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Opposition leader Yuichiro Tamaki sparked controversy by suggesting that foreigners in Japan should not be eligible for certain healthcare benefits, arguing that Japanese taxpayers should not be responsible for their medical expenses. However, critics argue that his proposal is discriminatory and statistically insignificant, as foreigners account for a small fraction of expenditures under the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit system.

Japan Airlines has become the first airline to operate an aircraft with a riblet-shaped paint coating inspired by shark skin, aiming to reduce air resistance and carbon emissions. This innovative technology, developed in collaboration with JAXA and O-Well Corp., has the potential to significantly improve the environmental sustainability of the aviation industry.

The foreign ministers of Japan, China, and South Korea will meet in Tokyo on March 22 for the first time in nearly a year and a half, discussing regional issues and coordinating a trilateral summit later this year. Additionally, Japan and China will hold a high-level economic dialogue on the same day, focusing on trade and economic cooperation.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will re-examine the origins of World War II to shape his message to the public on the 80th anniversary of the war's end. He will establish a panel of experts to study the circumstances leading up to the conflict, but will not issue an official "postwar statement" due to opposition from conservative factions within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The Japanese government is considering introducing human challenge trials for infectious diseases, a move aimed at accelerating vaccine development and bringing Japan's clinical trials in line with international standards. This initiative follows concerns that Japan's approval of domestically developed COVID-19 vaccines lagged behind foreign-made ones.