July 3, 2025

On the eve of the start of the 17-day official campaign period for the July 20 House of Councilors election, Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko said that in the election, the JCP will work to support people’s livelihoods by such means as lowering the consumption tax rate, abolishing the consumption-tax-invoice system, and providing direct support for higher wages for workers employed by smaller businesses.

Tamura said that the issue of how to protect people’s livelihoods from rising prices will be the biggest issue in the election, adding that as the Liberal Democratic-Komei government is incapable of taking effective action to cope with the ongoing cost of living crisis, a continuation of this government will make life further challenging for the general public. She expressed her determination to make the utmost effort to reduce the ruling force to a minority position in the Upper House as already achieved in the Lower House and work to realize a sales tax cut.

She made these remarks at a debate held at the Japan National Press Club on July 2 between major party leaders regarding a consumption tax cut and other key issues in the election.

In the debate, in response to Tamura and four other opposition leaders calling for a lower consumption tax rate, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru (LDP President) showed a negative stance.

When a measure to make up a loss in tax revenues due to a reduction in the consumption tax rate came up in the debate, Tamura pointed out that the loss will be covered by putting an end to excessive tax breaks and preferential treatment for large corporations and the rich. Stating that big businesses have more than adequate tax-bearing capacity, she said that to place on large corporations a tax burden commensurate with their profits will lead to a “true virtuous cycle” in the economy.

Other topics in the debate included the issue of peace and foreign affairs and the introduction of a selective dual-surname system.

Along with the JCP, political parties whose leader took part in the debate were the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komei Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Democratic Party for the People, the “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party, the “Reiwa Shinsengumi” party, and the “Sanseito” party.

Past related article:
> JCP releases election platform focusing on protecting people’s livelihoods from rising prices [June 6, 2025]