1. Tokyo’s consumer inflation slowed in August, mainly due to resumption of government subsidies on household electricity and gas bills.
2. Four of Japan’s major automakers reported year-on-year increases in US sales in July, mostly led by demand for hybrid and plug-in models. Toyota says its sales jumped nearly 20 percent to more than 218,000 vehicles. Honda sold about 121,000 models, up 0.2 percent, while Subaru delivered 54,000 vehicles, a gain of about 4.5 percent. Mazda saw sales rise 13 percent to just above 45,000 units.
3. Police in the Philippines suspect that at least eight people were involved in the recent killings of two Japanese men in Manila.