
The tax reduction is expected to result in a reduction of approximately 36,000 yen per person.
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Prime Minister Takaichi's policy answers to questions from representatives of each party in the Diet.
At the plenary session of the House of Councilors on the 9th, representatives from each party asked questions about Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's policy speech for the second day. Regarding the consumption tax cut on food products, the Prime Minister emphasized that ``we will take measures to ensure that local fiscal management is not disrupted.'' He predicted that the tax cut would reduce the burden on household budgets by ``approximately 36,000 yen per person.''
Yasue Funayama, chairman of the House of Councilors of the Democratic Party of the People, asked what measures the government would take to address the decline in local government revenues. The prime minister announced, ``We will compensate for the entire amount of the decrease in local consumption tax revenue with national funds.We will appropriately secure the necessary local allocation tax.''
Regarding the effects of the consumption tax cut, he pointed out, ``The tax rate reduction is basically reflected in the price.'' Regarding the amount of the reduction, he said that if you mechanically divide the national and local revenue reduction by the population, it will be approximately 36,000 yen.
Regarding support measures for agriculture, forestry and fisheries workers, food businesses, and restaurant businesses whose businesses will be affected by the consumption tax cut, the prime minister said, ``We are currently considering measures.We need to confirm the actual situation on the ground and take measures according to the impact of each.''
Komeito Party Secretary-General Minoru Nishida called for the government to clearly indicate who will be eligible for the ``employee burden reduction support'' that will be introduced in conjunction with the consumption tax cut. The prime minister said, ``Based on the discussions at the National Assembly for Social Security, the bill stipulates the concept of payment requirements and the factors to be considered,'' indicating that he intends to explain them during deliberations in the Diet.
Sohei Kamiya, representative of the participating political parties, called for a uniform reduction in consumption tax, not just on foodstuffs. The Prime Minister objected, saying, ``Administrative services such as pensions, medical care, nursing care, and measures to counter the declining birthrate could be affected.''
Questions from representatives of each party in both the House of Representatives and the House of Representatives concluded their three-day schedule on the 9th.

Hiroshima Prefecture Governor Mika Yokota visited the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and expressed her dissatisfaction with the proposed requirements for designation of a ``sub-capital'' that would serve as a substitute capital in the event of a large-scale disaster. He called for careful discussion that takes regional balance into account. Meanwhile, Gunma Prefecture continues to aim for the designation, and Miyagi Prefecture has shown its understanding.

The six opposition parties in the House of Councilors agreed to consider submitting a resolution to censure Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yan. Prime Minister Takaichi announced that Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yan Yan would continue in his role, and explained that he had strictly cautioned him about his comments.He also said that the source of the consumption tax cut would be secured by reviewing both expenditures and revenue rather than relying on special bonds. Other domestic and international news was also reported, including the selection of Professor Emeritus Soai of Tokyo University of Science for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

At a plenary session of the House of Councilors, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized the importance of an appropriate explanation from Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Kazuo Yan, who had said that he had drastically cut the road budgets of local governments that he did not support, and ordered his continued appointment with strict caution. Opposition parties called for his resignation, and questions were also held regarding the impact of the consumption tax cut on food products on local finances.

At a cabinet meeting on the 9th, the government approved a bill to reduce the consumption tax on food products from the current 8% to 1% for two years starting April 2027. It will also include an income-linked ``employee burden reduction support subsidy,'' which will require approximately 10 trillion yen in financial resources over two years. The bill will be submitted to an extraordinary session of the Diet, with the aim of having it enacted by the end of the session on December 12th.

The ruling and opposition parties engaged in a debate over a bill related to the consumption tax reduction during questions asked by representatives of the extraordinary Diet session. Opposition parties asked for a clear statement of financial sources and an explanation of the benefit system, but Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi merely reiterated the government's policy and avoided explaining specific payment requirements or the breakdown of financial resources. The bill is expected to be debated in the plenary session of the House of Representatives on the 20th, but there is no clear connection between the ruling and opposition parties.

The Nippon Hidankyo held a national meeting of prefectural representatives in Tokyo to discuss the future of the organization as the population continues to age. Many prefectural organizations were against the idea of disbanding, and there were a number of calls for the organizations to continue to exist in cooperation with second-generation atomic bomb survivors and supporters.