Takaichi bets on historic food tax cut to ease Japan inflation pain

PoliticsPM presses ahead with $30bn cut to 1% rate despite concerns over fundingA customer shops for food at a Tokyo supermarket in 2025. (Photo by Nanami Sato) TSUBASA SURUGA and AKANE OKUTSUJuly 30, 2026 19:03 JSTTOKYO -- Japan is preparing to cut its consumption tax on food for the first time, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi seeks to ease the pressure of rising prices on households despite concerns over the country's strained public finances.