The consumption tax increase next April will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people's financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the impact of the hike, experts say.

Consumption tax raise misdirected

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirms that the government will raise the sales tax from 5 to 8 percent beginning in April. But will the tax hike lead to an economic downturn

Lifestyle | CHILD'S PLAY

A welcome sign: Tantrums may be on the way out

by Danielle Demetriou

Every parent is all too familiar with The Tantrum. The screaming, the flailing arms, the angry head butting — and the timing (normally in the most inconvenient public place possible).

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE

Triumph of Tokyo Olympic bid sends wrong signal to Japan's resurgent right

by Debito Arudou

International events undermine Japan's democracy. Shame on the International Olympic Committee for being a party to it.

Art

Kohfukuji temple: under divine protection

by C.B. Liddell

Tucked away behind the main museums in Ueno, the Tokyo University Art Museum may not be on most people’s radar, but it is definitely one of the city’s top museums in terms of curatorial quality. Whenever I go there, I am always delighted by ...

MLB

Pirates roar past Reds

Francisco Liriano showed up at PNC Park on Tuesday afternoon in a suit with his suitcase packed for a trip St. Louis. The message reverberated through the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse. After 21 years away from the playoffs, it was time for the best story ...

Asia Pacific

Shutdown nixes Obama Malaysia trip

KUALA LUMPUR – President Barack Obama has canceled a planned visit to Malaysia next week because of the U.S. government shutdown, Prime Minister Najib Razak said Wednesday.

Obama is scheduled to leave Saturday night for what was originally a four-nation tour, part of his broader focus on boosting U.S. economic ties with Asia.

Razak said Obama called to inform him that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will instead represent the president to address an entrepreneurship conference in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 11.

Obama was to have been the first U.S. president to visit Malaysia since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966.

TOKYO (2 a.m.)

News

Economy | ANALYSIS

Households to take hit from tax hike

by Tomoko Otake