According to the Nikkei Shimbun, more than 70% of the members of a special advisory panel believe that the consumption tax should be increased as planned. Eight people sought a change in the gain increase citing the possible adverse effects on effort...

In an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun, former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made clear his anti-nuclear energy stance. He commented that Japan has “no choice but to get rid of nuclear power” and that the move towards zero nuclear power should ...

Reuters summarizes well the discussion on liberalization of mix treatment under the National Health Insurance scheme.    On one side of the argument is the 165,000-member JMA and health ministry officials, who say they want to protect the cherished...

In an interview with NHK regarding the possible consumption tax increase, Akira Amari, the Minister for Economic Revitalization, stated that he believes “it [the decision] will come before the APEC summit meeting at the latest.” The APEC summit is sc...

According to a survey conducted by the Nikkei Shimbun and TV Tokyo during August 23-25, approval ratings for the Abe Cabinet increased five points since last month and stands at 68% while disapproval ratings have decreased by six points at 23%. Moreo...

In an interview with the Asahi Shimbun, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son urges for full liberalization of the electricity market and insists that the unbundling of the power transmission and distribution is inevitable in Japan. Since the March 11 disast...

The Nikkei Shimbun reports today that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has begun examining the possibility of increasing significantly the Light Motor Vehicle Tax, the so-called Kei car tax, to offset the impact on local government...

The Wall Street Journal reports that in efforts to include the view of the people on the proposed consumption tax increase, Prime Minister Abe has gathered a group of 59 “knowledgeable people” to express their opinions starting Monday of next week. T...

An interesting article by the Nikkei Shimbun analysing the divergence of views on the consumption tax hike within the Abe Cabinet. Indeed something that will drive markets in weeks to come and a topic for Abe today, his first day back in Nagatacho af...

The Nikkei Shimbun reports that new direct investment by foreign firms to Japan is decreasing. According to government statistics, from January to June, new investment was at the lowest level in ten years. Abenomics has attracted short-term equity in...