🚨 HISTORIC FOOD TAX CUT IN JAPAN. Japan plans a major shift in its tax policy. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says the country will cut its consumption tax on food from 8% to 1% for two years. The change starts next April. It is the first time Japan has lowered the food tax since it introduced the levy in 1989. The move aims to ease pressure on households struggling with rising prices. Inflation has climbed due to a weak yen and higher import costs linked to conflicts in the Middle East. The government hopes the tax cut will give families some breathing room. But the plan comes with risks. Japan already carries one of the highest public debt loads in the world. Cutting the tax could cost the government about 10 trillion yen in lost revenue. Officials say they will try to fund the measure without issuing new bonds. They plan to rely on non‑tax revenues and spending reforms. The tax will return to 8% after two years. The government says it will introduce more targeted subsidies at that time to help lower‑income households. Lawmakers and economists remain divided. Some welcome the relief. Others worry about long‑term fiscal strain. Still, the decision marks a historic moment in Japan’s tax history. It shows how far leaders are willing to go to ease inflation pain for everyday consumers.