film. “The person they cast couldn’t do it. A lot of the parts I got early in my career, I was filling in for someone else who had dropped out last minute.” Then in 2025, Deschanel revealed that initial casting choice in question was Katie Holmes.

“When I met with Jon Favreau, the director, I walked in, and he was like, ‘Oh, you don’t need to read. We just offered it to Katie Holmes,’” she shared. Holmes ultimately dropped out. As Deschanel told it, “I think the character was kind of meant to be worked around whoever played her, and they knew I sang because I had a cabaret act, so that kind of worked out with the character.”

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What USA TODAY experts had to say about the USMNT&x27;s 2026 World Cup exit Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAYWed, July 8, 2026 at 3:12 AM UTC 0 The United States&x27; journey in the 2026 World Cup ended when Belgium knocked them out with a 41 win in the round of 16. After winning their group for the first time since 2010, the USMNT went on to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 20 in the round of 32. It was their first knockout win since 2002.

What USA TODAY experts had to say about the USMNT's 2026 World Cup exit

Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAYWed, July 8, 2026 at 3:12 AM UTC

The United States' journey in the 2026 World Cup ended when Belgium knocked them out with a 4-1 win in the round of 16.

After winning their group for the first time since 2010, the USMNT went on to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32. It was their first knockout win since 2002.

USA TODAY's experts analyzed the match and the team's performance at the tournament on an episode of USA TODAY Sports' "Sports Seriously" soccer podcast published after the loss.

"Disappointing, heartbroken for the guys," former USWNT player Lori Lindsey said, "and hats off to all of them because it's been an excellent tournament, I would say, one hundred percent up until this game."

One of the key factors heading into the matchup was Folarin Balogun's red card. He was in the starting lineup against Belgium after the controversial red card was rescinded by FIFA. He was booked for the penalty in the USMNT's round of 32 win. The penalty for a red card is that the player is ejected from the match and then suspended from the team's next match. The decision to overturn the red card was met with fierce criticism.

"One of the things about this team has been so impressive is it seems to be their togetherness, unity, blocking outside noise coming into this," Lindsey commented, noting how hard it would be to handle the news that Balogun was not playing and then was playing within 24 hours. "... That's a huge energy shift regardless of the mentality and what this team has been able to do up until this point whether we kind of want to admit that or not. And I'm not saying that that played the biggest part in this game, but I certainly think it had a part."

Once the round of 16 matchup kicked off, Belgium overwhelmed the United States. The Red Devils' best finish at a World Cup was in 2018 when they finished third. The USMNT didn't even qualify for that tournament.

"Overall a game that had ebbs and flows," USA TODAY's national soccer writer Jon Arnold said, "but it seemed like the U.S. wasn't able to dig themselves out of the ebbs and every time they did, Belgium had an answer."

Lindsey said that Belgium's 3-2 extra time win over Senegal in the round of 32 served as the wake-up call for the European side. They were fired up to prove they were better than they've been showing in the tournament, including two draws in group play.

Against the U.S., Romelu Lukaku, the Red Devils' all-time leading scorer, came off the bench to score the last goal and put the exclamation point on the victory.

"It just felt like a matter of time unfortunately for Lukaku," Lindsey said, "because we know he scores goals when a team's defeated and down."

The game was a rematch of the 2014 World Cup round of 16 where Belgium beat the United States 2-1.

You can watch the full episode of "Sports Seriously" above or on USA TODAY Sports' YouTube page and wherever you listen to podcasts (search: Sports Seriously).

USA TODAY experts analyze USMNT's 2026 World Cup run

The two analysts also reflected on what this World Cup means as a whole for the United States. There was extra pressure on them as one of three host countries for the tournament.

"I think it's going to be very difficult not to look back at this as a lateral step," Arnold reflected. "It kind of feels like this is the same World Cup the U.S. men have always had. Because they've legitimately been knocked out by Belgium before in this round. They get to this round in 2022 and don't get past it. Yes, the World Cup is expanded, yes, they get the first knockout win since 2002.

