Overview
- The North Pacific Fisheries Commission, which closed Friday in Osaka, set a 5% cut to the 2026 Pacific saury total catch after Japan’s push for a 10% reduction failed to win support.
- Japan’s Immigration Services Agency outlined target charges of about ¥30,000 for one‑year residence permits and ¥60,000 for three years, with exact amounts to be set by ordinance after the bill passes for use in fiscal 2026.
- The Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party launched a joint drafting council to bridge their different plans to revise Article 9 of the Constitution and committed to deeper talks.
- Hokkaido’s Towns and Villages Association advanced a request for a wide‑area Winter Olympics bid, yet the prefecture, the mayors’ association and Sapporo signaled caution and withheld backing.
- People saved by automated external defibrillators and their rescuers plan to form Japan’s first association within fiscal 2026 under the Japan AED Foundation to share experiences and shape policy.