Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, head of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, failed Wednesday during a meeting lasting 90 minutes to persuade former DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa to back the administration's tax hike proposal.
Noda wanted Ozawa, whose group is the biggest in the DPJ, to support the increase so it can make it through the Diet this legislative session, which is currently scheduled to end June 21.
Ozawa refused to budge.