Japan's bill to reduce House of Representatives seats

With regard to the bill concerning the reduction in the consumption tax rate on food and beverages and the introduction of financial assistance to help reduce the burden on working individuals, we have been considering these measures based on our recognition that the most pressing issue at present is to reduce the burden on middle- and lower-income earners who have been struggling with rising prices and the burden of taxes and social insurance contributions. In the discussions at the National Council on Social Security, there was considerable common ground among the participating political parties on the need to look at the overall burden of taxes and social insurance contributions borne by middle- and lower-income earners and to provide relief at an early stage. In particular, while there were various views regarding finely targeted assistance based on income levels, I believe that the...