Rakuten Group Chairman and President Hiroshi Mikitani has reportedly voiced skepticism about a consumption tax cut on food, saying he “doesn’t think prices would actually drop” — the remarks drew a wave of reactions on 5ch’s Breaking News+ board.
In the thread, posters compared his comments to Suntory President Torii’s similar opposition to the tax cut, while also trading explanations back and forth about how the consumption tax actually works and how it relates to corporate tax.
Published 8/18 (Tue) 16:12
Bunshun Online
Rakuten Group Chairman and President Hiroshi Mikitani (61), speaking to Weekly Bunshun, expressed a negative view of a consumption tax cut on food, saying he “doesn’t think prices would drop.”
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here
It's a campaign pledge.
Don't start whining about it now.
Don't start whining about it now.
>>6
The pledge was only to speed up the review.
If, after reviewing it, they conclude it won't be effective, scrapping it IS keeping the pledge.
The pledge was only to speed up the review.
If, after reviewing it, they conclude it won't be effective, scrapping it IS keeping the pledge.
Executives are scared of corporate tax hikes.
That's why they want the consumption tax raised more and more instead.
That's why they want the consumption tax raised more and more instead.
>>12
You can't collect corporate tax from a company running a loss, lol
You can't collect corporate tax from a company running a loss, lol
>>12
These days both politicians and executives only talk their own book.
The kind of decent adult who'd act even at personal cost, just because it's good for society or the public — someone morally upright who can put others first — those people are just gone.
Companies rake in profits, hoard them instead of passing them on to employees, and then turn around and demand lower corporate tax.
Diet members know full well the yen is sliding and bonds are falling, but they got elected riding Takaichi's popularity, so they can't say a word against it.
No wonder nobody trusts these people anymore.
These days both politicians and executives only talk their own book.
The kind of decent adult who'd act even at personal cost, just because it's good for society or the public — someone morally upright who can put others first — those people are just gone.
Companies rake in profits, hoard them instead of passing them on to employees, and then turn around and demand lower corporate tax.
Diet members know full well the yen is sliding and bonds are falling, but they got elected riding Takaichi's popularity, so they can't say a word against it.
No wonder nobody trusts these people anymore.
Honestly, I agree.
Direct payments for low-income households would be more realistic.
Direct payments for low-income households would be more realistic.
>>15
Opposed ¥60k.
Opposed ¥40k.
"We'll do ¥20k, that's the pledge!" — LDP
Takaichi's LDP breaks the ¥20k pledge
And now this.
Opposed ¥60k.
Opposed ¥40k.
"We'll do ¥20k, that's the pledge!" — LDP
Takaichi's LDP breaks the ¥20k pledge
And now this.
Nobody's saying prices overall need to drop — just that they should drop by the amount of the consumption tax.
>>22
That's exactly the point — it won't even drop by that much.
That's exactly the point — it won't even drop by that much.
>>22
Sounds like you think the consumption tax is just money businesses hold in trust for the government.
Sounds like you think the consumption tax is just money businesses hold in trust for the government.
Isn't consumption tax separate from prices?
Isn't consumption tax just the 8% or 10% added on top of the item's price?
Isn't consumption tax just the 8% or 10% added on top of the item's price?
>>104
It's the opposite.
Consumption tax isn't added on top of the item price — businesses simply pay tax on the tax-included sale price, minus a credit for the tax they paid on their own purchases.
In essence, it's just taken out of the "tax-included price."
In other words, it's an entirely ordinary tax on businesses — exactly like corporate tax or property tax.
It's the opposite.
Consumption tax isn't added on top of the item price — businesses simply pay tax on the tax-included sale price, minus a credit for the tax they paid on their own purchases.
In essence, it's just taken out of the "tax-included price."
In other words, it's an entirely ordinary tax on businesses — exactly like corporate tax or property tax.
>>104
Even now, dine-in and takeout are taxed at different rates, yet places like McDonald's keep the tax-included price the same for both anyway.
Even now, dine-in and takeout are taxed at different rates, yet places like McDonald's keep the tax-included price the same for both anyway.
