Japan Food Sales Tax Cut: Will Takaichi’s Plan Ease Cost-of-Living Concerns?

The popularity of Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has taken a hit from her government’s perceived slowness to address the high cost of living.

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 Sana