Japanese media editors focused on Prime Minister Takaichi's departure for U.S. summit talks with President Trump, with coverage intensifying throughout the day as she prepared to leave Tokyo. Multiple outlets reported the agenda had shifted from China deterrence to immediate Iran crisis response, particularly regarding Strait of Hormuz security and potential Self-Defense Force deployment. Trump's repeated statements that Japan's naval support was unnecessary created diplomatic pressure, with Takaichi stating she would tell Trump "what cannot be done cannot be done" regarding deployment requests. Simultaneously, coverage continued on record-high gasoline prices reaching 190.8 yen per liter amid the Iran crisis, with government subsidies set to begin March 19.