9月26日（土） トランプ氏「中国は大戦時の同盟国」、ドコモが携帯料金値上げ 業界5年で3割上昇
NTT Docomo announced it will raise mobile plan fees by up to ¥550 per month starting in December, pushing the five-year cumulative increase in domestic mobile charges to 30%. Meanwhile, President Trump described China as a World War II ally ahead of his summit with Xi Jinping, and podcast host Kouno Chiyaki (こうのちやき) shared how a 2.5-hour crepe queue at an amusement park during Silver Week reminded her of a Japanese novel about unrelated events converging into one big outcome.
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What this episode answers
When does NTT Docomo's price hike take effect, and how many subscribers are affected and by how much?
The price hike takes effect in December, raising the monthly base fee on certain existing plans by up to ¥550; about 70% of subscribers are affected, an average increase of 7%.
What was the context and apparent intent behind Trump's remark that China was a World War II ally?
Trump referenced American volunteers who fought alongside China against Japan in WWII, signaling awareness of Xi Jinping's worldview that places great weight on China's status as a WWII victor; the remark was widely read as a goodwill gesture ahead of their summit.
What happened in the Rakuten Securities system failure, and how was it resolved?
A system failure on September 22 caused funds in some Rakuten Bank customer accounts to be transferred to their Rakuten Securities accounts without authorization; the issue was resolved by September 23 with all funds returned in full to the original bank accounts.
What did Junglia Okinawa's first financial results show, and what steps are being taken in response?
Junglia Okinawa posted a net loss of ¥17.3 billion in its first fiscal year ending June 2026; in response, the Okinawa Development Finance Corporation agreed to provide an additional ¥3 billion in financing, and the park has begun searching for a private-sector sponsor.
What four factors combined to make the crepe queue stretch to two and a half hours?
The four factors were: sunny weather finally arriving on the last day of Silver Week after four rainy, windy days; a resulting mass convergence of families who had been waiting for good weather; her son asking for a crepe right after noon, when everyone is slightly hungry; and the fact that one person can order multiple crepes at once (unlike ride queues), making the line move much more slowly than it looked.
Trump Says China Was a World War II Ally
Ahead of the US–China summit on September 24, President Trump told reporters at the White House that China had been an ally of the United States in World War II. Referencing American volunteers who fought alongside China against Japan, Trump signaled an awareness of President Xi Jinping's worldview—one that places great weight on China's standing as a victor of that war. The remark was widely read as a gesture of goodwill toward Xi on the eve of their meeting.
Docomo Raises Mobile Fees; Industry Up 30% in Five Years
NTT Docomo announced on September 25 that it will increase the monthly base fee on certain existing plans by up to ¥550 starting in December. Roughly 70% of the carrier's subscribers will be affected, representing an average increase of 7%. The hike is the latest sign that the government-driven price cuts introduced after 2020 have firmly reversed course: domestic mobile communication fees have now risen 30% over the five years through August 2026.
US Long-Term Yields Head Toward 5%
A combination of robust economic growth and growing concern over the Trump administration's expansionary fiscal policy has driven a rapid sell-off in US Treasuries, pushing yields sharply higher. Markets are increasingly pricing in sustained economic expansion alongside a retreat from fiscal discipline, and the 5% level for long-term yields is coming to be seen as a potential floor. The move is rippling outward into bond markets in Europe, Japan, and beyond.
Rakuten Securities System Glitch Moves Deposits Without Authorization
Rakuten Securities disclosed on September 25 that a system failure had occurred on September 22. The malfunction caused funds in some Rakuten Bank customer accounts to be transferred to their Rakuten Securities accounts without authorization. The issue was resolved by September 23, and all affected funds were returned in full to the original bank accounts.
Junglia Okinawa Posts ¥17.3 Billion Loss in Debut Results
Junglia Okinawa (ジャングリア沖縄), the theme park in Okinawa Prefecture, recorded a net loss of ¥17.3 billion in its inaugural fiscal year ending June 2026. Park management disclosed the figures at the September 25 shareholders' meeting. The government-affiliated Okinawa Development Finance Corporation has agreed to provide an additional ¥3 billion in financing, and the park has begun searching for a private-sector sponsor.
Osaka Payment Processor Bankrupt; Merchants to Be Paid Around October 30
An Osaka-based credit card payment processor that was ordered into bankruptcy proceedings on July 6 had left the sales receipts of affiliated merchants—including restaurants—uncollected. Credit card companies are now expected to step in and pay those merchants directly, with disbursements scheduled for around October 30.
A Two-and-a-Half-Hour Crepe Queue and the Novel It Called to Mind
Host Kouno Chiyaki recounted visiting an amusement park during Silver Week 2026 and waiting two and a half hours for a crepe. She identified four reasons the line grew so long: (1) after four days of rain and strong winds, the final day of the holiday finally turned sunny; (2) that sunshine brought a mass convergence of families who had been waiting for good weather; (3) her son asked for a crepe just after noon, precisely the window when, as she put it, "every human being on earth is slightly hungry"; and (4) unlike ride queues—where each person joins individually—one representative can order multiple crepes at once, making the line move far more slowly than it appears.
The experience reminded her of Nukui Tokuro's (貫井徳郎) novel *Ranhansha* (乱反射), a story in which a string of seemingly unrelated small actions by ordinary people converges into a single major incident. The book has also been adapted for television. Kouno drew a direct parallel between its structure and the cascade of coincidences that produced her crepe ordeal. After the two-and-a-half-hour wait, the strawberry, chocolate, and fresh-cream crepe was, she said, "absolutely delicious"—and she noted that the whole episode had given her both a free-talk story and a family memory to keep.
Takeaways
- NTT Docomo will raise monthly mobile fees by up to ¥550 from December, affecting about 70% of subscribers and continuing a broader trend that has pushed domestic mobile charges 30% higher over five years.
- Trump called China a World War II ally just before meeting Xi Jinping, signaling deference to Xi's victor-nation worldview, while US long-term yields push toward 5% and the pressure is spreading globally.
- Host Kouno Chiyaki's Silver Week amusement-park trip ended in a 2.5-hour crepe queue she likened to the novel Ranhansha—multiple unrelated factors stacking up into one big outcome—though the crepe itself was worth every minute.
This article is edited from a machine transcript of the first 30 minutes of the episode. It is not an official summary — please listen to the episode itself.