Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and former Democratic Party of Japan chief Ichiro Ozawa met on Wednesday to discuss Mr. Noda's plan to raise the consumption tax from the current 5 percent to 8 percent from April 2014, and to 10 percent from October 2015.

In the meeting, which lasted 1½ hours, Mr. Noda tried unsuccessfully to persuade Mr. Ozawa to support his tax plan. Mr. Ozawa leads the largest intraparty group within the DPJ, with more than 100 lawmakers.

If Mr. Noda cannot win Mr. Ozawa's support, it will be difficult for him pass his plan in the Lower House.