Japanese voters want an election before any hike in taxes to fund Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s plans for a record increase in defense spending and providing more support for families with children, according to two polls. About 63% of respondents to a poll by the Nikkei newspaper carried out Jan 27-29 and 77% of those who took part in a survey by Kyodo News Jan 28-29 said Kishida should go to the people ahead of any increase in the tax burden. After pledging an unprecedented 60% hike in defense spending over five years and a doubling in outlays aimed at encouraging people to have children, Kishida faces weeks of ... (full story)