Japan passes its biggest ever budget: 5 things to know

Politics

Record defense and social security spending, but little provision for Iran war impact

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addresses the media on April 7 in Tokyo. (Photo by Akitoshi Sugiura) 

TOKYO — Japan passed its largest ever annual budget on Tuesday on the back of record spending on defense and social security. The package for the fiscal year that started April 1 was formulated before the Iran war, and includes few measures to alleviate rising fuel prices. As such, there are already some voices within the government calling for a supplementary budget to help households.