The escalating US-China trade war continued dominating Japanese media with China's retaliatory tariffs driving global market tumbles. After three days of massive selloffs, Tokyo stocks braced for further declines next week. Prime Minister Ishiba announced plans to speak directly with Trump about tariffs, signaling Japan's diplomatic response to what previous days' reporting called a "national crisis."

Japanese manufacturers began strategic restructuring with Nissan planning to shift some domestic production to the US to avoid Trump's punitive tariffs - the first concrete industrial response to the new trade reality. The controversial nature of Trump's tariff formula became a focal point of analysis, suggesting calculation methods rather than economic principles were driving policy.

Meanwhile, NATO's chief expressed interest in deepening defense-industrial ties with Japan, potentially signaling alignment with US interests. Prince Hisahito's university entrance marked a rare non-economic headline amid the ongoing South Korean political coverage of President Yoon's impeachment aftermath.