Japan plans cabinet continuity, records a historic budget, and faces weather alerts amid US trade talks and Uber tourism pact

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to keep Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in a forthcoming cabinet reshuffle, while the Finance Ministry reports a record 143 trillion-yen budget request for FY2027. A top-level landslide warning was issued for Yakushima, and Japan and the United States reaffirmed cooperation under their 2025 trade deal. Uber Japan signed its first overtourism-mitigation agreement with a Mt. Fuji municipality, Osaka faced criticism over anti-homeless architecture, Japan’s women’s basketball team set a three-point record at the World Cup, and sumo’s Kirishima trained ahead of a yokozuna bid.

Sources close to the government indicate that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi intends to keep Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in her cabinet when she announces a reshuffle later this month, signaling continuity in Japan’s foreign policy team. The Finance Ministry reported that ministries have submitted a combined budget request of 143 trillion yen for fiscal 2027, marking the fourth consecutive year of record-high demands, largely due to a newly created uncapped special investment category aimed at advancing the prime minister’s "responsible and proactive" fiscal agenda.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a Level 5 landslide warning for Yakushima Island in Kagoshima prefecture, warning of possible disaster conditions as heavy rain persisted. In Washington, trade and industry minister Ryosei Akazawa reaffirmed that Japan and the United States will honor the terms of their 2025 trade deal, despite recent changes in U.S. tariff policy, after meetings with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Uber Japan entered its first cooperation agreement with a municipality at the base of Mt. Fuji to address overtourism challenges such as traffic congestion and litter. Osaka city’s recent placement of rectangular blocks near JR Osaka Station sparked public outcry over perceived hostile architecture aimed at deterring homeless individuals. On the sports front, shooting guard Saki Hayashi delivered a player-of-the-game performance with a tournament-record nine three-pointers, helping Japan set a new Women’s World Cup record of 20 triples in a 102-97 win over Mali. Meanwhile, Ozeki Kirishima traveled outside his stable for the first time since the September tournament rankings were released, sparring with top-division wrestlers as he prepares for a second consecutive bid for yokozuna promotion.