"But overall, I also think it would have been such a big moment to say, 'Ah, look at this linear progress. Look at this line going up' had the U.S. been able to get this victory. And instead, it's a score line and I would say a performance that says, 'You're not there yet.' Kind of a slap down from a team in the European elite."

Lindsey had a bit more positive outlook of the United States' performance overall and what the competition meant for the sport in the country. FOX reported that 30 million people tuned in to their English broadcast of the loss to Belgium, a record for the most-watched telecast of a soccer match in U.S. history.

"The fact that this was on home soil, there's so many eyeballs, this is disappointing," she said, "so I think that's what lingers in people's mind and that's the tough part to kind of overcome or reconcile sometimes. But the body of work that they have done and how they have captivated new eyeballs, excitement around this team, the amount of viewers that have shown up to watch these games, I think cannot be overstated, either."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USMNT knocked out of World Cup by Belgium analyzed by USA TODAY

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Tom Holland — no, not that one — says “The Odyssey” is ‘the best’ movie adaptation of a Greek myth Kathleen PerriconeTue, July 7, 2026 at 11:42 PM UTC 0 Actor Tom Holland as Telemachus in ‘The Odyssey’Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal PicturesKey Points A certain someone named Tom Holland is confusing people on social media with his rave review of The Odyssey. This Tom Holland isn’t the famous actor who plays Telemachus in Christopher Nolan’s new movie. Even more confusing, both Tom Hollands attended the film’s London premiere.

Tom Holland — no, not that one — says “The Odyssey” is ‘the best’ movie adaptation of a Greek myth

Kathleen PerriconeTue, July 7, 2026 at 11:42 PM UTC

Actor Tom Holland as Telemachus in ‘The Odyssey’Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal PicturesKey Points -

A certain someone named Tom Holland is confusing people on social media with his rave review of The Odyssey.

This Tom Holland isn’t the famous actor who plays Telemachus in Christopher Nolan’s new movie.

Even more confusing, both Tom Hollands attended the film’s London premiere.

The first reactions to Christopher Nolan’s new movie The Odyssey are flooding social media, but one early viewer’s rave review is raising eyebrows — and evoking the Spider-Man-pointing-at-Spider-Man meme.

A verified account for a gentleman named Tom Holland took to X after previewing the epic fantasy film not once, but twice. “It is by some way the best cinematic adaptation of a Greek myth I have ever seen,” gushed Holland, a historian, author, and host of The Rest Is History podcast. “It honours Homer while simultaneously making something new of him.”

While many commenters were busy arguing that last point, others couldn’t understand why one of The Odyssey’s main cast members — that is, the 30-year-old actor Tom Holland — appeared to be shamelessly promoting his opinion of the movie.

“Bro, you’re in it,” replied one account in a quote tweet that has already racked up 1.5 million views.

“The other Tom Holland on the film starring Tom Holland. Both are superb,” remarked another X user.

“Is it any surprise that you think a Tom Holland movie is good,” asked a follower who later clarified which Tom Holland had his allegiance. “Sir, I’ve been a fan of Tom Holland the historian since the beginning—even before the actor came to stage.”

Tom Holland, the actor, at ‘The Odyssey’ premiere in LondonCredit: Jeff Spicer/Getty

In a separate thread, Tom Holland the Historian linked to the Guardian’s roundup of film critics praising The Odyssey. One follower replied with a screengrab of a quote from Erik Davis from Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes: “Tom Holland continues to prove he can do just about anything.”

“You just wanted people to see this line,” they commented, to which Holland the historian reacted with a winking emoji.

Both the Tom Hollands were at The Odyssey’s London premiere, though they apparently didn’t cross paths.

“If Tom Holland meets Tom Holland the universe may implode,” joked an X user.

“Yes, just imagine if that happened,” Holland the historian replied.

“As long as Tom Hollander doesn’t also show up,” cracked another follower, referencing the English actor who has appeared in films like Pride & Prejudice and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Holland the historian is the award-winning author of both fiction and non-fiction books, including 2023’s The Wolf-Girl, The Greeks and The Gods.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.

