Japan's GDP contracted 0.7% annually in Q1, marking the first negative growth in four quarters due to weak consumer spending. This economic concern emerged alongside Toyota's strategic shift to a subscription model, allowing post-purchase safety feature installations across all models - a response to tariff pressures highlighted in previous days' Nissan coverage.

The government advanced legislation abolishing the ¥1.06 million income wall and launched an economic security clearance system despite privacy concerns. The Financial Services Agency moved to discipline insurance broker "Money Doctor" for prioritizing fee-generating products over customer needs.

Direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations began for the first time in three years, with reports describing visual tensions between representatives. Military developments continued with the discovery of human remains at the Self-Defense Force aircraft crash site reported yesterday.

Japan-South Korea relations improved with plans for a fast-track tourist entry system at four airports, marking their diplomatic anniversary.