12:01⇢Stockpiled Rice Hits Consumer Markets
⌨The newspapers report on escalating trade uncertainty as U.S.-Japan tariff negotiations show mixed progress with persistent unpredictability (Japan Times). Asian markets respond with repositioning strategies, hedging against dollar weakness while remaining divided on Chinese equities (Nikkei Asia). The rice crisis reaches consumer level with government stockpiled rice becoming available at 2,000 yen levels, following previous coverage of doubled prices and ministerial intervention (Yahoo News Japan, Japan Business Press). Trump's communication difficulties with foreign media persist from earlier reporting (Huffington Post Japan). The dual surname legislation debate continues in the Diet after 28 years, while corporate expansion proceeds with Dai-ichi Life's 1,600 billion yen investment in UK insurer M&G.