Holland the actor stars in The Odyssey as Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, played by Matt Damon.

Making the film, the first to be shot entirely in IMAX, was “nostalgic and futuristic at the same time,” Holland recently told Collider. “It did feel like we went back in a time machine, but a time machine that was both taking us to the future and to the past, which is so Chris Nolan, if you think about it, because the movie felt super nostalgic.”

The Odyssey his theaters July 17.

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Tom Holland — no, not that one — says “The Odyssey” is ‘the best’ movie adaptation of a Greek myth

Tom Holland — no, not that one — says “The Odyssey” is ‘the best’ movie adaptation of a Greek myth Kathleen PerriconeTue, July 7,...

Senate GOP leaders say they&x27;ve talked with McConnell by phone Kaia Hubbard Tue, July 7, 2026 at 10:44 PM UTC 1 Washington — Senate GOP leaders said Tuesday they spoke with Sen. Mitch McConnell amid a weekslong hospitalization that has sparked growing speculation about his health. A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the South Dakota Republican and McConnell spoke on Monday by phone and "had a lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security." And the No. 2 Republican, Sen.

Senate GOP leaders say they've talked with McConnell by phone

Kaia Hubbard Tue, July 7, 2026 at 10:44 PM UTC

Washington — Senate GOP leaders said Tuesday they spoke with Sen. Mitch McConnell amid a weekslong hospitalization that has sparked growing speculation about his health.

A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the South Dakota Republican and McConnell spoke on Monday by phone and "had a lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security." And the No. 2 Republican, Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, spoke to McConnell by phone Tuesday afternoon for around 20 minutes, a spokeswoman said.

"Senator McConnell was fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate," Barrasso spokeswoman Kate Noyes said in a statement.

The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican has been hospitalized since June 14, his office said. On the same day, emergency medical personnel responded to an unconscious person at McConnell's home, according to a public EMS dispatch call reviewed by CBS News last week.

During the call, a dispatcher called in a "cardiac arrest" and a medic said there was "CPR in progress" at McConnell's address. The dispatcher also said an individual was "unconscious." The senator's name is not mentioned during the EMS call, and CBS News has not confirmed the identity of the unconscious person.

McConnell's staff has neither confirmed that the dispatch call was about the senator nor provided more information about why he was admitted to the hospital.

His office last issued a statement on July 2 that said the senator was still hospitalized.

"Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he's receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital," the statement said. "The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session."

Thune said last month that he had spoken to McConnell following his hospitalization. On June 15, he told reporters that McConnell "sounded good" and "wants to be back." The next day, Thune told Fox News that McConnell "was in good spirits." He also said McConnell indicated that "he'd be back soon."

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Senate GOP leaders say they&x27;ve talked with McConnell by phone Kaia Hubbard Tue, July 7, 2026 at 10:44 PM UTC 1 Washington ...

Will Beyoncé join JayZ at his London concert? Here&x27;s what we know. Caché McClay, USA TODAY NETWORKTue, July 7, 2026 at 9:05 PM UTC 0 JayZ added a London show to his series of anniversary concerts and the newly announced date has fans wondering whether there&x27;s more in store, including whether Beyoncé will be part of it. The Grammywinning rapper recently announced an additional show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sept. 4 as a part of his "JayZ 30" concert series.

Will Beyoncé join Jay-Z at his London concert? Here's what we know.

Caché McClay, USA TODAY NETWORKTue, July 7, 2026 at 9:05 PM UTC

Jay-Z added a London show to his series of anniversary concerts and the newly announced date has fans wondering whether there's more in store, including whether Beyoncé will be part of it.

The Grammy-winning rapper recently announced an additional show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sept. 4 as a part of his "Jay-Z 30" concert series. The string of shows commemorates the 30th anniversary of his debut album "Reasonable Doubt," released June 25, 1996. He's also celebrating the 25th anniversary of his sixth studio album "Blueprint," released Sept. 11, 2001.

