Japan Innovation Party Calls for Social Security, Sales Tax Cuts

The opposition Japan Innovation Party calls for a cut to social security payments of ¥60,000 ($417) per person, and slashing the sales tax on food to zero for 2 years, according to a party manifesto released Monday ahead of next month’s upper house election.

• Party seeks to cut medical costs by ¥4 trillion per year
  • The elderly should shoulder 30% of their medical costs instead of the 10% under the current state health insurance system
  • Hospital beds should be cut by around 110,000, insurance coverage should be rescinded for OTC drugs that can be purchased without a prescription and efficiency ...