Economy | ANALYSIS
Households to take hit from tax hike
by Tomoko Otake
The consumption tax increase will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people’s financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the hike's impact.
Politics & Diplomacy | ANALYSIS Sep 30, 2013
Hashimoto's Osaka merger dream in jeopardy
by Reiji Yoshida
Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leader and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto was facing a critical battle. And he lost. On Sunday, a candidate fielded by Nippon Ishin lost a local government election for the first time in Osaka Prefecture, the power base ...
Politics & Diplomacy May 21, 2013
Ruling bloc pick loses Saitama mayoral race
The ruling coalition’s loss in a mayoral race in Saitama on Sunday delivered a setback to the Liberal Democratic Party and ally New Komeito, which hope to win control of the opposition-controlled House of Councilors this summer. The incumbent, Hayato Shimizu, 51, was re-elected ...