Maritime Tensions: Taiwan urged Japan and the Philippines to consult it over planned maritime boundary talks, saying the area overlaps with Taiwan’s rights and interests, while Tokyo insists any deal would not bind third parties. Storm Jangmi Disrupts Life in Tokyo: A severe tropical storm dumped heavy rain across the Tokyo region, triggering flood warnings, flight cancellations, train delays, school closures, evacuations for about 370,000 people, and confirmed power outages around 60,000 homes. Demographics Alarm: Japan’s fertility rate fell again to a record low 1.14 in 2025, with births dropping to 671,236 for the 10th straight year, deepening labor and social security pressures. Policy Response to Iran War Costs: Japan’s cabinet backed a $19 billion emergency extra budget to cushion households from soaring fuel and utility prices, including a Middle East contingency reserve. Tech-Led Market Mood: Tokyo stocks closed at record highs as investors piled into AI and tech shares, with the Nikkei topping 68,000. Social Policy Push: Japan’s parties moved toward a “confidential births” system, aiming to help women who can’t safely raise children while speeding up the legal and institutional setup. Local Crackdown on Overtourism: Shibuya began on-the-spot littering fines of 2,000 yen for visitors caught dumping trash. Sports Innovation: Virtual taekwondo was approved for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya/Aichi, adding another tech-forward event to the program.