The morning opened with former Olympus CEO Kaufmann's prosecution for drug possession, while Ishiba's minority government began addressing political funding reform. His administration announced consideration of abolishing policy activity funds, responding to the ongoing faction slush fund scandal.
By midday, SoftBank Group reported a trillion-yen profit for April-September, marking the Vision Fund's return to profitability after nine quarters. The Takarazuka Music School removed "beauty" from its admission requirements, signaling cultural shift.
The afternoon brought news of a vehicle rampage in China's Zhuhai, killing 35 and injuring 43, with Chinese authorities restricting social media posts and blocking NHK broadcasts. Yoshimura announced his candidacy for Japan Innovation Party leadership, while reports emerged of North Korean students planning New Year visits to Pyongyang, potentially meeting Kim Jong Un.