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Alaskan state representatives will visit Japan this month to court investors for a natural gas project, despite skepticism from Japanese energy firms about its feasibility. President Trump is pushing the project, claiming it could pump trillions of dollars into the U.S. and help reduce Japan's trade deficit with the U.S.

Asian markets rose on Friday, defying another decline on Wall Street, as China's state-run banks and other financial institutions were ordered to boost consumer spending. The positive trend was driven by gains in China, where the Shanghai Composite index surged 1.9% after the National Financial Regulatory Administration urged financial institutions to support consumer finance and encourage credit card use.

The rollout of an AI system designed to help child welfare centers identify abusive situations has been postponed due to concerns about its accuracy and reliability. The system frequently missed significant signs of severe abuse during trials, prompting the Children and Families Agency to delay its introduction.

Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in a veiled criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump, called for international cooperation and support for Ukraine, emphasizing the need for global unity and multilateralism to protect the rule of law and the free and open international order. He also urged Japan to take a more active role in promoting peace.

Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) plans to install next-generation, thin solar cells on noise barriers along its Tokaido Shinkansen Line, using the generated electricity to power lighting at stations and other facilities. The project aims to utilize the lightweight and flexible perovskite solar cells for sustainable energy production.