Japan Open Badminton: PV Sindhu stormed into the final after Chen Yufei retired with a hamstring injury, setting up a title clash with Akane Yamaguchi. Anime & Streaming: Tune In to the Midnight Heart’s second season is confirmed for a 2027 debut, with new cast and returning production staff. Collectibles & Pop Culture: Hiya Toys announced a battle-damaged Mecha King Ghidorah figure from Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), with pre-orders open ahead of a 2027 release. Music Promotions: UNIS kicked off Japanese promotions with “GimmeSummer☆,” filmed in Okinawa and featuring choreography by Japanese creator Sako Makita. Fashion Spotlight: A young designer is launching his own label by turning secondhand clothes into original fashion—an underdog story that’s resonating beyond Japan. Global Japan Interest: International students in Japan topped 400,000 for the first time, with JLPT applications also hitting a record high. Tech & Film: Netflix confirmed its $587M cash acquisition of Ben Affleck’s AI startup InterPositive, aiming to give filmmakers better post-production tools.