Tax cut increasingly holds key to Takaichi’s fortunes

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The House of Representatives approved the government’s consumption tax cut on 6 November, sending the bill to a divided upper house.
• While the bill’s passage is all but certain, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has failed to secure cooperation from opposition parties – or even full unity within the Liberal Democratic Party behind the bill – highlighting the degree to she is now responsible for the tax cut’s outcomes.