Overview
- The government formally named four private members to the Economic and Fiscal Advisory Council, including former BOJ deputy Masazumi Wakatabe, to help steer budget and policy discussions.
- Toyota will again delay construction of its EV battery plant in Kanda, Fukuoka Prefecture, with the governor citing a review prompted by slowing global demand.
- Oji Holdings will stop one paper machine at its Tomakomai mill by March 2026, removing 159,000 tons of annual capacity due to weaker newsprint demand while stating supply will not be affected.
- Aichi Prefecture’s circular‑economy project is piloting the collection and recycling of used plastics into poly bags, targeting commercialization in fiscal 2026 and reductions in CO2 emissions.
- Esashi Police corrected the reported site of bear droppings in Assabu Town, Hokkaido, revising the location to the A‑Coop Tate store parking lot in Tatemachi from the previously stated Shinmachi site.