Japan’s Takaichi to proceed with food sales tax cut to 1%, Yomiuri reports

According to a Yomiuri report, Japanese politician Sanae Takaichi plans to proceed with a temporary reduction of the food sales tax from 8% to 1% for a two-year period. The proposal, intended as a temporary step to ease the cost of living, has faced opposition from both ruling and opposition lawmakers who express concerns about its potential negative impact on Japan's already strained fiscal situation. The announcement was published by The Business Times Singapore on July 29, 2026.