Overview

• Police detained a 34-year-old Tokyo elementary school teacher in an investigation into images of schoolgirls shared in an SNS group, marking the sixth arrest in the case.
• From October 1, the procedure to convert foreign-issued driver’s licenses to Japanese licenses was tightened, including a requirement in principle to present a copy of one’s resident record.
• New labor rules began requiring employers to solicit work-arrangement preferences from employees raising children aged 3 up to school entry to support balancing jobs and childcare.
• Ishikawa Prefecture plans to finish publicly funded demolition of Noto Peninsula earthquake-damaged buildings within October, though officials note unresolved recovery challenges.
• The Liberal Democratic Party leadership race entered its final stretch, with intensified efforts to win Diet members’ votes ahead of the ballot expected in three days.