Overview
- Ogier won three of six stages to close Friday 7.9 seconds clear of Takamoto Katsuta, with championship leader Elfyn Evans 2.3 seconds behind in third.
- Evans kept the points lead but ceded time during the afternoon despite two stage wins, including the day-ending Shinshiro test.
- Kalle Rovanperä clipped a barrier on SS3, damaged his left‑rear suspension, lost over five minutes, and slid to 17th in a major blow to his title push.
- Hyundai struggled for pace on the narrow asphalt as Adrien Fourmaux led the team in fourth, with Ott Tänak sixth and Thierry Neuville seventh after earlier driveline trouble.
- M‑Sport’s Josh McErlean retired after a heavy SS3 crash with both crew unhurt, while Grégoire Munster held eighth as the rally moves to seven stages on Saturday.