In what would signify a major policy shift, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to abolish the decades-old spousal tax break that critics say has long dissuaded wives from seeking full-time work.

The plan dovetails with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's "womenomics" policy drive as the population ages and the nation scrambles to draw more women into the workforce.

With more households now gravitating toward a dual-income life after decades of economic stagnation, "it is necessary to adjust our tax system in accordance with changing societal landscapes," LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai told reporters Tuesday.