Japan's consumption tax raised to 10% amid swelling welfare costs english.kyodonews.net

The following is a chronology of major events related to the consumption tax in JapanApril 1989 -- Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita's government introduces a 3 percent consumption tax.
April 1997 -- Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's government raises the tax rate to 5 percent.
December 2015 -- LDP-Komeito coalition agrees to exempt food and other daily necessities from the planned tax hike.
June 2016 -- Abe says the tax hike will again be postponed to October 2019.
October 1, 2019 -- Government raises the tax rate to 10 percent.