Nuclear Deterrence Request, Leadership Approval Plunge

Japanese media foregrounded two major developments throughout the day. The political focus centered on Prime Minister Ishiba's cabinet, whose approval rating, after an initial reported increase, later plummeted to a record low of 32% by late morning, with significant public demand for his immediate replacement. This intensified scrutiny of his political future, an ongoing narrative from previous days. Concurrently, a notable new report revealed that the Self-Defense Forces requested the threat of U.S. nuclear force from American forces during joint military exercises. Economically, the day's reporting also highlighted record policy-held stock sales driven by corporate governance reforms and investor anticipation of Bank of Japan decisions and upcoming earnings results.