Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama pledged again Monday that he will not raise the 5 percent consumption tax during his four-year term through summer 2013, even though Finance Minister Naoto Kan is saying he wants to launch debate on a possible increase.

"I will not raise the consumption tax as I said during campaigning for the Lower House election" last August, Hatoyama said. "I believe that Minister Kan understands that this (promise) must be kept.

"I have said that we have to be cautious about the consumption tax . . . as it could contribute to slowing down our efforts to eliminate wasteful spending."