Japan

Foreign ministers from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States met in New Delhi to announce new initiatives aimed at enhancing maritime security and strengthening critical mineral supply chains in the Indo-Pacific. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the Quad partnership is a cornerstone of U.S. global strategy, highlighting cooperation on surveillance, critical minerals, and energy security.

Reconstruction has officially commenced on a severely damaged 3.2-kilometer section of Nepal's BP Highway, linking Kavrepalanchok and Sindhuli districts, with financial and technical assistance from Japan. Japanese Ambassador Maeda Toru and Nepal's Infrastructure Ministry Secretary Gopal Prasad Sigdel jointly laid the foundation stone for the Piple–Barkhekhola stretch, which was devastated by floods and landslides in October 2024.

North Korea's team, Negohyang, has won the AFC Women's Champions League title by defeating Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in a final match held in Suwon, South Korea. Captain Kim Kyong Yong scored the decisive goal just before halftime, marking the team's first participation and victory in the competition. Coach Ri Yu Il described the win as a historic moment for Asia and the world stage.

Psychiatrist Francesco Panto is trialing anime avatar-based counseling as a novel therapy method for depression in Japan, aiming to help individuals who struggle with traditional forms of help. The pilot study involved 20 participants aged 18-29 who received online counseling from a psychologist using a digitally altered anime avatar. Panto believes the "filter of fantasy" can ease patients and facilitate problem recognition.