China-Japan Tensions & War Memory: China marked the 89th anniversary of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident with ceremonies across the country, as bilateral frictions flare after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks. Imperial Debate: Japan’s ruling LDP is pushing for Imperial House Law committee talks to be held without live TV or internet broadcasts—sparking criticism that “closed doors” violates the public nature of Diet deliberations. Economy & Markets: The yen stayed near a four-decade low as the dollar firmed, while Japan’s JGB yields jumped to 30-year highs on inflation and fiscal worries. Business & Trade: Itochu and Daikin plan to recover aluminum from used commercial air conditioners to cut Middle East dependence; Japan’s Q3 aluminum premiums also hit the highest since 2015 amid Middle East supply squeeze. Local Life & Culture: Gunma Passport applications shift from first-come to a lottery after demand crashed the system; Pokémon-themed mailboxes in Yokohama will stay for one more year, and Noto’s quake-hit airport gets a Pokémon nickname. Crime & Society: A woman was arrested near Tokyo for allegedly sewing her roommate’s lips together. Defense & Industry: The US, Japan and South Korea signed a framework to accelerate small modular reactor deployments in the Indo-Pacific, and Japan will transfer five Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippines within 2–3 years.