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July 12, 2026
 

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CONSUMPTION TAX

BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 12, 2015
Ruling coalition clinches deal on food tax rate
The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito finalized plans to apply a lower sales tax rate to food purchases, a measure that will cost u00a51 trillion in revenue.
BUSINESS
Dec 9, 2015
Low tax on food will hurt the poor, say economists
Political negotiations between the nation’s ruling coalition are approaching a showdown over the unpopular consumption tax, which is set to rise to 10 percent from 8 percent in April 2017. A sweetener being considered has drawn scathing criticism from many economists.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 14, 2015
Abe orders reduced rates to cushion blow from 2017 tax hike
The prime minister instructs the new tax panel chief to introduce special reduced tax rates for certain products in time for the planned April 2017 consumption tax hike.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 13, 2015
Retailers warn of dismal spending; sales tax hike seen stifling demand
Do not believe in official statistics, Japanese retailers seem to be saying, as they cut earnings forecasts and warn of lackluster consumer spending, a key growth engine for Japan at a time when exports and factory output are stalling.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / YEN FOR LIVING
Sep 26, 2015
Inevitable looming consumption tax hike keeps the LDP awake at night
The LDP is in a tough spot between an public wary of consumption tax hikes and a Finance Ministry unwilling to budge on the promised move to a 10-percent levy.
BUSINESS
Sep 15, 2015
Ruling bloc agrees to keep targeted consumption tax reductions as option
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have agreed to keep a proposed reduced rate for certain items as an option in their discussions on how to cushion the impact of the next consumption tax increase.
BUSINESS
Sep 15, 2015
Komeito wants reduced tax rate proposal kept alive
Japan should not rule out imposing a lower rate of consumption tax on certain goods, the head of Komeito told party lawmakers Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Sep 15, 2015
Proposed food-and-drink partial tax refunds may bring little benefit, economists say
Proposed tax refunds on food and drink following a hike in consumption tax next year will have only limited benefit for the economy, some analysts have warned. By one estimate, the refunds will boost gross domestic product growth by a mere 0.03 percentage point.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 9, 2015
Plan to use My Number for tax rebates is flawed, some experts say
The system is set to streamline tax collection and social welfare benefits, but critics warn of privacy issues by using it to also provide sales tax rebates.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Aug 31, 2015
Three strikes on inflation spur calls for overhaul of ‘Abenomics’
The third time inflation has fallen to zero in this year persuaded some market watchers that “Abenomics” needs to be taken back for an overhaul.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 3, 2015
Japan still set for 2017 tax hike despite struggling economy
The central government still plans to raise the national sales tax again in 21 months, even as the economy struggles to gain momentum following the recession caused by a hike in the levy last year.
EDITORIALS
May 17, 2015
Fiscal road map needs hard choices
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must be willing to make hard choices if he wants to reduce the nation’s massive debt.
EDITORIALS
Mar 3, 2015
The government’s fiscal road map
The Abe administration’s forthcoming fiscal rehabilitation plan may give clues as to whether it is serious about getting the government’s fiscal house in order.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 22, 2014
Sales tax hike stymies domestic car sales: JAMA
Major Japanese carmakers may have benefited from the yen’s sharp decline this year, but they were also hurt by the consumption tax hike and prospects for the domestic market appear dim, Fumihiko Ike, chief of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, said Monday.
EDITORIALS
Dec 5, 2014
Keep safety nets in place
Postponement of the consumption tax rate hike must not be used as an excuse to reduce funding of social security programs for low-income people, children from poor families and child-rearing households.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 27, 2014
Japan Communist Party chief outlines election planks, calls ‘Abenomics’ a failure
Japanese Communist Party Chairman Kazuo Shii pledged Thursday to scrap the second stage of the consumption tax hike as he outlined the party’s platform ahead of the campaign for the Dec. 14 Lower House election.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 27, 2014
Delay of tax hike will hit elderly hardest: experts
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s decision to postpone the second stage of the sales tax hike is likely to wreak havoc on health care provisions for the elderly.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 25, 2014
Abe consumption tax backfiring with more debt, not less
What started as a plan to reduce the national debt is turning into a reason to issue more bonds.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 21, 2014
How economist Krugman’s meeting with Abe may have swung decision to postpone tax hike
When economist Etsuro Honda heard that Paul Krugman was planning a visit to Tokyo, he saw an opportunity to seize the advantage in Japan’s sales-tax debate.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 19, 2014
BOJ leaves assessment, monetary policy unchanged despite recession
The Bank of Japan on Wednesday left its assessment of the economy largely unchanged despite the second-quarter gross domestic product data released Monday indicating Japan has slipped into a recession.
China’s demand for Soviet-style apartments shows limits to revival
Apartments built during a Soviet Union-inspired construction drive in the 1970s and 1980s tend to suffer from poor insulation and outdated plumbing, but they are seeing a revival in interest due to their attractive locations.
Japanese scientists identify neural mechanism that may explain why we dislike people
The aggressive mouse (left) used in the experiment and a mouse defending itself
Japanese payment processor’s collapse hits banks and restaurants
Zentoshin served around 200,000 shops, many of which rely on early payments to maintain cash flow, raising concerns over their financial stability following the disruption.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
Lenders seek $700 million after Japanese payments firm’s collapse
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ¥115.16 billion, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.
Japan’s largest exhibition of women photographers rights a wrong in cultural history
Miwa Yanagi’s “Elevator Girl House” series skewers the superficiality of gender roles through staged images.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
‘Princess Mononoke’ comes alive in Super Kabuki staging
The “Princess Mononoke” adaptation was created under Shochiku’s Super Kabuki initiative, a modern form of kabuki with more technology in staging and open to pop culture collaborations.
The beating heart inside ‘Human Vapor’
Different forms of love and connection form the emotional backbone of Netflix’s “Human Vapor,” says actor Shun Oguri, who plays troubled detective Kenji Okamoto.
Japan bets on character IP to drive global growth
Born on social media platforms in 2022, Opanchu Usagi has become a major hit, especially among Generation Z.

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