The added date marks Jay-Z's first solo headline show in the U.K. in over a decade. Most notably, the show falls on Beyoncé's 45th birthday, which is also the anniversary date of Beyoncé's sophomore album "B'Day," released Sept. 4, 2006.

Jay-Z is featured two of the songs from the album, "Déjà Vu" and "Upgrade U."

Beyoncé turns 45 on Sept. 4 and 'B'Day' celebrates 20 years

The "Cowboy Carter" creator recently surprised fans by officially releasing her song "Morning Dew (Donk)" on July 4. The surprise drop has kicked off a 60-day countdown to her birthday on Sept. 4, when she will release a special anniversary edition of her second studio album. The track, which leaked more than a decade ago, is now expected to be included on the upcoming re-issue.

Fans are now wondering whether Beyoncé and Jay-Z are planning something special for Sept. 4, her birthday and "B'Day" anniversary, related to his London show on the same date.

Will Beyoncé perform during Jay-Z's Sept 4. London show?

The Carters have not indicated whether Beyoncé will appear onstage during Jay-Z's London show, but it's fair to say there's a strong possibility.

Of course, it is possible that she could support him and choose to sing along from backstage or the wings, as she has done before. But there are many reasons to think otherwise. The British capital holds personal significance for both of them. The two performed together in London in both 2014 and 2018 and have frequented many times.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z also have turned London concerts into major moments in the past. The Carters announced their joint album "Everything Is Love" on June 16, 2018, surprising fans by revealing the news on screen with an "album out now" sign during their "On the Run II" Tour stop in London. The album was released simultaneously on Tidal.

When did Beyoncé and Jay-Z last perform in London?

The "I Know" rapper's last headline solo performance in the U.K. was Oct. 2013, when he took the stage at The O2 in London as part of his Magna Carta World Tour.

Meanwhile, "Morning Dew" singer last performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on her "Cowboy Carter and Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour" last June. She took the stage for a total of six nights and made it clear she loves London.

"I don't want to go home," she said before her final "Cowboy Carter" performance at the stadium. Thank you, London. We've been having such great shows here. Thank y'all so much."

She doubled down after the show, hinting at going on tour again and returning to London for it. In an Instagram post, she wrote "Thank you, London, for creating unforgettable memories for me and my family. Holla at 'ya when I come on tour again!"

While Jay-Z did not join Beyoncé onstage during the London shows in 2025, he made a surprise appearance onstage with his wife a few days later during her Paris stop along her "Cowboy Carter" tour.

It's only a matter of time before fans find out if the Grammy-winning couple have something up their sleeves for the newly added U.K. show.

For now though, Jay-Z is set to take the stage for three major shows in his hometown of New York City.

On July 10, he will celebrate "Reasonable Doubt" with a concert at Yankee Stadium. This will be followed by a show for "The Blueprint" on July 11. A third "EXTRA INNINGS" show was added on July 12 to combine both shows due to high demand. This fall he will perform two additional shows in Paris on Sept. 10 and in Los Angeles on Oct. 23.

Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jay-Z’s new London show date sparks Beyonce surprise rumors

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ExclusiveBOJ dissenter Asada needs demanddriven inflation before backing rate hike By Leika Kihara and Takahiko WadaTue, July 7, 2026 at 3:02 PM UTC 0 By Leika Kihara and Takahiko Wada TOKYO, July 8 (Reuters) Bank of Japan board member Toichiro Asada said he must see signs of demanddriven inflation before supporting interest rate rises, but flagged "relatively rapid" passthrough of higher costs in a sign he may vote in favour of a hike in the future.

Exclusive-BOJ dissenter Asada needs demand-driven inflation before backing rate hike

By Leika Kihara and Takahiko WadaTue, July 7, 2026 at 3:02 PM UTC

By Leika Kihara and Takahiko Wada

TOKYO, July 8 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan board member Toichiro Asada said he must see signs of demand-driven inflation before supporting interest rate rises, but flagged "relatively rapid" pass-through of higher costs in a sign he may vote in favour of a hike in the future.

