NHK, NTV, TV Asahi, and Fuji TV led with follow-up reports on the cause of the explosion and fire in Sapporo on Sunday, showing a press conference by the head of the Hokkaido office of the real estate agency responsible for the explosion. TBS gave top coverage to the arrest yesterday of a suspect in the murder of a Japanese-language-school operator last month.

Top stories in national dailies included Japan’s record 27-trillion-yen defense budget for the next five years (Asahi, Mainichi, Sankei), a survey finding that American IT firms excel in innovation (Nikkei), and a decision by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations to ban iron injections (Yomiuri).