Japan faces risky tax rise to tackle debt

PM Shinzo Abe announces increase of national sales tax to lighten country’s debt burden.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced sales tax will rise three percentage points to 8 percent next year.

The rise is meant to lighten the country’s heavy debt burden, but the decision could prove risky.

Al Jazeera’s Wayne Hay reports from Tokyo.

Source: Al Jazeera