Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks Tokyo

Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks Tokyo

Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has emphasized the need for swift action to address inflation in Japan, speaking at a Japan Productivity Center event in Tokyo on June 29, 2025. Ishiba highlighted the importance of protecting vulnerable citizens and called for targeted support measures rather than broad solutions. He stressed that recent steps, such as lowering rice and gasoline prices, were intended to help households cope with the rising cost of living [1].

Ishiba's stance contrasts with the proposals from opposition groups, who have been pushing for sales tax cuts to ease inflation. The Constitutional Democratic Party, for instance, has proposed temporarily reducing the 8% consumption tax on food to 0% to directly help struggling families. However, Ishiba has rejected these calls, citing potential threats to social service funding stability. He explained that reducing the sales tax could weaken the government's ability to support necessary programs like healthcare and pensions [1].

Public opinion, as reflected in a recent Kyodo News poll, shows strong support for tax cuts to tackle inflation. The poll indicated that most respondents favor cuts to the sales tax to ease the burden on consumers. This proposal has gained traction as food prices continue to rise across major cities and towns [1].

The upcoming national elections are placing additional pressure on leaders to address rising economic concerns. Balancing inflation control with stable social program funding remains a core issue shaping policy choices. Ishiba's position underscores the challenge of fighting inflation without compromising long-term fiscal responsibility. As elections near, debates on inflation and tax policy will continue to dominate political discussions [1].

In a separate development, a recent NHK poll showed that support for Ishiba's government has slipped to 34%, down from 39% in the previous poll three weeks ago. The poll also indicated that 32% of those surveyed do not evaluate Ishiba's cash handout plan positively. The LDP's plan involves giving out 20,000 yen to each individual and an additional 20,000 yen to children and adult members of low-income households amid rising prices [2].

References:
[1] https://coinfomania.com/japan-prime-minister-ishiba-urges-swift-inflation-easing-without-tax-reductions/
[2] https://japantoday.com/category/politics/support-for-japan-pm-ishiba-slips-ahead-of-key-national-vote-nhk-survey-shows