Baseball & Olympics: NPB named former MLB player Tadahito Iguchi as Japan’s next Samurai Japan manager, aiming for a 2028 Los Angeles gold run. Economic Policy & Markets: Reports say PM Sanae Takaichi is planning a massive spending push across 17 sectors by 2040, while investors question how Japan will fund it without a shock. Defense & Intelligence: Japan is moving to build a new unified intelligence agency and expand defense posture, as China and Russia step up warnings against “rearmament.” Trade & Legal Fallout: The US forced-labor tariff regime is pulling Japan into fresh legal and diplomatic fights, with new duties tied to Section 301. Immigration & Education: Japan will dispatch 22 assistant language teachers from India to 17 prefectures, and the government is also tightening rules around permanent residency. Energy & Climate: Japan’s economic white paper flags imported inflation from Middle East tensions and ongoing labor shortages, while experts urge faster renewable energy shifts. Public Safety & Society: A memorial marks 10 years since the Sagamihara care home stabbing, and Tokyo-area heat continues to strain daily life. Regulation Watch: Japan is considering oversight for the booming Pokémon trading card market amid counterfeiting, tax fraud, and money-laundering fears. Tech Glitch: ChatGPT suffered a global outage, with users in Japan among those reporting login and service issues.