NHK led with a report on the U.S.-China trade talks ahead of the Trump administration’s plan to raise tariffs on Chinese products today. TBS reported on North Korea’s launch of what appeared to be short-range missiles yesterday. Fuji TV reported that a woman was arrested for phoning in bomb threats to several tourist attractions near Kyoto Tower on Wednesday afternoon, causing the police to ask tourists to evacuate the area. NTV aired a follow-up report on the traffic accident in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on Wednesday. TV Asahi gave top coverage to Major Leaguer Shohei Ohtani’s first hit after recovering from arm surgery.

Top stories in national dailies included the U.S.-China trade talks (Nikkei), the DPRK’s firing of projectiles (Sankei), a GOJ plan to ban exports of plastic waste (Yomiuri), the opening of an online lottery for 2020 Tokyo Olympics tickets (Asahi), and a record low number of applications for teaching positions at elementary schools in fiscal 2018 (Mainichi).