Consumption Tax Plan: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan will restore the consumption tax rate to 8% two years after a planned food-and-beverage cut, after the LDP shifted from a campaign pledge of a zero rate to a two-year reduction starting April 2027. Immigration Fees: Japan will raise single-entry visa fees fivefold to ¥15,000 from July 1 (and multiple-entry to ¥30,000), the first hike in nearly 50 years, with officials saying the change is meant to reflect inflation and exchange-rate shifts. Foreign Policy & Security: Japan-U.S. drills continue as the USS George Washington carrier strike group joins JMSDF forces for Valiant Shield 2026 in the Philippine Sea, while the U.S. Typhon land-mobile missile launchers are set to be stored at a U.S. base from mid-October after training in Japan. Regional Tensions: China’s Liaoning carrier task force finished far-sea combat training, with Chinese claims of close-range tracking by Japanese vessels and aircraft. Crime & Compliance: Tokyo police arrested a suspected senior Prince Group figure tied to alleged transnational online fraud, charging falsified residency-related records as authorities pursue the network’s Japan links. Economy & Markets: Japan’s yen weakness and higher metal prices are pushing the intrinsic value of some coins above face value, underscoring how currency moves are feeding into everyday costs.