Comfort Women Apology: Former LDP leader Yohei Kono, who issued Japan’s landmark 1993 apology over wartime “comfort women,” has died at 89, a blow that reopens debate over how Japan should face its history. Energy Security: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will push three G7 principles on energy security—free trade, bigger strategic oil reserves, and tighter producer-consumer cooperation—as Middle East risks rattle supplies. Japan-UK Renewables: Japan and Britain are weighing a new framework to collaborate on offshore wind, alongside talks on next-gen nuclear and innovation. Defense & China: Japan’s new defense white paper is set to name China its top security concern while promising deeper US-aligned deterrence. Economy & Markets: Proposed governance code revisions could push firms to use their cash more actively, as investors watch Japan’s $1.8 trillion corporate hoard. Tech & Business: TDK will buy US data-center firm Fabric8Labs for up to $400m; Osaka Exchange plans Bitcoin futures by 2028. Public Services: Japan passed a law easing concurrent work for national and local public employees serving as SDF reservists. Health & Science: A large Japanese study links drinking green tea with fewer brain lesions tied to dementia.