Japan Press Weekly

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2012 April 11 - 17 [ECONOMY]

5,000 people rally to stop consumption tax increase

Over 5,000 people from all over the country on April 12 assembled in Tokyo to block the move for a consumption tax increase.

An organizing committee composed of public figures, consumer groups, and labor unions called for a national rally to work to scrap the bill submitted by the Noda Cabinet to raise the consumption tax rate from current 5% to 10% by 2015.

Representing the organizers, Daikoku Sakuji, president of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), criticized the move for a tax hike which will adversely affect people’s livelihoods, including the March 11 disaster victims. He claimed that the government should reduce wasteful budget spending such as unneeded military expenses and the unreasonable sympathy budget for the stationing of the U.S. forces in Japan.

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo pointed out that more than half of the general public oppose a consumption tax increase according to many opinion polls. He said, “A consumption tax rate increase will lead to a decrease in an already weak consumer spending and the bankruptcy of many small- and medium-sized businesses. As a result, the economy will be deteriorated even further .”

Yamane Kaori, the chair of Japan Housewives’ Association, and journalist Saito Takao also delivered speeches.

Sawai Chiemi, a small iron factory owner, participated in the rally from Kesennuma City in Miyagi Prefecture. “The tsunami washed away my house as well as my factory. A tax increase would be devastating just as I am about to resume business operations in a temporary building,” she said angrily.

After the rally, the participants marched in demonstration to the Diet building. They requested all Dietmembers to oppose the bill, and handed over their petition directly to the Finance Minister.