Semiconductors & AI Capex: CG Power shipped its first chips from the Sanand OSAT facility in Gujarat, with Japan’s Renesas receiving the initial batch; the company targets 16 million chips a day and “Grade 1” qualification within 18–24 months, underscoring how Japan-linked supply chains are pulling India deeper into the AI hardware race. Memory Race: Micron broke ground on a ¥1.5 trillion expansion in Higashihiroshima to scale high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI data centers, with first shipments expected in 2028—another signal that Japan is becoming a key manufacturing base for the next wave of AI infrastructure. Japan’s Profit Outlook: Analysts expect major Japanese firms to post record net profits for a sixth straight year, led by semiconductor and chip-equipment makers as AI data-center demand offsets higher costs. Monetary Policy Watch: A government panel member urged the BOJ to keep moderate rate hikes to address excessive yen weakness, reflecting growing concern about inflation and long-term rates. Japan-India Strategic Deals: Japan’s Takaichi visit to India is framed as economic-security architecture, with agreements spanning defense, critical minerals, semiconductors and a large investment push. Tourism & Consumer Rules: Tokyo wards tightened inspections and restrictions on minpaku home-sharing amid noise and garbage complaints. Food Innovation for Inbound Demand: Fuji Oil in Osaka expanded sales of plant-based “MIRA-Dashi” to meet halal and vegan demand from tourists, including ramen use cases. Cybersecurity: A report warns North Korea-linked hackers used fake npm packages to target developers’ systems and steal sensitive data.