November 17, 2022
The cross-party parliamentarians' league on the issues of a new tax-invoice system was inaugurated on November 16. Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Tamura Takaaki assumed the post of vice chief in the league.
The supra-partisan league held a hearing with four entertainment organizations involved in voice acting, animated movie, theatrical, and cartoon (manga) industries calling for the cancellation of the implementation of the consumption tax invoice system which will start in October 2023.
JCP members of the Lower House Kasai Akira and Takahashi Chizuko as well as JCP members of the Upper House Tamura Tomoko, Yamazoe Taku, and Iwabuchi Tomo attended the hearing.
Most workers in the entertainment world are freelancers whose consumption tax payments are at present exempted. However, it is said that the planned invoice system will have a negative impact on nearly five million entertainment industry workers.
Voice actor Kaida Yuko said, "The annual income of about half the workers in these industries is less than three million yen, and 20% of them say that they will have to go out of business or are thinking of leaving the business due to the invoice system."
Manga artist Yutaka Reon explained, "Even now, many assistants earn less than two million yen in annual income although they are essential to the manga industry." She said that many assistants may abandon their dreams to be a comic artist because the invoice system will cause a further drop in their income, and expressed concern that the Japanese manga industry may lose its ground.
Scenario writer Maruo Satoshi said, "In Tokyo, more than 100 dramas are out in theaters every week. This diversity has been playing a part in the development of Japanese culture." He warned, "In addition to rising prices and the COVID pandemic which caused the cancellation and postponement of many performances, the new tax system will deal an even heavier blow to the theatrical industry, darkening the future of Japanese culture and arts."
Ueda Masuo who has been in the animation industry for 43 years since his first production "Mobile Suit Gundam". He said, "Is the government going to destroy the anime industry?"
The Japan Actors Union headed by actor Nishida Toshiyuki on November 14 published a statement in opposition to the implementation of the consumption tax invoice system.
The supra-partisan league held a hearing with four entertainment organizations involved in voice acting, animated movie, theatrical, and cartoon (manga) industries calling for the cancellation of the implementation of the consumption tax invoice system which will start in October 2023.
JCP members of the Lower House Kasai Akira and Takahashi Chizuko as well as JCP members of the Upper House Tamura Tomoko, Yamazoe Taku, and Iwabuchi Tomo attended the hearing.
Most workers in the entertainment world are freelancers whose consumption tax payments are at present exempted. However, it is said that the planned invoice system will have a negative impact on nearly five million entertainment industry workers.
Voice actor Kaida Yuko said, "The annual income of about half the workers in these industries is less than three million yen, and 20% of them say that they will have to go out of business or are thinking of leaving the business due to the invoice system."
Manga artist Yutaka Reon explained, "Even now, many assistants earn less than two million yen in annual income although they are essential to the manga industry." She said that many assistants may abandon their dreams to be a comic artist because the invoice system will cause a further drop in their income, and expressed concern that the Japanese manga industry may lose its ground.
Scenario writer Maruo Satoshi said, "In Tokyo, more than 100 dramas are out in theaters every week. This diversity has been playing a part in the development of Japanese culture." He warned, "In addition to rising prices and the COVID pandemic which caused the cancellation and postponement of many performances, the new tax system will deal an even heavier blow to the theatrical industry, darkening the future of Japanese culture and arts."
Ueda Masuo who has been in the animation industry for 43 years since his first production "Mobile Suit Gundam". He said, "Is the government going to destroy the anime industry?"
The Japan Actors Union headed by actor Nishida Toshiyuki on November 14 published a statement in opposition to the implementation of the consumption tax invoice system.
