Broadcasters led with reports on Russia’s announcement that it will begin withdrawing some of its troops from the vicinity of Ukraine (NHK), Japanese figure skater Sakamoto Kaori placing third in the women’s singles short program in the Beijing Winter Olympics on Tuesday (NTV, TBS), Japan’s silver medal in the women’s team pursuit speed skating event (Fuji TV), and Russian figure skater Valieva taking first place in the women’s singles short program (TV Asahi).

Top stories in national dailies included the 1.7% increase in Japan’s GDP in 2021 (Asahi), a plan by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology to ask the GOJ to establish a public organization to manage information about third-party sperm and egg donations (Mainichi), a GOJ plan to strengthen restrictions on illegal embankments (Yomiuri), moves by municipalities to ease their guidelines for COVID-linked school closures based on their own criteria (Nikkei), and Japan’s silver medal in the women’s team pursuit speed skating event (Sankei).