Jump to full article: Asahi Shimbum (jp), 2009-11-02
Intro: Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has flagged a tobacco tax increase as a focal point of tax reforms in fiscal 2010.
"Raising the (tobacco) tax is a step in the right direction," Hatoyama said Friday
His remarks came the same day the government's tax commission finished accepting tax reform proposals for fiscal 2010 from government ministries and agencies.
On Sunday, health minister Akira Nagatsuma stressed the need for a hike in the tobacco tax.
"A pack of cigarettes should be priced in the same range as in European countries, partly because of health problems," he said on TV.
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