News & Insights

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...

According to the Asahi Shimbun, the Japanese government plans to propose abolishing tariffs on up to 85% at TPP negotiations in Brunei. This will not include politically sensitive agricultural products. 

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...

A 100-member delegation left Japan to participate in the Trans-Pacific Parternship (TPP) negotiations that began last week in Malaysia. Led by Deputy Foreign Minister Koji Tsuruoka, the delegation also consists of representatives from the Ministry of...