Shinzo Abe has announced a blunder Japan will regret.
The prime minister's decision to raise sales taxes again in October 2019 is being couched in confidence. After two delays, the economy is judged, finally, to be lively enough to withstand a bump to 10% from 8%. Coming atop the 2014 hike to 8% from 5%, the step will, supposedly, help fulfill Tokyo's pledge to pay down debt.
