The day was dominated by the Japan-Philippines summit, where Prime Minister Takaichi and President Marcos elevated ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and agreed to begin formal negotiations on an intelligence-sharing pact (GSOMIA), with weapons exports also discussed. Multiple outlets framed this as a quasi-alliance to counter China, noting shared concerns over regional security.
Earlier, the Osaka High Court reversed a lower ruling and upheld the license for Kansai Electric's Oi nuclear plant, a decision that drew criticism for judicial deference to regulators. The National Intelligence Council Act, enacted the previous day, continued to reverberate.
Other developments included the arrest of a sitting volleyball national team player for cannabis possession, a 370-million-yen tax evasion case involving Cambodia's honorary consul in Sendai, and the conviction of a former Hiroshima Carp player for synthetic drug use, who claimed teammates were also involved.
