Japan-US Security & Intelligence: Japan will hold its first expert panel meeting on Monday to discuss counterespionage and intelligence-capability upgrades, with a foreign intelligence agency likely on the agenda. Markets & FX: The yen rallied after Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said the US shared concerns about yen weakness, while global bond yields stayed near multi-year highs and oil remained a key driver of risk sentiment. Corporate Finance: SoftBank priced about $11.1bn of high-yield notes to fund its OpenAI-linked bet, marking the biggest such sale on record. Defense Procurement: Japan’s Defense Ministry will open applications for a fast-track system to bring startup tech—especially small attack drones—into equipment development. Auto Industry: Suzuki says it will halve new-model development time by 2030 and is also developing “REEV Light,” a compact series hybrid with external charging capability. Energy/Shipping Costs: Saudi crude exports via the Strait of Hormuz are surging, tightening tanker availability and pushing up shipping costs. Regional Business Links: Mongolia’s PM Uchral will visit Japan later this week for talks with PM Sanae Takaichi and meetings with JICA/JETRO and business groups. Tourism & Trade: Japan tops the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index, but the report warns rising visitor numbers don’t always translate into broader local benefits. Aviation/Travel Demand: China routes are emerging as a key revenue lifeline for struggling Korean LCCs as passenger traffic rebounds. Retail Labor: FamilyMart is loosening workplace rules, allowing more personal styling to address Japan’s labor shortage.