The day began with continued reports on the escalating tensions with China, as Japanese officials refuted China's claims regarding radar lock-on incidents involving Self-Defense Force jets. Throughout the morning, government figures, including the Chief Cabinet Secretary, reiterated Japan's stance and condemned China's actions. However, editorial focus dramatically shifted in the early afternoon with news of a powerful earthquake. At 02:40 PM, multiple major Japanese news outlets reported a 6.6 magnitude earthquake in Aomori Prefecture, quickly followed by tsunami warnings for Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures, with anticipated tsunami heights of up to 3 meters. This major natural disaster and the subsequent evacuation advisories dominated headlines for the remainder of the day.