The day was dominated by the public manhunt for Kazuhiko Masuda, the 48-year-old suspected mastermind of the Tochigi robbery-murder, who fled abroad. Police issued a wanted notice, and reports detailed his role in directing the crime via encrypted apps. The story evolved from morning briefs to evening coverage of his possible overseas escape.
Meanwhile, the US-Iran provisional agreement on a 60-day ceasefire and Strait of Hormuz opening stalled, as President Trump withheld approval, citing need for review. Multiple outlets noted the deal's fragility and lack of concrete measures.
Other developments included the Nikkei hitting a record high of 66,329 yen, driven by US-Iran hopes, and the 2025 census confirming Japan's population fell by a record 309,000 to 123.04 million, with Hokkaido dropping below 5 million.