University Governance: The University of Tokyo has named Yuko Fujigaki as its next president, the first woman to lead Japan’s top university, as the school tries to tighten governance after corruption scandals. Security & Intelligence: PM Sanae Takaichi launched Japan’s first expert panel on boosting intelligence capabilities, setting up a “National Intelligence Strategy” and aiming for a CIA-style independent agency by March 2028. Immigration Policy: Japan is tightening foreign residency rules, with “Business Manager” visa issuance down 90% in the first half of 2026 and deportations up 15%, as the government frames the changes as public-safety and order measures. Foreign Relations (China): China’s top diplomat Wang Yi urged Japan to correct “erroneous” words and deeds on Taiwan, pressing for a more “objective” view of China. Tokyo Legal/Politics: A Tokyo court ruled that a ban on minors under 18 from election campaigning is unconstitutional, reshaping how youth political participation is handled. Public Safety: Japan is seeing a sharp rise in raccoon-related damage, with agricultural losses nearing 700 million yen and complaints climbing in Osaka. Cybercrime: Travelers booking Japan trips are being targeted by phishing scams that mimic hotel payment gateways, sometimes tied to leaked booking data. Regional/Global: Qatar began work on its “GREEN×EXPO 2027” pavilion in Yokohama, marking the start of implementation ahead of the 2027 expo.