The morning news focused on Trump's unexpected reframing of the Nippon Steel-US Steel deal from "acquisition" to "investment" during the Ishiba summit. This shift accompanied Japan's pledge of $1 trillion in US investments. Media coverage emphasized Ishiba's careful preparation and surprisingly warm rapport with Trump, who referenced Abe five times during their joint appearance.
Heavy snowfall intensified across central Japan, with Niigata's Aga town recording a historic 194cm accumulation. The weather system caused 338 accidents in Aichi alone and multiple highway closures. By afternoon, opposition parties offered measured praise for the summit outcomes, while analysts noted Trump's deliberate avoidance of trade friction topics. Evening coverage revealed Trump's plans for "reciprocal tariffs," which hadn't been discussed during the summit, suggesting potential tensions ahead.