Japan Sales-Tax Debate Looming for Abe After Election

Koichi Hamada, an adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said that he was cautious about increasing Japan’s sales tax soon, signaling Abe will face debate over the planned move after a forecast election victory this weekend.

“It is possible to postpone,” Hamada said at a gathering of business leaders in Karuizawa, Nagano, today, referring to a plan to increase the levy in April next year. “I think it is necessary to let people know about this,” he said, adding that “it is the prime minister’s decision.”