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Trade minister Yoji Muto met with senior U.S. administration officials in Washington on March 10 to discuss the potential imposition of tariffs on Japanese goods. Muto failed to secure assurances from the officials that Japan would be spared the tariffs, but he said that Japan will continue to make its case in future discussions with the United States.

Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in a veiled criticism of Donald Trump, called for international cooperation and support for Ukraine, emphasizing the need for global unity and respect for the rule of law. He urged Japan to take a more active role in promoting peace, rather than leaving it solely to Europe.

Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's office gave 100,000 yen gift certificates to parliamentary secretaries attending a social gathering at his official residence, mirroring a similar practice by current Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. This raises questions about the established custom of gift-giving within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Nissan tested self-driving cars on city roads in Yokohama, Japan, aiming to develop transportation services using autonomous driving technologies within three years. The experiment involved a modified Serena minivan equipped with cameras, radar, and computers, driven at Level 2 with remote assistance and a safety assistant in the car.

Land prices in Tokyo rose for the fourth consecutive year in 2024, with the average price increase across the capital reaching 7.3%. This increase was driven by strong demand for condominiums, particularly in central Tokyo, and a surge in commercial land prices fueled by tourism and residential development.