Prime Minister Takaichi moved to close the farm-minister scandal by tapping former vice-minister Takebe Arata to succeed Yana Kazuo, whose resignation after 28 days was treated as effective dismissal. Outlets noted Takebe's six terms from Hokkaido and farm-policy background, quoted Takaichi calling him an immediate asset, and followed his evening certification and pledge on food security, while opposition parties pressed her appointment responsibility and ruling-party figures conceded mishandling.
Attention shifted midday to markets as the Nikkei average closed down 3,318 yen, its third-largest point drop, on CoreWeave bond turmoil and doubts over AI infrastructure spending spreading across Asia.
Takaichi also denied Russian spying allegations against a detained Hokkaido Shimbun reporter in Sakhalin and demanded consular access, while evening reports flagged a possible 22.51 million-record leak at Sourcenext.