Tokyo, April 26 (BridgeNews) - Japanese shares ended the morning session higher with sentiment lifted by U.S. stock gains overnight, together with hopes about the potential for structural reform under the new leadership of Junichiro Koizumi, who will formally become prime minister Thursday. Large buying from foreign investors further encouraged the upward mobility, traders said. The Nikkei rose 1.4%, or 195.61 points, to 14,023.11.