02:40⇢Steel Exemption Plea Meets Spring Labor Demands
⌨The newspapers extensively report on Japan's request for exemption from new US steel and aluminum tariffs, with multiple sources confirming diplomatic outreach to the Biden administration (Japan Times, Kyodo, NHK, Nikkei, Yahoo). Labor unions at major automakers begin their annual spring wage negotiations, with Honda's union demanding ¥13,000 monthly base pay increase (Asahi). Shi Ping, a Chinese-born commentator, announces his candidacy for the Upper House election under the Japan Innovation Party banner (Sankei).