Overview
- At the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics, Nozomi Maruyama took bronze in the women’s individual normal hill on Feb. 7, and Japan’s women’s ice hockey team edged France 3–2 in their B‑group opener.
- Japan votes on Feb. 8 in the 51st House of Representatives election, widely seen as a referendum on the Takaichi administration and whether the Liberal Democratic Party can regain a single‑party majority, with early results expected by the pre‑dawn hours of Feb. 9.
- Weather officials warned of heavy snow along the Japan Sea side on voting day, and parties urged early ballots as lower turnout could sway outcomes in closely fought districts.
- In Washington, Congress approved and the president signed the 2026 NASA budget, reversing proposed cuts and restoring major programs including the Artemis Gateway lunar outpost that involves Japanese participation.
- A materials yard fire in Chiryu, Aichi, caused no injuries on Feb. 7, and Anjo Police are investigating the blaze as a suspected arson.