Japan’s Takaichi pushes to scrap food tax, ignoring economists’ warnings

SCMP · 2026-02-20
Japan’s Takaichi pushes to scrap food tax, ignoring economists’ warnings

When Sanae Takaichi strode into her first press conference as Japan’s reappointed prime minister on Wednesday, she delivered a clear message to the economists and editorial boards warning her away from her signature tax pledge. Food consumption tax is going to be scrapped, and nothing is going to st