Asian Games Kickoff in Aichi-Nagoya: Japan opened the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya on Sept. 19, with Emperor Naruhito declaring the event open and a ceremony built around “Imagine One Asia,” featuring 43 sports and 469 medal events across multiple host cities. Japan is sending a record 932 athletes, aiming to top its 1966 gold haul, while qualification spots for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are on the line. Sports Ops Friction: South Korea’s men’s basketball team missed its shootaround before the final after a shuttle bus failed to arrive, adding to a build-up marked by transport and scheduling complaints. First Medals, Early Drama: Japan won the first gold on opening day via a men’s triathlon victory, while the Games’ early medal picture also included Japan’s men’s basketball win over China to set up a gold-medal match vs South Korea. Foreign Policy & Security: Japan’s Foreign Ministry faced backlash over costumes used in an antiterror drill, deleting a related post after criticism tied the imagery to the Middle East. Separately, Japan received a parliamentary delegation briefing in Kyiv on North Korean missile components, underscoring ongoing regional security concerns. Cyber Threats: Japan’s National Police Agency says North Korean hackers linked to “WaterPlum” stole about US$10.71 million in crypto across 100+ countries, using fake headhunter recruitment lures. Cost of Living Lens: A new international comparison highlights how food spending shares differ across countries, feeding the broader political debate over grocery costs.