So after Suntory, now Rakuten too, huh.
Suntory Holdings President Nobuhiro Torii voices opposition to a "1% consumption tax on food and drink," explaining: "It would cause people to cut back on dining out, and the negative impact would be significant"
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/fa245026ced475a7062315fe4fa83c305169f4ca
Suntory Holdings President Torii voices opposition to "1% consumption tax on food and drink" — "It would cause people to cut back on dining out, and the negative impact would be significant" ★3 [♪♪♪★]
https://asahi.5ch.io/test/read.cgi/newsplus/1786939405/
Suntory Holdings President Nobuhiro Torii voices opposition to a "1% consumption tax on food and drink," explaining: "It would cause people to cut back on dining out, and the negative impact would be significant"
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/fa245026ced475a7062315fe4fa83c305169f4ca
Suntory Holdings President Torii voices opposition to "1% consumption tax on food and drink" — "It would cause people to cut back on dining out, and the negative impact would be significant" ★3 [♪♪♪★]
https://asahi.5ch.io/test/read.cgi/newsplus/1786939405/
>>115
575 Anonymous 2026/08/17 (Mon) 12:10:01.57 ID:V+ZLo6zm0
Share of retail profit within total alcoholic-beverage profit:
Suntory > Kirin > Asahi
I think it means something that Suntory — which is way weaker than its rivals in the on-premise/food-service channel and makes its money on retail — is the one saying this.
575 Anonymous 2026/08/17 (Mon) 12:10:01.57 ID:V+ZLo6zm0
Share of retail profit within total alcoholic-beverage profit:
Suntory > Kirin > Asahi
I think it means something that Suntory — which is way weaker than its rivals in the on-premise/food-service channel and makes its money on retail — is the one saying this.
>>115
They just don't want to cut their own prices, that's all.
Foreign-owned brands aren't affected the same way, so they'll cut prices.
They just don't want to cut their own prices, that's all.
Foreign-owned brands aren't affected the same way, so they'll cut prices.
The dine-out market isn't that big a deal, is it?
>>123
Dining out and takeout will end up priced differently.
Dining out and takeout will end up priced differently.
>>127
So the whole country has to shoulder the burden for that niche market?
So the whole country has to shoulder the burden for that niche market?
>>133
Cash handouts would do fine.
Cash handouts would do fine.
>>133
The government is also weighing measures to cushion the blow to restaurants and farmers.
1% consumption tax on food and drink could make the 10%-taxed dine-out sector feel "overpriced" — farmers also at risk of taking a hit — government considers countermeasures [Gure★]
https://asahi.5ch.io/test/read.cgi/newsplus/1785929790/
The government is also weighing measures to cushion the blow to restaurants and farmers.
1% consumption tax on food and drink could make the 10%-taxed dine-out sector feel "overpriced" — farmers also at risk of taking a hit — government considers countermeasures [Gure★]
https://asahi.5ch.io/test/read.cgi/newsplus/1785929790/
Budweiser American Lager Beer, 12 fl oz, 30 cans
$22.83
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Budweiser-American-Lager-Beer-30-Pack-12-fl-oz-Aluminum-Cans-5-ABV/10984471?classType=REGULAR
Under a dollar a can
$22.83
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Budweiser-American-Lager-Beer-30-Pack-12-fl-oz-Aluminum-Cans-5-ABV/10984471?classType=REGULAR
Under a dollar a can
>>177
Sapporo Beer, 12 fl oz, 12-pack
$14.27
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sapporo-Premium-Import-Lager-Beer-12-fl-oz-12-Pack-Cans-4-9-ABV/595874078?classType=REGULAR
Sapporo Beer, 12 fl oz, 12-pack
$14.27
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sapporo-Premium-Import-Lager-Beer-12-fl-oz-12-Pack-Cans-4-9-ABV/595874078?classType=REGULAR
*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Breaking News+) thread “Rakuten’s Mikitani Opposes Food Consumption Tax Cut: “I Don’t Think Prices Will Actually Drop” — Here’s Why.”
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