Tokyo, Sept. 17 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government’s plan to restore the food tax rate to 8 pct after a temporary cut is opposed by 56.9 pct of people in Japan, a Jiji Press survey showed Thursday. Only 23.9 pct backed the plan, according to the interview survey of 2,000 people aged at 18 or over conducted nationwide over four days through Monday, with 57.1 pct of respondents giving valid responses. The government plans to lower the consumption tax on food items from the current 8 pct to 1 pct for two years from next April and raise the rate back to 8 pct after the period. Among respondents who support the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, 50.6 pct expressed opposition. Support outweighed opposition only among the supporters of the Japan Innovation Party, which is the LDP’s coalition partner, and the Conservative Party of Japan. By occupation, 73.1 pct of respondents who are students were opposed, while 61.7 pct of homemakers had that opinion. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