Asada, the sole dissenter to the BOJ's decision in June to raise interest rates to a 31-year high of 1%, made the comments in his first interview since joining the board, underscoring a growing tension between political pressure for loose policy and mounting inflationary pain as firms pass on rising costs.

Hand-picked by dovish Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Asada said he voted against the June rate increase due to lingering uncertainty over Middle East developments that could hurt output and employment.

The key prerequisite for supporting a future rate hike would be for Japan to see conditions fall in place to sustainably meet the BOJ's 2% inflation target, he told Reuters on Monday.

"Moreover, I believe it is necessary to confirm that such achievement is being supported by endogenous economic forces, such as rising wages and demand," he said, adding that such forces are not strong enough yet to justify raising rates.

But Asada said he is "not always opposed" to rate rises, with future decisions dependent on economic conditions at the time.

While crude oil prices are falling and consumer inflation is moderating, the pass-through of higher oil prices has been proceeding at a "relatively rapid pace" and could lead to broader price rises for a wide range of goods, he said.

"The BOJ should respond flexibly to changes in economic, price and financial conditions and conduct monetary policy appropriately," Asada said, adding that rate decisions should not be made on any pre-determined schedule.

"The pace of any tightening should likewise be determined after carefully assessing domestic and overseas economic, price, and financial developments," Asada said.

The remarks by Asada, seen as a reflationist advocate of loose fiscal and monetary policy, underscore the BOJ's growing attention to mounting inflationary pressure.

The BOJ raised interest rates in June and signalled its readiness to keep hiking as inflation has hovered around its 2% target for four years. Most analysts polled by Reuters expect another rate rise in October to December.

When asked whether he supported the BOJ's rate-hike stance, Asada said: "I am not always opposed to rate hikes. I voted against one this time, but I intend to make decisions based on an assessment of prevailing conditions at each point in time."

Asada also said he believed Japan's neutral rate, or the level that neither cools nor overheats the economy, to be "rather low" but that it was hard to specify an exact level.

"The neutral rate should not become an objective in itself. Policy should remain anchored to the goal of price stability."

BOJ staff have produced estimates suggesting Japan's nominal neutral rate stands around 1.1% to 2.5%.

Takaichi's appointment of Asada and another dovish newcomer, Ayano Sato, to the board has been viewed by analysts as an attempt to pressure the BOJ into supporting the administration's big spending plans by keeping rates low.

Asada called for close coordination between fiscal and monetary policy, as there were limits to what monetary policy alone can do to overcome weak demand or supply constraints.

While government efforts to promote investment are important, many firms point to labour shortages and rising material costs as constraints to investment, he said.

Wholesale inflation accelerated in May at the fastest pace in three years as a weak yen pushed up import costs, adding to rising fuel costs from the Middle East conflict.

"Given these circumstances, achieving price stability through appropriate monetary policy is important as a foundation for expanding growth-oriented investment," Asada said.

While monetary policy does not target currency rates, it "does take inflation and employment into account," Asada said, stressing the role the BOJ must play in controlling inflation.

The BOJ has been slowing the pace of bond buying since 2024, but decided in June to discontinue the taper from next fiscal year, a move analysts saw as aimed at curbing rises in bond yields.

Asada said the taper pause could help mitigate the negative impact excessive yield rises could inflict on investment.

In the future, the BOJ must discuss the desirable size and composition of its huge balance sheet, which will keep shrinking as redemptions exceed monthly purchases, he said.

In doing so, the BOJ should focus on how much the ratio of its government bond holdings to nominal gross domestic product (GDP) should fall from current levels around 80%, he said.

"Once the ratio has fallen to a level considered appropriate, I believe the size of the BOJ's balance sheet should thereafter grow broadly in line with nominal GDP growth."

(Reporting by Leika Kihara and Takahiko Wada; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

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