The Day the Idemitsu Maru Passed Hormuz

The morning was dominated by reports of the supertanker Idemitsu Maru navigating the Strait of Hormuz, carrying two million barrels of Saudi crude destined for Nagoya. This transit, the first since recent regional clashes, drew immediate historical comparisons to the 1953 Nissho Maru incident, with government officials emphasizing that no transit fees were paid to Iran. Parallel to this, the UAE’s formal withdrawal from OPEC signaled a shifting power dynamic in the Gulf. By mid-afternoon, domestic editorial attention shifted to a violent incident and subsequent manhunt in Fussa, Tokyo. A suspect attacked two high school students with a hammer and sprayed responding officers with pesticides before evading a police tactical unit by fleeing through a back door. In the evening, economic reports noted the yen weakening to 160 per dollar. Prime Minister Takaichi delivered a speech marking the 'Showa 100' milestone, while the Otsuchi forest fire was largely contained after a week of burning.