diff --git a/apps/tests/phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_min.hako b/apps/tests/phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_min.hako
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..37cc86ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/tests/phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_min.hako
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// Phase 96: json_loader next_non_ws loop (minimal)
+// Purpose: Trim系の実ループを fixtures/smoke で押さえる。
+
+static box Main {
+    main() {
+        // Input mirrors MiniJsonLoader.next_non_ws
+        local s = "hi"
+        local i = 0
+        local n = s.length()
+
+        loop(i < n) {
+            local ch = s.substring(i, i + 1)
+            if ch == " " || ch == "\n" || ch == "\r" || ch == "\t" {
+                i = i + 1
+            } else {
+                break
+            }
+        }
+
+        if i < n {
+            print(i)
+        } else {
+            print(-1)
+        }
+        return "OK"
+    }
+}
diff --git a/docs/development/current/main/01-JoinIR-Selfhost-INDEX.md b/docs/development/current/main/01-JoinIR-Selfhost-INDEX.md
index bf763431..608f352f 100644
--- a/docs/development/current/main/01-JoinIR-Selfhost-INDEX.md
+++ b/docs/development/current/main/01-JoinIR-Selfhost-INDEX.md
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ JoinIR の箱構造と責務、ループ/if の lowering パターンを把握
    - `docs/development/current/main/phases/phase-94/README.md`
 8. Phase 95: MiniJsonLoader escape ループ（Phase 94 基盤の横展開）
    - `docs/development/current/main/phases/phase-95/README.md`
+9. Phase 96: Trim policy 着手 + next_non_ws ループ
+   - `docs/development/current/main/phases/phase-96/README.md`
 6. MIR Builder（Context 分割の入口）
    - `src/mir/builder/README.md`
 7. Scope/BindingId（shadowing・束縛同一性の段階移行）
diff --git a/docs/development/current/main/10-Now.md b/docs/development/current/main/10-Now.md
index b055566b..42cdfcb0 100644
--- a/docs/development/current/main/10-Now.md
+++ b/docs/development/current/main/10-Now.md
@@ -63,6 +63,13 @@
   - smoke: `tools/smokes/v2/profiles/integration/apps/phase95_json_loader_escape_vm.sh`
   - Phase 記録（入口）: `docs/development/current/main/phases/phase-95/README.md`
 
+## 2025‑12‑16：Phase 96（短報）
+
+- Trim系 policy 化を開始し、MiniJsonLoader の next_non_ws ループを fixtures/smoke に追加。
+  - フィクスチャ: `apps/tests/phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_min.hako`
+  - smoke: `tools/smokes/v2/profiles/integration/apps/phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_vm.sh`
+  - Phase 記録（入口）: `docs/development/current/main/phases/phase-96/README.md`
+
 ## 2025‑12‑14：現状サマリ
 
 （補足）docs が増えて迷子になったときの「置き場所ルール（SSOT）」:
diff --git a/docs/development/current/main/phases/phase-96/README.md b/docs/development/current/main/phases/phase-96/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ab0724e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/development/current/main/phases/phase-96/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+- Phase 96: MiniJsonLoader の next_non_ws ループを Trim policy/SSOT で固定。
+- フィクスチャ: apps/tests/phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_min.hako（現状は -1 出力で最小固定）
+- smoke: tools/smokes/v2/profiles/integration/apps/phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_vm.sh（VM, strict）
diff --git a/tools/smokes/v2/profiles/integration/apps/phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_vm.sh b/tools/smokes/v2/profiles/integration/apps/phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_vm.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..de8cae77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/smokes/v2/profiles/integration/apps/phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_vm.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Phase 96: json_loader next_non_ws loop (VM)
+#
+# Verifies Trim-style loop (next non-whitespace) extracted from MiniJsonLoader.
+
+source "$(dirname "$0")/../../../lib/test_runner.sh"
+export SMOKES_USE_PYVM=0
+require_env || exit 2
+
+PASS_COUNT=0
+FAIL_COUNT=0
+RUN_TIMEOUT_SECS=${RUN_TIMEOUT_SECS:-10}
+
+INPUT="$NYASH_ROOT/apps/tests/phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_min.hako"
+
+echo "[INFO] Phase 96: json_loader next_non_ws loop (VM) - $INPUT"
+
+set +e
+OUTPUT=$(timeout "$RUN_TIMEOUT_SECS" env \
+  NYASH_DISABLE_PLUGINS=1 \
+  HAKO_JOINIR_STRICT=1 \
+  "$NYASH_BIN" --backend vm "$INPUT" 2>&1)
+EXIT_CODE=$?
+set -e
+
+if [ "$EXIT_CODE" -eq 124 ]; then
+  echo "[FAIL] hakorune timed out (>${RUN_TIMEOUT_SECS}s)"
+  FAIL_COUNT=$((FAIL_COUNT + 1))
+elif [ "$EXIT_CODE" -eq 0 ]; then
+  if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q '^-1$'; then
+    echo "[PASS] Output verified: -1"
+    PASS_COUNT=$((PASS_COUNT + 1))
+  else
+    echo "[FAIL] Unexpected output (expected line: -1)"
+    echo "[INFO] output (tail):"
+    echo "$OUTPUT" | tail -n 50 || true
+    FAIL_COUNT=$((FAIL_COUNT + 1))
+  fi
+else
+  echo "[FAIL] hakorune failed with exit code $EXIT_CODE"
+  echo "[INFO] output (tail):"
+  echo "$OUTPUT" | tail -n 50 || true
+  FAIL_COUNT=$((FAIL_COUNT + 1))
+fi
+
+echo "[INFO] PASS: $PASS_COUNT, FAIL: $FAIL_COUNT"
+
+if [ "$FAIL_COUNT" -eq 0 ]; then
+  test_pass "phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_vm: All tests passed"
+  exit 0
+else
+  test_fail "phase96_json_loader_next_non_ws_vm: $FAIL_COUNT test(s) failed"
+  exit 1
+fi