Tax hike on heat-not-burn tobacco products under consideration as LDP begins review of tax reforms
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will consider raising the tax rate on heat-not-burn tobacco products under a review of the current tax system for the year starting next April, according to its tax panel chief. "We would have to make a decision by the end ...
Abe orders reduced rates to cushion blow from 2017 tax hike
The prime minister instructs the new tax panel chief to introduce special reduced tax rates for certain products in time for the planned April 2017 consumption tax hike.
Energy ministers, businesses gather in Tokyo to discuss LNG market
Ministers and business delegates from around 50 countries and regions gathered in Tokyo on Wednesday to discuss further development of the liquefied natural gas market and the latest market trends and challenges. The LNG Producer-Consumer Conference has been hosted annually by the Japanese Ministry of ...
Sharp backs down on radical capital cut after state criticism
The struggling electronics-maker had planned to reduce its capital from around ¥120 billion to ¥100 million or less, putting it into the tax category of small to medium-sized companies.
METI chief Miyazawa pays first visit to Fukushima No. 1 plant
Trade and industry minister Yoichi Miyazawa visits the disaster-hit Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
Media whips up fuss over S&M bar claim
First came what the tabloids referred to as "W-jinin," the resignations of two female Cabinet members — Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yuko Obuchi and Justice Minister Midori Matsushima — on the same day. The "W" in this case conveys two nuances: the first being ...
Suga downplays conflict involving new trade chief's Tepco stake
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga brushed aside concerns Friday about the new trade and industry minister's 600-share stake in Tokyo Electric Power Co. and said that the government guidelines in place to protect Cabinet ministers from conflicts of interest would be followed. Suga said Minister ...
'No change' in atomic restart policy, says new industry minister
New industry minister Yoichi Miyazawa said Thursday he will try to persuade residents near the Sendai nuclear plant in Kagoshima Prefecture why its two reactors should no longer stand idle. "The first thing that I'd like to address is that the reactors have met the ...
New trade chief slapped by S&M scandal after only three days on job
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is saddled with another scandal after new trade chief Yoichi Miyazawa’s staff admits paying a bill for ¥18,230 to a sadomasochism bar in Hiroshima.
New ministers pledge no interruption to nuclear policy, female empowerment
On his first day in his new job, industry minister Yoichi Miyazawa said Tuesday he will soon be ready to visit communities near nuclear power plants, apparently pledging to maintain the momentum for reactor restarts. The Nuclear Regulation Authority has cleared the Sendai nuclear power ...
