Japan-Iran Diplomacy: PM Sanae Takaichi urged “free and safe passage” for Japanese ships through the Strait of Hormuz in phone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, pressing for maximum flexibility to reach an agreement and continuing close communication. Regional Security & China Criticism: China’s foreign ministry again attacked Japan’s defense-equipment transfer push as “habitual tactics” for militarism and expansion, as Tokyo and Washington keep tying Japan’s security posture to Indo-Pacific stability. Defense/Ukraine Support: Japan’s NATO-linked Ukraine assistance remains in focus, with Tokyo reiterating that recent Russia contacts are for business asset protection, while political-level Japan-Russia contacts are not planned. Public Safety: A bear attack in Fukushima injured four people, underscoring rising human-bear conflict and prompting renewed local and national attention to wildlife management. Disaster Response: Tropical storm Jangmi/typhoon conditions battered Okinawa and moved toward Kyushu, injuring dozens and knocking out power for tens of thousands. Cybercrime: A Shizuoka junior high school was hit by a “tech support scam” that drained about ¥10 million from online banking accounts. Tech & Industry: Fujitsu signed with Anthropic to expand business AI transformation in Japan using Claude and its “Forward Deployed Engineer” model, alongside a push to raise cybersecurity for critical services. Economy/Markets: MUFG warned the Philippine peso could weaken sharply if the Iran conflict re-escalates, highlighting how Middle East risk and global monetary policy are feeding into regional FX stress. Education & Mobility: Japan hit a record 408,069 international students in FY2025, while the government’s goal to send 500,000 Japanese students abroad by 2033 is slipping amid weak yen pressures.