Key Cabinet ministers agreed Wednesday to map out comprehensive proposals on social welfare and tax reforms, with an eye to hiking the sales levy, by June as they met for the first time to explore ways to cope with the problems of a rapidly aging society and mounting government debt.
One minister said after the meeting the government proposals might include a figure for a higher consumption tax — a move likely to trigger opposition from within the ruling Democratic Party of Japan.
Among those at the meeting were Kaoru Yosano, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, Koichiro Genba, state minister in charge of national policy, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirohisa Fujii.