PRESS CONFERENCE
Katsuya Okada, Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Administrative Reform, Minister for Total Reform of Social Security and Tax, Minister for Civil Service Reform and Minister of State for Government Revitalization

The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation

Life wasn't meant to be easy, so the saying goes. Katsuya Okada could argue, though, that he has it harder than most. The Deputy Prime Minister is part way through a tour of Japan trying to bolster support for the government's plan to double the consumption tax. At the same time he's pushing for co-operation from the Liberal Democratic Party and other opposition parties to secure parliamentary support to pass the changes.

The DPJ's legislation calls for raising the tax rate to 8 per cent in April 2014 and to 10 per cent in October 2015 as part of an overhaul of the nation's social welfare system, and an attempt to rein in government debt.

Many Japanese recognize the need for fiscal consolidation, but critics argue that the changes will snuff out any green shoots of recovery emerging in Japan's economy. And persuading opposition lawmakers to support any change proposed by the government seems akin to trying to herd cats in the current political environment.

Okada will come to the FCCJ on April 23 to explain the tax plan and field questions on it and other issues.

Katsuya Okada, Deputy Prime Minister